Tournament Rules and Regulations

Entry Fee:
$50 per boat must accompany application. No mail-in entry will be accepted post-marked after May 15, 2010. Applications with cash entry fees will be accepted at The Tackle Box, delivered in person, between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. May 22, 2010. Additional $10 Big Bass entry fee must accompany applications. Each sponsored team in the 7 week Alachua County Bass Series will receive one tournament entry in One Day Tournament. But they still must register for the tournament and pay the $10 big bass entry fee (optional).
Participation:
No lone fishermen. Must fish as a team. Open to anyone 18 years of age or older or, if under 18, must have consenting adult fishing with him. Only two persons in a boat. Boat operator must be over 18. Tournament Director reserves the right to reject any participant for any reason within his sole discretion.
Start:
Tournament will launch at 7:00 AM. Weigh-in at 3 p.m. Take off will be determined by the order in which entries are received.
Safety:
All boats must have USCG equipment as required by law. USCG approved life jackets must be worn anytime boat is on a plane. All boats must be equipped with kill-switches. No alcoholic beverages allowed. All boats will be checked before launching.
Boats and Motors:
Any boat 14 feet or longer is allowed, as long as it has 25 hp or larger gas powered motor. Aerated livewells are required. No canoes, airboats or pontoon boats are allowed. Flats boats will be permitted as long as no one is using the poling platform, ladder, or any other raised tower. If caught, you will automatically be disqualified.
Tackle and Equipment:
Artificial lures only. No live baits or “powered baits” will be permitted other than pork strips, rind, etc. Only one casting, spin casting, spinning or flipping rod and reel in use per person is permitted. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready to use. All bass must be caught alive by rod and reel. Trolling as a method of fishing will not be permitted. No fly rods or other rods over 8 feet long allowed. No fishing within 50 yards of another contestant provided he is anchored with his trolling motor up.
Scoring:
Determined by pounds and ounces. Large mouth bass only. 5 fish per boat. No fish under 14 inches. Only one bass over 22” per angler may be brought in, in accordance with state limits. (No 22” exemptions). Undersized fish will be culled and a 3 pound penalty assessed. One pound penalty for each minute late, up to 10 minutes, at which time the team will be disqualified. A .250 pound ( 4 oz.) penalty for each dead fish weighed in. Culling of dead fish is prohibited.
This is a CATCH AND RELEASE tournament. All live fish must be released by tournament officials immediately following their weigh-in.
Protest:
There are two times during this contest in which you can register a protest. The first, is before the first boat is launched, for any infraction that may have incurred prior to the beginning of the contest. The second for registering a protest is immediately after the weigh-in of the last boat’s catch and before the awards presentation begins. Once the awards presentation begins, all results of the contest are considered fair and final.
Tournament Director:
Gary Simpson
Make checks payable to:
SunState FCU

Register at The Tackle Box or mail entry form to:
The Tackle Box
5902 SE Hawthorne Road
Gainesville, FL 32641

All participants must sign-in at Earl Powers Park Boat Ramp at Newnan’s Lake the morning of the tournament to receive boat number and instructions.

Cash Prizes
(based on 50 paid boats. Actual payout will be adjusted based on final number of entries)

First Place..............................................$875
Second Place.........................................$375
Third Place.............................................$300
Fourth Place...........................................$200

Big Bass Pot
(optional)

$10 per boat
50/50 split
big bass gets half and half goes to the charity