RULES: The following tournament rules shall apply to the American
Couples Tour operated by American Bass Anglers except that;
(1)
rules for special tournaments may differ from those contained
herein and
(2) these rules may be changed by American
Bass Anglers (ABA) immediately upon notice by ABA to its members;
which notice may be published on the ABA internet site at www.americanbassanglers.com.
Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left
exclusively to the Tournament Director or his/her designee
at a tournament. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament
Director or a rules committee may impose such sanctions, as
deemed appropriate by them, including, without limitation,
disqualification, and forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition
from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision
of the Tournament Director, his/her designee, or the rules
committee shall be final in all matters. Rules violations must
be reported to the Tournament Director on site within 15 minutes
after the last fish is weighed.
PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation
is open to teams comprised of one male and one female in good
standings of American Bass Anglers, Inc. who are 16 years of
age or older. Contestants between 16 and 18 years of age must
have a parent or guardian signature prior to entering the tournament.
Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the
responsibility of the competitor. Tournament officials reserve
the right to refund any membership and/or entry fee, if they
choose for any reason not to accept the application and/or entry
fee.
PRE-REGISTERED ENTRIES: It is recommended that
contestants pre-register through National headquarters. Contestants
desiring to register at the ramp must do so in person during
the official registration period. Registration period is defined
as 1 and ½ hours preceding 5am local time during daylight
savings time and 6am local time during standard time or the time
established by the local tournament director. Failure to attend
the pre-tournament meeting of any ABA tournament will result
in forfeiture of entry fee and disqualification from the tournament
in question. Teams may also register on line at www.americanbassanglers.com,
by phone at 1-888-203-6222, or by mail at: American Bass Anglers,
Inc. Attn: Couples Trail, P.O. Box 475 Athens, AL 35612.
REGISTRATION: All pre-registration is accomplished
through the national office only. Teams desiring to register
at the tournament site must register in person prior to 5AM local
time. One member of each team must attend the mandatory drivers
briefing at the tournament site the morning of the tournament.
Failure to attend the drivers briefing will result in forfeiture
of entry fee and will not be entered in that tournament.
TEAM COMPOSITION: Once a team has been registered,
the team must fish together throughout the year to be eligible
for point accumulation and qualification for the Championship.
In the event one partner cannot fish a tournament the remaining
partner may fish that tournament alone. Throughout the year a
representative of the original team may fish only one tournament
alone to accumulate points.
POLYGRAPH: By his and her signature on the
official tournament entry form, each competitor agrees to submit
to a polygraph examination/truth verification method or any other
type examination as determined by ABA, and abide by its conclusion
should he/she be accused of any rule violation. The ABA Tournament
Director or rules committee, or such person designated by the
Tournament Director shall have the discretion to determine the
need for a polygraph/truth verification method examination. The
ABA Tournament Director or his/her designee shall be responsible
for selecting an independent expert to administer and interpret
the results and establishing, in consultation with the expert
administrator, the scope of the questions which may be asked
during the polygraph/truth verification method examination. The
ABA Tournament Director or his/her designee shall attempt to
have the location of such polygraph/truth verification method
examination as close in proximity to the angler's permanent address
or such other mutually convenient as possible. The competitor
shall make himself/herself available at the location selected
by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects
with such examination. Anglers taking a polygraph/truth verification
method examination may be responsible for any and all cost incurred.
GUIDES: Individuals who are serving as a licensed
guide or are paid for guiding on tournament waters within the
previous 30 day period are not eligible to compete in American
Bass Anglers, Inc. events on that lake(s).
OFF LIMITS: There will be no official off limit
period. Off limit areas will consist of those designated by local,
state and federal authorities, and within 50 yards of a marina
gas pump. Tournament directors may impose other off limit areas
at their discretion at the time of the pre-tournament meeting.
No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of
locating fish or potential fishing waters after the start of
the tournament meeting. The purchasing of information, the hiring
of services or receiving on the water information from local
anglers will not be permitted after the entry deadline (10 days
prior to event).
SAFETY/BOAT CHECK: Safe boating will be observed
at all times. Contestants understand that participating in fishing
tournaments in an open boat is inherently dangerous. Safe boating
conduct will be observed at all times. During the official practice
and competition, each competitor is required to wear a U.S. Coast
Guard approved chest-type life preserver (PFD). This preserver
must be worn any time the combustion engine is in gear. This
preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and
maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is shut
off. The boat operator must have a safety-stop switch attached
to his/her person when the combustion engine is in gear. During
practice and tournament hours extreme caution must be exercised
by boat operator during bad weather. In addition extreme caution
must be exercised and boat operator must be aware that there
could be large cruisers and/or barges operating on tournament
lakes that displace extremely large volumes of water which create
unusually large wakes and turbulence. Weather and water turbulence
can be extremely hazardous and extreme caution should be exercised
at all times. Violation of either the PFD or safety-stop switch
portion of this rule will result in disqualification.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in ABA 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.
