Tournament Rules
NOTE: READ CAREFULLY
1. Night time tournaments will begin at 8 PM Saturday and end at 6 AM Sunday morning unless otherwise notified. Daytime tournaments will begin at the tournament director’s discretion.
2. A penalty of one fish or 10lbs. per minute will be accessed to any team returning late for up to 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, any teams not reported in will be disqualified. Penalty fish will be removed by the penalized team. In the event of the team being entered in a big fish pot, NO grace period will be extended in said fish pot. Late teams are disqualified from Big Fish Pots.
3. Each team member must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket anytime the boat is running faster than no wake.
4. The awards for tournaments will be presented at an awards ceremony as soon as possible after the check in. Awards will be given according to the WBA schedule- 100% payback of registration fees. Paying 1st to 7th place in Big Thirty (35%, 25%, 15%, 10%, 5%, 5%, 5%). Total Numbers pays as follows: 1-5 boats pays 2 places, 6 to 10 boats pays 3 places, 11 to 15 boats pays 4 places, 16 to 20 boats pays 5 places, 21 or more boats pays 7 places.
5. Registration fees are $20.00 per person (no fee for kids 16 and under) for either class, No team will be allowed to participate until a registration fee is paid. A team may shoot in either the Big Thirty or Total Numbers class, but not both in the same tournament. 1 to 3 person teams only. Teams may have a fourth shooter that doesn’t count against them if 14 years of age or under. Teams may shoot in big fish pot only. All members of a team must enter the big fish pot to participate, $5.00 per shooter.
6. Non-WBA members will be required to pay a $10.00 per shooter operating fee.
7. Winners are determined by the total number of fish shot by each team in the Numbers division. Winners in Big Thirty division will be determined by the total weight of their 30 fish of which only 20 can be carp and buffalo. Please have your fish sorted and ready to be weighed before getting to the scales. Big Fish will break ties. Teams are responsible for choosing and having big fish weighed for their team.
8. When arriving at the tournament PLEASE register as soon as possible.
9. No shooting on tournament waters 24 hours prior to the start of any tournament.
10. No baiting or chumming of fish.
11. Only legal rough fish are to be counted.
12. All contestants must leave with their boat from the tournament site at sendoff. Wade fishing (leaving the confines of the boat) is legal. Trailering is allowed.
13. No fish points or arrows with explosives or other shocking devices will be allowed.
14. All arrows must have a line attached to it for retrieval. This line must be attached to a reel on the bow.
15. No snares, no dip nets, and no gigs will be allowed in boats. Gaff hooks with single hook may be used for landing big fish.
16. Disqualification: Suspected transferring of fish between teams will result in disqualification of all teams involved. At no time is one team’s fish to be placed in another team’s boat. Disqualification Procedure: 1) bring to attention of tournament director. 2) go in front of board (consisting of WBA officers/representatives) 3) to a membership vote. Cheating will result in expulsion from the club for WBA members. Proof must be indisputable.
17. No un-sportsman like conduct will be tolerated. Teams will keep a minimum
of 25 yards when ever possible.
18. The decision of tournament officials will be FINAL.
19. Failure to comply with tournament rules will result in disqualification and entry fee WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
20. A formal protest fee in the amount of $50.00 must be made to officials and posted prior to the awards ceremony. The protest fee will be refunded if the protest stands valid.
21. All participants must check out upon leaving the tournament. If leaving early, please leave token in can that is left at the launch site or specified vehicle stated at the tournament meeting.
22 Tournament hosts and sponsors will not be responsible for accidents or lost property.
23. NO AUTOMATIC REFUNDS OF ENTRY FEES. Fees or any portion of fees refunded will be the decision of tournament officials and will be based on reason of cancellation.
24. All air boats or fan motors must have a suitable shroud protecting the fan blade.
25. Alcoholic beverages are PROHIBITED in boats during tournament hours.
26. Firearms are PROHIBITED during scouting or tournament hours
27. Identification of persons participating is required upon request.
28. Tournament boundaries will be determined by the tournament director. Tournament director will designate floats to mark NO WAKE ZONES at tournaments where safety is a concern.
29. Each team will be allowed the use of only one boat during the tournament. If mechanical trouble requires the use of another boat, that boat must be inspected before leaving the tournament site.
30. Registration will close 15 minutes prior to the tournament starting.
31. Release forms must be signed and on record for each participant of a tournament.
32. All fish barrels should be labeled with owner’s name or phone number.
33. Fish entries must be taken with bow, compound, recurve, or long bow and single point arrow only.
34. It is the responsibility of tournament participants to know and obey state and local fish, game and boating laws. Any violations will result in disqualification.
(Last Updated:March 2010)