Florida Bass Federation

        Attention:  You may be disqualified from fishing the FBF Classic Championship if your parent club of entry cannot verify club participation in one conservation and one youth project. (See FBF By-Laws, Article III, Section 3, Item #6)If your parent club of entry does not verify club participation in one conservation and one youth project, during the current tournament year, at least 30 days before the State Championship, you will not participate (fish) on the state team for that year of qualification.
        FORMAT: Five qualifying tournaments open to all members in good standing of the Florida Bass Federation, Inc. The top 75 place finishers from each qualifying tournament, who have not qualified in a previous qualifier, are eligible to participate in the Florida Bass Federation, Inc Classic Championship. If you fish all five qualifiers you will qualify to fish the Florida Bass Federation Classic Championship.
        Florida Bass Federation Classic Championship: open to top 75 place finishers from each Qualifying Tournament. The top 10 place finishers and Angler and Non-Boater Angler of the Year and one alternate will be designated as the 2011 Florida Bass Federation, Inc State Team and will represent the Florida Bass Federation Inc, in the TBF Southern Division Tournament in the year 2009. Regardless of points, Angler and Non-Boater Angler of the Year contenders must fish State Championship to qualify for the position. Angler of the Year will be a guaranteed boater position on the State Team, while Non-boater Angler of the Year will be guaranteed non-boater fishing position (not the alternate). In the FBF State Championship, the top 5 finishers will be boaters on the State Team, while 6 through 10 will be non-boaters on the State Team, then the 11th place finisher in the State Championship will be the alternate State Team member.
        TBF Southern Divisional Tournament: is open to teams from each of the seven Southern Division States. The top individual finishers, boater and non-boater, from each state qualify for competition in the Federation National Championship in the year 2012.
        TBF National Championship Tournament: is open to each state's top boater and non-boater qualifier from the Southern Divisional Tournament. The top place finishers, boater and non-boater, from each of the 6 divisions qualify for competition in the BFL All American in the year 2012.
        ENTRY RULES: All entries must be submitted on the official entry form, with a COPY OF CURRENT BOAT INSURANCE reflecting a minimum of $300,000 liability. If you use a boat other than your own, you must attach an insurance certificate, including a rider naming you as, "Also Insured", for that boat. If entering more than one tournament, a copy of insurance binder must accompany each entry, NO EXCEPTIONS. Send check or money order in the amount of $100 (payable to the Florida Bass Federation, Inc.) NO CASH. Any NSF checks for any reason will result in a $25.00 fee, plus the amount of check, to cover bank fees.
        Entry Deadlines: All entries postmarked before midnight on the SATURDAY 14 days prior to the tournament are $100. All entries postmarked after midnight on the SATURDAY 14 days prior to the tournament through the following FRIDAY 6:30 PM check-in deadline, will pay $125. Absolutely NO NEW ENTRIES will be accepted after 6:00 PMsign up deadline on FRIDAY, prior to the first day of the tournament on SATURDAY.
        Check-in: All contestants must check-in with the Tournament Director, at the designated location, on FRIDAY evening between 4:00 PM and 6:30 PM. New entries will be accepted until FRIDAY 6:00 PM. Any contestant not checking in with the Tournament Director before 6:30 P.M. will be disqualified and entry fee WILL NOT be refunded, NO EXCEPTIONS. With seven days advance notice, you may carry over your entry to the next event or get a refund.
        Pairings Meeting: All contestants must attend the pairings meeting on FRIDAY at 7:00 PM, at the designated location. Any contestant not attending the pairings meeting will be disqualified and entry fee WILL NOT be refunded. NO EXCEPTIONS.
        Off Limits: There will be no official off-limits period prior to the pre-tournament meeting. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pre-tournament meeting or after tournament hours. The purchasing of information, the hiring of services, or receiving on the water information from anyone not entered in that tournament will not be permitted after the entry/balance date for each event.
        Guaranteed Boater: Boaters can guarantee the use of their boat by sending a non boater entry in with their own entry (in the same envelope). If submitting an entry at check in, both the boater and the non boater must check in at the same time and both pay the $125 late entry. Guaranteed boater status also applies to the Florida Bass Federation, Inc Classic Championship. No show of a guaranteed boater or non-boater will mean loss of guaranteed status. NO EXCEPTIONS. A guaranteed non boater is guaranteed to fish the tournament regardless of the number of entries.
        Tournament Payback: $100 entry fee breakdown:  $80 to that qualifier payout, and $20 to tournament expenses. This pay back is based on local Tourist Development Council Participation and could be lower.
        Mail Entries to:  Cheryl Brewer - 305 Fourth Street South - Dundee, FL 33838                  Phone: (863) 224-0045

                                                     Florida Bass Federation, Inc.