i.) 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 ABA tournaments. No alcoholic beverages other stimulants
or depressants or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during
the official practice or competition days, or in the weigh-in
area.
ii.) Maximum courtesy must
be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating
and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on
tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably
upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters
and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification.
iii.) All
competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations
of the various states within which they fish.
iv.) Chemical substance addiction or abuse,
conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude,
or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote
safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with
tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application
for participation and/or for disqualification after circumstances
are reviewed by the Tournament Director. Any disqualification
suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any
tournament or fishing organization shall be grounds for rejecting
any application for participation in an ABA tournament and/or
disqualification from an ABA tournament after circumstances
are reviewed by the Tournament Director.
MEDIA COMMENTS, PUBLIC ATTACKS: The favorable
public reputation ABA as a sanctioning organization in the sport
of fishing, the integrity of its officials, and the reputation
of its media properties are valuable assets and tangible benefits
ABA. Accordingly, it is an obligation of competitors to refrain
from comments to the news media that unreasonably attack or disparage
the integrity of tournaments, tournament officials, sponsors,
fellow members, fellow anglers or the ABA organization. Competitors
are encouraged to express themselves and have the right to question
the rules officials. Responsible expressions of legitimate disagreement
with ABA policies are encouraged as opposed to attacks upon the
integrity of the rules or officials. However, public comments
that an angler knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the
reputation of ABA, ABA officials or sponsor shall be considered
conduct unbecoming a professional and will result in disciplinary
action.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: The use of grippers in
landing bass is prohibited. Only artificial and biodegradable
lures may be used. No “live bait” or “prepared
bait” will be permitted during official practice and competition,
with the exception of pork strips or rinds. 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. Other
rigs as specified above may be in 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 visible fish will have their
catch disqualified. When visually fishing a bed or for bedding
bass to be counted as a legal fish, all bass must be hooked inside
the mouth.
HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Maximum
horsepower for all outboard motorboats used in official tournament
practice and in tournament competition will be 250 HP. Horsepower
cannot exceed the limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard or
the manufacture rating plate. When required, each boat must have
a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower-rating plate attached to the boat
by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must
not exceed the rating specified on this plate nor the horsepower
maximum set by ABA. Each competitor agrees to submit, by their
signature on the official 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 the rating. Normal maintenance of engines is allowed. Changing
or altering standard factory parts of a competitor’s engine
to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating
is forbidden, and will result in disqualification. Falsifying
information on entry forms or altering the horsepower-rating
numbers on the engine is also cause for immediate disqualification
from ABA tournaments. Posted speed limits must be observed and
all boats must be operated in a safe manner.
BOAT AND
MOTOR: For the safety of all competitors,
during competition all boats must be equipped with an approved
type of operable ignition kill switch and lanyard. Only one manufactured
lanyard may be used and must be attached to the driver’s
body any time the combustion engine is operating. Any time 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
that are less than 16 feet in length may not be used. Any raised
platforms or decks cannot be higher than the gunnels of the boat.
Anglers fishing while standing on the outboard motor or on boat
seats are not permitted. An electric trolling motor may be used
for slow maneuvering. However, trolling as a method of fishing
is prohibited. 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 permitted.
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. No portable gas tanks or containers capable
of holding gasoline can be placed anywhere on the tournament
waters or shoreline for use by any tournament competitor. No “barges” or
similar craft will be permitted. No boat equipped with “Stick
Steering” shall be permitted to be used during official
practice or during the tournament by any competitor. “Stick
steering” shall be as defined by the Tournament Director.
BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: During competition every
boat must have all required US Coast Guard safety equipment as
well as a functional bilge pump. During competition every boat
must have live well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain
alive a limit catch of bass. ABA recommends live-wells are maintained
at full level and aerators/re-circulators on manual. Tournament
officials shall have the sole responsibility for determining
whether aeration and capacity is proper and adequate.
BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Prior to each day’s
start, each boat must be given an inspection check by a tournament
official. Each day, each boat will be given a number, which must
remain with the boat until turned in each day at the check-in.
This number must be displayed upon the request of tournament
officials, and turned in to the officials at each check-in.
PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Contestants may
fish anywhere accessible by boat, except off limit areas designated
by federal, state or local officials, within 50 yards of a marina
gas pump or within 50 yards of another competitor's boat, anchored
or not. Competitors invoking the 50-yard rule must hold their
boats steady. Any competitor that allows other competitor to
fish within 50 yards of his boat has suspended the 50-yard rule
and opened the water to all competitors. All angling must be
conducted from the boat. At no time may a member of a team leave
the boat to land a fish or to make the boat more accessible to
fishing waters. All contestants must leave and return to the
official checkpoint by boat and the boat must remain in tournament
waters during the tournament. In the case of a breakdown or emergency
contestants have only two ways to return to the check-in and
have their days catch counted. 1) Both members of the team remain
in their boat and are towed in by water; 2) A member of a team
may enter another contestant’s boat with his fish and ride
back to the checkpoint.
OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one
official point for check-out in the morning and check-in in the
afternoon, these points shall be designated at the tournament
briefing. At the time of check-out, all competitors and their
boats shall be in full conformity with all rules set forth by
the Tournament Director. At check-in, all boats shall identify
themselves by means of the numbers described herein and proceed
immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Angler’s not
weighing bass may trailer their boat.
TOURNAMENT HOURS: Official start and weigh-in
times for each flight will be announced at the pre-tournament
briefing. Our best effort will be given to allow at least 8 hours
fishing time. In the case of adverse weather conditions, the
tournament director will open weigh-in at 12 Noon for safety.
SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards
and final winners shall be determined by the pound-and-ounce
weight of each teams catch during the competition days of the
tournament. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Redeye or Shoal
bass will be weighed. The limit per team shall be 5 of the above
species and varieties per day, unless otherwise specified by
tournament officials. At no time shall a competitor have in their
possession more than the tournament limit. Tournament officials
will conduct checks for violations of this provision, and in
the event a team has in its possession more than the above-described
limits, the team will be immediately disqualified. The official
length for bass shall be determined by the Tournament Director
and announced at the Tournament Briefing. In most cases it will
be the longest state limit covering the tournament waters. Only
bass as described above which measure the official length or
more on the longest straight line, shall be weighed. Bass presented
for weigh-in, which fail to measure the official length, shall
result in a penalty of 1 pound for each such bass, which penalty
shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor. Any
bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise
altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of
tournament officials. After competitors check in at the official
checkpoint they must present all legal fish in their possession
to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed.
Once a competitor’s catch is measured, counted and verified
by a tournament official, that competitor may not return to the
boat until their catch has been weighed and recorded. Bass must
not be placed on a stringer at any time during the tournament.
Culling tags or clips are allowed. Specially designed bags which
increase survival rate will be furnished by the Tournament Director
and must be used for the weigh-in.
CATCH AND RELEASE: CULLING OF DEAD BASS IS
PROHIBITED. A penalty of 1 pound will be deducted from the total
weight for each short fish and a penalty of 4 ounces (.25 pounds)
will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish. In
the event the anglers’ big fish is dead a penalty of 4
ounces (.25 pounds) will be deducted from the big fish total
weight. It is suggested in warm weather tournaments anglers keep
extra ice for fish care. Contestants are allowed to purchase
ice on the water; however they are not allowed to receive ice
from non contestants.
TIES: In case of a tie, combining awards and
dividing them equally among the tied contestants shall resolve
positions. A form of lottery will determine trophies for those
positions tied. The tournament director may decide to break first
place ties with a fish-off. Duplicate points will be awarded
to those teams tied.
TRANSFERS/REFUNDS: Entry fees may be transferred
or refunded provided American Bass Angler, Inc. receives notification
prior to entry deadline. Those entries on the waiting list that
are not accepted into the tournament will receive a full refund
after the tournament. There will be no charge for transfers however,
all refunds will be assessed a 20 percent fee.
POINT SYSTEM: Points are based on a 200 point
scale based on a full field with 200 points awarded to the first
place team. Maximum points are awarded for a minimum of 20 Teams.
For tournaments with less than 20 contestants, 1 point per team
short of the minimum will be deducted from the total points available.
Points will be awarded in 1 point decreasing increments depending
on place of finish (i.e. 1st-200, 2nd-199, etc). No team weighing
a fish in the tournament will receive less than 75 points regardless
of place of finish. All teams not weighing fish will receive
50 show points. A perfect score after 5 district team events
is 1000 points:
COUPLES CHAMPIONSHIP: Cut-off
date for registering for the Championship will be supplied in
the invitations sent to qualified teams. After the cut off date,
any remaining slots will be filled from the waiting list of pre-registered
members based on highest points. The top 200 teams nationally
(based on points) will be invited to compete in the Championship.
In addition, two (2) WILD CARD teams will be drawn from each
division. To be eligible for wild card positions, teams must
have fished all five tournaments in their division. The championship
lake will be off limits 14 days prior to the first official practice
day. The championship will consist of four days, two days practice
and a two-day tournament. Contestants must be paid, pre-registered
and ABA headquarters must have a valid copy of boat insurance
declaration prior to going on the water to practice. During official
practice teams may only pre-fish alone, with a member of their
immediate family, another contestant of the tournament, a sponsor
of American Bass Anglers, Inc. or a member of American Bass Anglers,
Inc. staff. Contestants are not allowed to fish with anyone that
has been on the lake during the off limits period. Contestants
may not receive any assistance or advice from anyone except another
contestant of the Championship for the purpose of locating or
catching fish once the off limits period begins.
