~ NBAA Tournament Rules ~

1. RULE CHANGES: These rules shall remain in effect and unchanged throughout the current tournament year unless specifically superseded by state or local law.  Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. 

2. PARTICIPATION/ELIGIBILITY:Only current members of the NBAA are eligible to fish in any NBAA event.  Anglers wishing to participate in NBAA events may do so at any time prior to the start of an event.  At least one team member must be 18 years of age or older to participate, however, if both members of a team are under the age of eighteen, then they must present written permission from a parent or legal guardian.  The NBAA reserves the right to deny participation to anyone at any time.

3. LIABILITY INSURANCE:All members must carry a minimum of $100,000 of liability insurance on any boat they might use during an NBAA Tournament Event. Failure to do so or reporting of false information will result in disqualification. Anglers must provide proof of insurance upon request.

4. SAFETY:Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times while engaged in NBAA sanctioned events and all boats must have a full complement of safety gear as required by USCG regulation.  Any time the internal combustion motor is on both participants must have a USCG approved PFD on and securely fastened.  Operators must have the kill switch armed with lanyard firmly secured to the operator.  Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or any conditions that would endanger the safety of the competitors. The decision to shorten or cancel tournament days will be determined by the Tournament Director.

5. ALCOHOL/DRUGS: Participants will refrain from the use of alcohol and or drugs during the course of the tournament event. Participants that are discovered to be using or under the influence of alcohol or drugs during an event will be immediately disqualified. The tournament event is not officially over until the close of scales. This prohibition does not extend to the use of prescribed medications for ongoing medical issues.

6. BOATS AND MOTORS:Motors may not exceed the horsepower rating on the BIA plate for those boats meeting BIA standards, nor any manufacturer’s plate affixed in lieu of BIA ratings.  All boats used in NBAA events must be equipped with a functioning kill switch as well as aerated livewells capable of sustaining a full tournament limit during the course of the event.  Participants who operate a boat & motor with “tiller steering” shall also have a kill switch lanyard when applicable.

7. SPORTSMANSHIP: Participants in NBAA events are expected to follow the highest standards of courtesy, safety, angling etiquette and adherence to game and fish laws. If an angler or team is found to have not conducted themselves accordingly, disqualification from the event and NBAA may result.

8. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:All fish must be caught alive and in a conventional sporting manner using one rod which may not exceed eight (8) foot in length (measured butt to tip). Intentionally snagging fish is not permitted.  Only artificial lures may be used, live and or prepared bait is not allowed, the only exception being “pork rinds” or its equivalent. Trolling with the aide of the internal combustion or electric trolling motor is not permitted.  Communication devices such as cell phones, marine radios or CB’s may only be used for emergency purposes or contacting the director.  After checking in and near the weigh in location, a courtesy board will be provided which will be the same as the official board used for the event.

9. POLYGRAPH:Anyone participating in a NBAA tournament will be subject to a polygraph exam and or voice stress analysis if requested by the tournament officials. Examiner’s decision must be accepted without appeal.  Entrants understand that the failure of such test or refusal to take the test will disqualify them from the tournament.

10. OFF-LIMITS: Tournament waters are off limits the day of the event with pre-fishing allowed on all bodies of water until 11:59 p.m. the day prior to any tournament.
    
    
11. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS: All angling activities must be done from a previously inspected boat.  No fishing will be allowed within 50-yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or tied, with its trolling motor stowed out of the water, without the anchored boats permission. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or by a Power-Pole with the trolling motor in the up position.  Absolutely no hole-setting or holding of a fishing spot, this will not be tolerated.  Competitors may not exit their boat in order to facilitate access to “other” waters.  Tournament directors will determine, and announce, all off-limit areas.

12. NO-WAKE: Boats will not pass another’s competitors boat in any no-wake zones at any time during tournament hours except for boats that may be changing course within the zone, boats which have stopped or are engaged in fishing activities.

13. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINTS: Teams must depart and return from a specified point by boat unless otherwise noted.  Teams arriving late will be disqualified.  In case of an emergency (I.E. Motor Failed) a team may bring their fish back in a competitor’s boat but there must be at least one member from each team present when checking in.  All fishing must cease upon checking in, disqualification will result for fishing after checking in.

14. SCORING:Teams must cull down to their limit of 5 fish before returning to the official ramp site. The 5 fish must measure a minimum of 14 inches*, mouth closed, tail compressed (*local/state limit applies).  Teams presenting more than a tournament limit shall be disqualified.  Dead fish presented for weight will receive a 4-ounce (0.25) deduction from total weight.  If it’s the big bass, then the penalty shall be accessed against that fish. Tournament standings will be determined by total weight of all competition days.  Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be scored.  Teams presenting fish for weight, and which are subsequently determined to be “short”, shall be penalized the weight of the short fish PLUS the big fish of the sack.

15. BIG BASS:Competitors may choose only one bass out of their bag as an entry into the “big bass side pots”.

16. TIES: In the event of a tie at the event, big bass will be the deciding factor.  In cases of a big bass tie, then the money will be split.  In the event that big bass and total weight are the same for two or more teams then both (all) tied teams shall be awarded the same amount of points.  At the end of the season if there is a tie between two or more teams in equal points, then overall weight of the teams will be the deciding factor..

17. FISH RELEASE: All fish caught and weighed in at an NBAA event must be released at the official weigh in location.  Failing to release your fish at the official release location will result in an automatic disqualification.