                                                                             TOURNAMENT RULES

        1. RULES: Great effort, study and research have gone into the formulation of these rules. The following rules of this tournament trail will remain unchanged, except for special tournaments conducted by the Florida Bass Federation, Inc. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may impose such sanctions as he deems appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualifications, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. All protests must be in writing no later than 30 minutes after the last fish is weighed-in, prior to the awards presentation. The decision of the Tournament Director and the Tournament Committee shall be final in all matters.

        2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation in Florida Bass Federation tournaments is by invitation and only opens to its membership in good standing. Tournaments are open to members who are 18 years of age or older and who are active members of Florida Bass Federation affiliated clubs. Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of the potential competitor. DURING THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE AND COMPETITION DAYS OF ANY FLORIDA Bass FEDERATION TOURNAMENT, NO CONTESTANT MAY OPERATE A BOAT UNLESS THAT CONTESTANT HAS SUBMITTED DOCUMENTED PROOF OF A MINIMUM OF $300,000 BOATING LIABILITY INSURANCE TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. THIS DOCUMENTED PROOF MUST SHOW YOUR NAME, AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND EXPIRATION DATE AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE. If you use a boat other than your own, you must attach an insurance certificate, including a rider naming you as "Also Insured", for that boat. Any candidate for competition who, in the judgment of the Tournament Director, is handicapped in such manner as to unfairly hinder his partner or endanger the safety and well-being of his partner or himself shall not be eligible. A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ON OR BEFORE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE. The tournament director reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of applications prior to deadline and also the right to extend the acceptance date.

        3. PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: There will be a 2 day official practice period immediately proceeding the first day of the tournament. All tournament rules apply. The exact dates and times of the practice must be obtained from the Tournament Director. The competitor must know and observe these dates. During official practice, and during the tournament, a competitor may not have the assistance or advice of anyone, unless he is a contestant in the tournament. During the official practice and during the tournament, a competitor may not "SKIN DIVE" or "SCUBA DIVE" on the tournament waters. No competitor may buy or barter a fishing location from any other contestant for use during any competition day. During the official practice and during the tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Contestants may listen to the marine band weather information. Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Director any violation or infraction of these Tournament Rules. The failure to report violations or suggestions to violate these Rules, or false verification or weigh-in forms will be cause for disqualification. EACH COMPETITOR AGREES TO SUBMIT, BY HIS SIGNATURE ON THE TOURNAMENT ENTRY FORM, TO A POLYGRAPH TEST SHOULD THEY BE ACCUSED OF ANY RULE VIOLATION. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph test shall solely be the responsibility of the Tournament Director, and his agents, and shall be used (or not used) at his discretion to select the place at which such polygraph test shall be administered, the individual who administers such polygraph test, and the scope of the questions which may be asked during the test. The Participant shall be available, at his expense, at the location selection, by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects with such examination.

        4. REGISTRATION: Each competitor must register in person with the Tournament Director or his representative at the time and place prescribed on the schedule of events. Failure to register in person during the prescribed hours shall result in disqualification. NO EXCEPTIONS. IT SHALL BE EACH COMPETITOR'S RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR REGISTRATION TIME AND LOCATION OR OBTAIN TIMES FROM THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.

        5. SAFETY: Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the official practice and the tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver which must be worn anytime the combustion engine is operating to include loading and unloading the boat from the trailer.. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. Participants wearing life preservers of the SOSPENDER TYPE must be aware of the specific Florida Laws governing and restricting the wearing of these devices while on the water and while participating in Florida Bass Federation, Inc Tournament competition.

        6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in Florida Bass Federation, Inc. tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Florida Bass Federation tournaments. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of noncompetitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the Federation's effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification. No-show's at the tournament site after registration on day 1 or day 2 of an event will be considered a sportsmanship violation as defined in this rule. The penalty for this violation will be exclusion from Florida Bass Federation, Inc. tournaments or events for 1 year following the infraction. Petitions will be entertained by the FBF Board of Directors in the event of health or emergency situations which result in a no-show status on a case by case basis. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the official practice or competition days or when in the weigh-in area. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon the Federation's efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification. Any disqualification or suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any tournament or fishing organization, shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification.

