The interpretation of these rules and the settlement of disputes not covered by these rules, and the settlement of all protest shall be the responsibility of the tournament committee.  The tournament committee will consist of the tournament director and president.  If the tournament committee cannot reach a decision, the issue will be referred to the board of directors.

Participation in tournaments conducted by the Panama City Bassmasters is open only to members in good standing, prospective members and guest.  Any member with delinquent dues will not be eligible to fish Panama City Bassmasters tournaments.

Any contestant found guilty of violating these rules, or deliberately hampering another contestant in any manner will be disqualified from competition in that tournament and his entry fee will be forfeited.  Any action by a contestant that reflects dishonor or disgrace on the club will cause that contestant to be disqualified.

Courtesy, safety and conservation as well as good sportsmanship in all aspects is expected from all contestants.  All bass must be caught without leaving the contestant’s boat.  Trolling is prohibited.

Alcoholic beverages, drugs (other than prescription drugs), or other stimulants will not be permitted during any tournament.

Safe boating conduct must be practiced at all times.  Each contestant must wear a coast guard approved life preserver any time the combustion engine is operating.  All boats must be equipped with an ignition kill switch that must be attached to the boat operator any time the combustion engine is in operation.  Boats must also be equipped with any other coast guard required equipment.  Boats must be equipped with an operating aerated live well.

The boat owner shall allow his partner equal opportunity to fish in the manner of his choice for one half of the tournament hours.

No contestant will fish within 50 yards of an anchored tournament boat.  An anchored boat is one with the anchor in the water, or that is tied off on a tight line, or the boat is tied to a limb, stump, stickup, etc. (with trolling motor in the “up” position).

All contestants are bound by prevailing state and local laws.  Only five (5) bass will be allowed in the possession of each contestant at any given time and not more than one fish 22 inches or more in length.  Furthermore, each contestant shall never have in his possession a number of bass that will exceed any state or local limits.

Each contestant shall be responsible for his own tackle.  Only artificial lures may be used with the aid of casting, spin-casting, spinning or fly-casting rod and reels.  Only one (1) rod and reel may be used at any time.  However, other rods and reels may be rigged, in the boat and ready to use.  Strips of pork rind and other prepared bait may be used.

The tournament shall be held on the Saturday following the regular Monday meeting.  The tournament director will determine the tournament hours.  The tournament site shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present from a list of locations nominated from the floor.  The site shall be selected before members commit to participate.  All contestants shall be responsible for knowing and adhering to starting and docking times.  The tournament can only be altered by the tournament committee.  If a tournament cannot be held on the scheduled date, it will be rescheduled to another date within the same month.

Pairing of contestants shall be by the draw system, except for those tournaments designated for membership drives, or buddy tournaments.  Your name must be entered at the regular meeting to be included in the draw.  Any changes or late pairings will be made by the tournament director.

No two members shall fish together more than once during a six month period and exceptions to this must be approved by the board of directors.  A member rotation will be used for the pairing of non-boaters.  There shall be no observers and all boat riders shall participate in the tournament by paying entry fees.  All club members and potential members are encouraged to have access to a boat.

Entry fee for all tournaments will be $25.00 per person which includes $5.00 to big fish pot and $2.00 applied to the club treasury.

All partners are expected to share expenses equally for vehicle and boat operation.  All non-boaters shall pay $50.00 to the boater towards expenses for the operation of the vehicle and boat and each partner shall pay their own entry fee.

The tournament committee will weigh and record all contestants catches and post the results in the record book.  Only five (5) bass per contestant will be weighed.  All bass must be 12 inches or more in length as measured from closed mouth to tip of the closed tail on a standard “Golden Rule” measuring board.  Any short fish measured on the official measuring device at weigh-in will result in the contestant being disqualified.  Any fisherman bringing to the weigh-in more than one fish 22 inches or more in length shall be disqualified.  A 4oz. penalty will be assessed for each dead fish presented at weigh-in.  Stripped bass or hybrids (sunshine fish) and white bass will not be scored. 

Tournament payoff will be made according to the attached payoff schedule.  Tournament standings, awards and final winners shall be determined as specified in the by-laws.

Ties for any tournament standing or award, or yearly point champion shall be broken by the contestant’s heaviest bass.  If the heaviest bass are equal, the largest number of bass weighed in will break the tie.  If the numbers of fish are also equal, the winner will be determined by the flip of a coin.

A late penalty of one (1) pound per minute will be deducted from a contestant’s catch that is late for weigh-in, beginning with his heaviest fish first, for a period of up to 15 minutes.  Any contestant more than 15 minutes late will be disqualified.

A contestant that has broken down may bring his catch and his partner’s catch to the weigh-in in another tournament boat.  Each individual's catch is still subject to late penalties if the assisting boat is late to weigh-in.

Any contestant that wishes to protest the tournament scoring, or unsportsmanlike conduct must do so to the tournament committee at the weigh-in, before the winners are determined.

All contestants are encouraged to bring their trash back to the launching ramp for proper disposal.

The tournament rules may be amended by 2/3 majority vote of the members present at the December meeting.  Club members that wish to change any of the tournament rules are encouraged to submit his proposed changes to the club membership for review prior to the December meeting.