18. PROTESTS/DISQUALIFICATION:Directors must be notified of all protest before close of scales.  Protests also, must be submitted in writing within 10 minutes of the closing of the scales.  A “protest committee” consisting of three (3) fellow anglers, randomly drawn by the tournament director will address all protests. Teams disqualified from individual events will still receive show-up points.

19. SUBSTITUTIONS: Up to 2 substitutions may be used during the regular season as long as one team member fishes with the sub.  A sub is allowed to participate in the National Championship in the spring provided that they had previously fished at least one half of the regular events in one specific division.  Teams with a member who unexpectedly cannot attend the National Championship in the spring may utilize a sub from the division qualified from or, if none are available, then a sub from another division within the same color bracket may be used.  Exceptions to this rule maybe made by the executive director in cases of death, disability, employment status, or military duties. *No subs will be allowed in the One on One Divisions.

20. TEAMS:Teams must be declared at the first event fished in any one specific division by either member of the team.  If both members of the team are present for any event in a specific division that they have declared themselves as a team they must fish together for their points to count towards their total team points.  Members of a team that decide to fish apart during the same event in a specific division where they have declared themselves as a team no points will be awarded to the original declared team.

21. DIVISION’S POINT CHAMPIONS: Points Champions of each division will be determined based on all tournaments fished in that division.  No points will be awarded for Divisional Championship events.

22. DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Divisional Championships are for Overtime Divisions and specific Weekend Challenge Divisions.  To qualify for an Overtime Divisional Championship, anglers must have fished in at least 8 events in a specific Overtime Division.  Teams must have fished all events in the specified weekend challenge division to qualify. Subs may be used in Divisional Championship events, but they must meet the above requirements. There will be no points awarded for Divisional Championship events.

23. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE SPRING/CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS:
    
• Overtime Challenge Events – Tournament anglers that fish 11 of 12 events or 5 out of 6 for Overtime Divisions with a 6 tournament schedule in any one specific Overtime division will automatically qualify for the National Championship in the spring.  Teams that fish at least one half of the scheduled events in an overtime division and finish in the top 30% will also qualify for the National Championship.  Divisional Championship events do not count towards qualification.
• Weekend Challenge Events – Fish at least 4 tournaments in any one specific Weekend Challenge Division and you will automatically qualify for the National Championship in the spring. Teams that fish at least one half of the scheduled events in a weekend division and finish in the top 30% will also qualify for the National Championship.
• Overtime and Weekend events must be completed 5 days prior to the beginning of the National Championship to count towards qualification.

24. FALL CLASSIC QUALIFIERS:
    
• Overtime – Tournament anglers that fish 11 of 12 events or 5 out of 6 for Overtime Divisions with a 6 tournament schedule will automatically qualify for the Fall Classic. Divisional Championship events do not count towards the Fall Classic qualification.
• Weekend Challenge – Fish at least 4 tournaments in any one specific weekend division to automatically qualify for the Fall Classic.
• Fall Classic Subs – Subs must also meet the requirements above.  
• Overtime and Weekend events must be completed 5 days prior to the beginning of the Fall Classic to count for qualification for the Fall Classic. 

25. ONE ON ONE QUALIFIERS: The championship qualifiers for the One on One Championship will be based on all 5 events or all events scheduled for that division. Any angler competing in all 5 events or all events schedule for the One on One division will automatically qualify for the championship.

26. Buy In: Anglers and teams will be allowed to buy into any NBAA event during the regular season.  This does not include championships, classics and other special events.  Entry fees must be giving to the director before the start of the event to be counted. These entry fees will go into the tournament payout. Anglers/teams who buy into an event will receive show up points.

27. TAKE OFF:  Take off position for the spring championship(s) and 1 on 1 championship will be determined by an angler/teams finish in their division. Point Champions will take off in the first group, divisional qualifiers highlighted in green in the second group, followed by other qualifying anglers or teams. A random draw of each group will determine take off positions.  Fall Classic qualifying teams will all be put into a hat and a random drawing will be completed before the start of the event. All teams that have returned their championship registration form by “set” date will be put into an early draw.  Their take off position and a number will be assigned before the championship registration.  Any championship qualifier forms received after “set” date will be assigned a number as they are received.  If a team does not send in a championship registration by “set” date an alternate may be chosen for their spot at the championship.

28. EMERGENCY CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWINGS:  In the event that NBAA is unable to conduct a planned major tournament due to weather, safety concerns or circumstances beyond NBAA’s control, a drawing or raffle may be held in lieu of the scheduled competitive format to award the guaranteed prizes.  The conditions to warrant the implementation of this rule will be determined by the tournament director.  This rule is designed for major tournament events with guaranteed prizes including, but not limited to the National Championship, Fall Classic, One on One National Championship and other special NBAA and open events.  The location, time and method of the drawing will be determined by the tournament director and explained in detail to all participants.  All participants must be present for the drawing or raffle.  All attempts will be made to avoid the implementation of this rule and will only be considered in the event of an emergency.

29. PRO/GUIDE EXCLUSIONS:  Participants, who have fished two or more events, in the preceding 12 month       period, with an entry fee in excess of $1,499.00 per event (does not apply to amateur participants in pro/am events) will not be eligible to participate in any NBAA event with an guaranteed 1st Place prize in excess of $2,400.00. Individuals’ serving as licensed guides, or are paid for guiding on tournament waters within the pre-ceding 30-day period are not eligible to participate in events held on those waters for tournaments with a guaranteed 1st Place prize of $2400.00 or more.