        7. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. NO "live bait" or "prepared bait" will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only ONE casting, spin-casting or spinning rod (8 foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. All other types are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready for use, however, only ONE is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging fish on spawning beds will have their day's catch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, all bass must be hooked inside of the mouth and must be verified by your partner before unhooked to be counted as a legal fish. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.

        8. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: 250 hp will be the maximum horsepower for all outboard motors used in tournament competition. All outboard motors used in tournament competition will not exceed the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. Any boat manufactured prior to November 1, 1972 must adhere to the rating set by the U.S. Coast Guard for similar boats. Each competitor agrees to submit, by his signature on the entry form, the boat and outboard motor used in the tournament to an inspection by factory trained personnel, if there is any reason to suspect the horsepower is in excess of that rating. Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden, and will result in disqualification.

        9. BOAT AND MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF OPERABLE IGNITION KILL SWITCH. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver's body anytime the combustion engine is operating. Anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver's seat in full control of the boat. Fishing boats may be used that are 17 feet or more in length. Any raised platform or decks can not be higher than the gunnels of the boat to include poling platforms and all rigging. An electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering. However, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited with the combustion engine. All BLADDER tanks and any other type of auxiliary gas tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturer are prohibited. Additional gas tanks that are factory options and installed by a manufacturer's authorized dealer are legal. Boats that do not have factory installed gas tanks are restricted to a maximum of 18 gallons of gasoline in tanks that meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Gas tanks must be properly secured or strapped in a boat. During the official practice and during the tournament, no portable gas tanks or containers capable of holding gasoline can be placed anywhere on the tournament waters, houseboats, woods, docks or shoreline, for use by any tournament competitor. No "barges" or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. Tournament boats will be capable of reaching all tournament waters and return in a reasonable time as not to handicap any contestant. The Tournament Director will have the sole responsibility to determine adequacy. NO BOAT EQUIPPED WITH "STICK STEERING" SHALL BE PERMITTED TO BE USED DURING THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE OR DURING THE TOURNAMENT BY ANY COMPETITOR. The definition of "stick steering" shall be made by the Tournament Director. A competitor answering affirmatively to the question, "Will you bring a boat and motor"? You will be expected to make that boat and motor available for tournament use by himself and his daily partner, if so requested by tournament officials with proof of insurance. Those answering the same question negatively will be presumed to not have a boat and motor available and will be paired with one who does when possible. It shall be the responsibility of the fishing partners to mutually agree on whose boat to use and a basis for sharing operational expenses. If partners are unable to agree, the Tournament Director shall make such determination, which shall be binding upon the partners.

        10. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it must have a functional bilge pump and LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE, A LIMIT CATCH OF BASS BY BOTH FISHERMEN USING THE BOAT. The Tournament Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is "proper and adequate."

        11. BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat must be given, prior to each day's start, a numbered chip which MUST remain in possession of the boater at all times. Chip must be turned in daily, at your designated check in time, to the check in person. Failure may result in disqualification, at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

        12. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: A full discussion MUST be held between the two partners prior to a morning departure as to the schedule of boat operations. This schedule must permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat and to operate the trolling motor, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish his selected waters an equal number of hours. Distance traveled to fishing locations must be considered in order not to deprive either partner fishing time while traveling to and from fishing waters. If a contestant waives any of the above rights, he shall retain the right to select the fishing waters for one-half the tournament day. Any contestant who, in the judgment of the officials, operated the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his partner shall be disqualified. In view of the large expense involved in operating and maintaining a tournament bass boat, it is suggested that the nonowner partner at least share part of cost of gas and oil for the competition day. A minimum of $35.00 is suggested. Failure to share expenses will result in disqualification.

        13. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Each competitor must obtain his information from the Tournament Director. Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except: Within 50 yards of any marina gas pump or within 50 yards (150 feet) of another competitor's boat which was first anchored or secured in a fix position. No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed by him to the exclusion of any other competitor. Any water within these boundaries posted Off-Limits or NO Fishing by state or federal agencies will be OFF LIMITS. Also, the live-bass release area established by the Tournament Director will be OFF LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Briefing. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament's contestants. All angling must be done from the boat. Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or federal regulations.

