1. RULE CHANGES: These rules shall remain in effect and unchanged throughout the current tournament year unless specifically superseded by state or local law. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director.
2. PARTICIPATION/ELIGIBILITY: Only current members of the NBAA are eligible to fish in any NBAA event. Anglers wishing to participate in NBAA events may do so at any time prior to the start of an event. At least one team member must be 18 years of age or older to participate, however, if both members of a team are under the age of eighteen, then they must present written permission from a parent or legal guardian. The NBAA reserves the right to deny participation to anyone at any time
3. ALCOHOL/DRUGS: Participants will refrain from the use of alcohol and or drugs during the course of the tournament event. This prohibition does not extend to the use of prescribed medications for ongoing medical issues.
4. BOATS AND MOTORS: Motors may not exceed the horsepower rating on the BIA plate for those boats meeting BIA standards, nor any manufacturer’s plate affixed in lieu of BIA ratings. All boats used in NBAA events must be equipped with a functioning kill switch as well as aerated livewells capable of sustaining a full tournament limit during the course of the event.
5. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times while engaged in NBAA sanctioned events and all boats must have a full compliment of safety gear as required by USCG regulation. Any time the internal combustion motor is on both participants must have a USCG approved PFD on and securely fastened. Operators must have the kill switch armed with lanyard firmly secured to the operator.
6. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: All fish must be caught alive and in a conventional sporting manner using one rod which may not exceed eight (8) foot in length (measured butt to tip). Intentionally snagging fish is not permitted. Only artificial lures may be used, live and or prepared bait is not allowed, the only exception being “pork rinds” or its equivalent. Trolling with the aide of the internal combustion or electric trolling motor is not permitted. Communication devices such as cell phones, marine radios or CB’s may be used for emergency purposes only. At the weigh-in, a courtesy board will be provided which will be the same as the official board used for the event.
7. PROTESTS/DISQUALIFICATION: Directors must be notified of all protest before close of scales. Protests also, must be submitted in writing within 10 minutes of the closing of the scales. A “protest committee” consisting of three (3) fellow anglers, randomly drawn by the tournament director will address all protests. Teams disqualified from individual events will still receive show-up points.
8. SCORING: Teams must cull down to their limit of 5 fish before returning to the official ramp site. The 5 fish must measure a minimum of 14 inches*, mouth closed, tail compressed (*local/state limit applies). Teams presenting more than a tournament limit shall be disqualified. Dead fish presented for weight will receive a 4-ounce (0.25) deduction from total weight. If it’s the big bass, then the penalty shall be accessed against that fish. Tournament standings will be determined by total weight of all competition days. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass will be scored. Teams presenting fish for weight, and which are subsequently determined to be “short”, shall be penalized the weight of the short fish PLUS the big fish of the sack. Teams must depart and return from a specified point, teams arriving late will be disqualified.
9. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS: All angling activities must be done from a previously inspected boat. No fishing will be allowed within 50-yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or tied, with its trolling motor stowed out of the water, without the anchored boats permission. Only tournament contestants will be allowed in the checked-in boat. Hole sitting will not be tolerated. Competitors may not exit their boat in order to facilitate access to “other” waters. Tournament directors will determine, and announce, all off-limit areas.
10. SPORTSMANSHIP: Participants in NBAA events are expected to follow the highest standards of courtesy, safety, angling etiquette and a strict adherence to game and fish laws.
11. NO-WAKE: Boats will not pass another’s competitors boat in any no-wake zones at any time during tournament hours except for boats that may be changing course within the zone, boats which have stopped or are engaged in fishing activities.
12. TIES: In the event of a tie at the event, big bass will be the deciding factor. In cases of a big bass tie, then the money will be split. In the event that big bass and total weight are the same for two or more teams then both (all) tied teams shall be awarded the same amount of points. At the end of the season if there is a tie between two or more teams in equal points, then overall weight of the teams will be the deciding factor with both teams still qualifying for the Classic.
13. SUBSTITUTIONS: Up to 2 subs may be used during the regular season as long as one team member fishes with the sub. A sub is allowed to participate in the Classic provided that they had previously fished at least 50% of the regular events. Teams with a member who unexpectedly cannot attend the Classic may utilize a sub from the division qualified from or, if none are available, then a sub from another division can be used if approved by the Executive Director. Exceptions to this rule maybe made by the executive director in cases of death, disability, or military duties.
14. WILDCARD: Eligibility for “wildcard” qualification will be based on participation in the division fished; Overtime events are 10 out of 12, Challenge events are 4 out of 5. Wildcard selections will be made at the conclusion of the division’s events. If any of the teams drawn decline, then another team will be drawn until such time as the slots is filled from within the division.
15. OFF-LIMITS: Tournament waters are off limits the day of the event with pre-fishing allowed on all bodies of water until 11:59 p.m. the day prior to any tournament.
16. Classic Qualifiers - The best 10 out of 12 tournaments will determine qualifying for the Overtime Challenge Championship. The best 4 out of 5 will determine the classic qualifiers for the Weekend Challenge Championship. All teams qualifying for the classic through points must have fished at least ½ of the divisions scheduled tournaments.
17. DIVISION’S POINT CHAMPIONS: Points Champions of each division will be determined based on all tournaments fished in that division.
18. PRO/GUIDE EXCLUSIONS: Participants, who have fished two or more events, in the preceding 12 month period, with an entry fee in excess of $1,499.00 per event, will not be eligible to participate in any NBAA event with an guaranteed 1st Place prize in excess of $2,400.00 (does not apply to amateur participants in pro/am events). Nor will individuals serving as licensed guides, or are paid for guiding on tournament waters within the pre-ceding 30-day period are not eligible to participate in events held on those waters for tournaments with a guaranteed 1st Place prize of $2400.00.
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Black Jack Shootout 