        14. CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT: Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Contestants must leave and return to official check point by boat. Both competitors must remain in boat at all times except in case of dire emergency. In such an emergency, a competitor or competitors may be removed from their boat, to a boat operated by another competitor or rescue boat for immediate return to the weigh-in site. Should one competitor elect to stay behind with his or her boat to await rescue, the returning competitor may transport the catch of the partner remaining with the boat to the weigh-in-site, along with his own catch, under the scrutiny of the rescue boat occupants. The competitor who remains with his boat for rescue, waives his right to protest his weight should this election be made. All competitors involved in the rescue must cease fishing at this point, and their catch must be verified by a tournament official in order to be counted in the tournament. If after the emergency situation is resolved by tournament officials and enough time is left for the competitors to resume fishing, a RESTART will be allowed and the competitors will continue and their catch will be counted. This applies only to dire emergency situations. Failure to render assistance, when requested in an emergency situation is cause for immediate disqualification. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited, except by the direction of tournament officials.

        15. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official point for check- out in the morning, and check-in in the afternoon and this point shall be designated at the tournament briefing. At the time out, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all rules set forth by the Tournament Director. At check-in, all boats shall identify themselves by boat number and return the numbered chip, and then proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Partners must stay together at all times until weigh-in is complete. You must check in, whether you have fish or not. Failure to do so may mean future disqualification from Federation tournaments. Your boat must remain in the water until your fish are weighed in.

        16. SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the pound and ounce weight of each competitor's catch during the tournament. Only Largemouth, Small Mouth, Spotted, Red Eyes, Shoal, and Suwannee Bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 bass unless state law prohibits this limit. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the State of Florida; No culling of dead fish is permitted. Contestants will at no time have in their possession, in the live well, more than the tournament limit of fish. Tournament official length for bass shall be 14 inches, unless state limit is less than 14 inches, in which case the state limit will prevail. Only bass as described above which measure 14 inches or more in length on an "Official Golden Rule" with mouth closed will be weighed. Short fish shall result in loss of that fish and the big fish of that contestant’s day's catch. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will not be weighed. Each competitor must present his catch to the weigh-in official and the weight of his catch must be certified by the signature of his partner of that day. Bass must not be stringered at any time during the tournament. It has been determined that stringering decreases the chances of a bass's survival and bass thus handled may be disqualified. Specially designated bags which increase the survival rate will be furnished by the tournament staff at the tanks area, these bags must be used for the weigh-in.

        17. DON'T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep his bass alive by use of a properly aerated live well. It is recommended a chemical release additive be used in live wells, to aid in the conservation of fish.

        18. PENALTY POINTS: For each legal dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized 4 ounces of weight, to be deducted from his daily score. The Tournament Director and his designated appointees shall have sole authority for assessing penalty points. No culling of dead fish is permitted.
        19. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official checkpoint area as described in Rule 15 at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of his catch of the day, for each one (1) minute he/she is late including big bass. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall lose that credit for that days catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up for “lost time." After proper recognition at the check-in point and return of the numbered chip, competitors will be allowed ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site, however, all fishing must cease upon check-in. After the tournament begins, fishing the tournament waters is prohibited except during the tournament hours. Exact starting and check-in times will be announced at the Tournament Briefing.

        20. TIES: In case of a tie for first place, the following tie breakers will be used in order:
        1. The individual with the largest number of legal fish weighed in during the competition:
         2. The individual with the largest number of legal LIVE fish weighed in during the competition:
        3. The individual with the heaviest single day's catch during competition
        4. The individual with the second heaviest single day's catch during competition.
        In the unlikely event that there is still a tie after these four tie breakers are employed, then a flip of a coin will be used to determine the winner and the money, if any, will be equally split. Ties for lesser positions shall be resolved by means selected by the Tournament Director.

        21. PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS: Two contestants will be assigned to each boat. Announcements of your fishing partner shall be made at the tournament briefing, which must be attended by each competitor. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed-upon location with sufficient time remaining to check out at the official checkpoint and start on time. Tournament officials shall have no responsibility for finding missing partners, and will start the tournament on time for both days. It is suggested that a minimum of 60 minutes is required for preparation to depart to the checkout point. When two contestants check out at the beginning of the day, they must stay together and within sight of each other and each other's catch throughout the day until the weigh-in is completed. A contestant must not allow any bass caught by him to be counted on the score of another contestant. In such case, both contestants shall be disqualified from this tournament and from all future tournaments conducted by Florida Bass Federation, Inc.

        22. All contestants are expected to obey all applicable Florida Boating or Fishing and Wildlife Statutes or Rules. Violation of such rules may result in your disqualification from the tournament. Repeated or flagrant violations will result in said contestants being banned from future participation in Florida Bass Federation, Inc. tournaments.

        23. None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding any competitor's boat any time during the practice period or the competition days.