Rules 2014

ELITE BASS ALLIANCE SERIES (EBASS) RULES 2014

GENERAL FORMAT

  1. There will be nine qualifying tournaments and eight of these tournaments must be fished in order to qualify for the EBASS Classic.
  2. The total scores from all nine qualifying tournaments will determine team of the year.
  3. Prize monies for the EBASS tournaments will be determined according to participation
  4. At the season’s opening tournament, teams starting positions will be in the order of their previous events placing (2013). Should you not have attended the previous year or did not secure a score; your number will be given to you.
  5. At the following event, teams will start in the order they finished in the previous event.
  6. Before the start of each tournament, every team must register at the weigh station, signing off the attendance register receiving their starting position and tag, no more than 30 minutes before the start of each tournament.
  7. During the start of each tournament team names will be called when it is their turn to idle out the no-wake zone.

RULE 1: PARTICIPATION – OPEN TOURNAMENT

  1. The tournament is open to any participant, irrespective of age, creed, colour or race, however, the EBASS committee reserves the right of admission to any participant.
  2. Who ever your two-team members are at the start of the third tournament (April) will remain partners for the remainder of the season
  3. If a team member cannot fish any tournament, the participating team member may fish with another angler also competing solo. However, your five fish will only score for your team and vice versa for the other competitor whose five fish will score for his / her team only i.e.: you will be competing against each other on the same boat.
  4. You may fish with an individual other than your original starting partner for the remainder of the season, but you will not gain log points, only the prizes if you place in the top five. Should you need to change your partner any time after the March event, your previous scores will be cancelled and you will start from scratch from the changeover event.
  5. The EBASS committee reserves all rights to change venues within less than seven days before a tournament by notifying all participants via the EBASS website, social networks and/or email.

RULE 2: PRE-COMPETITION CUT-OFF

  1. 1.     NO CUT OFF (Rule stands till 2015)

RULE 3: COMPETITION BRIEFING

  1. A team briefing (captain’s meeting) will be held before every tournament, outlining any extraordinary situations or rule changes. Without exception the skipper or owner of each boat is responsible for ensuring either he/she or his/hers partner are present at this meeting where the tournament information will be communicated. No exceptions. It is the skipper/owner’s duty to inform his partner/co-angler of all the rules whether it is EBASS rules or the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry rules. EBASS renounces any responsibility.

RULE 4: USE OF LIVE-WELLS

  1. Live-wells of, adequately sized to accommodate a fish limit, must be used on each boat. These must be fitted with an aerated or freshwater supply capable of ensuring the fishes live until tournament end.
  2. The organizing committee will reject live-wells not conforming to the general international bass fishing standards.

RULE 5: LIVE-WELL INSPECTION

  1. Prior to the commencement of every tournament, all live-wells will be empty and checked by the weigh-master.
  2. Hatches for purposes other than live-wells, coolers and other watertight containers regardless of their purpose may also be opened for inspection.
  3. Inspections will be carried out on and off the water, no more than 30 minutes before the start of each tournament.
  4. Competitors so inspected will not leave their boat unless re-inspected before again becoming water-bound. (Failure 1 point penalty)
  5. A system of proving live-wells have been inspected will be implemented at every tournament.

RULE 6: SAFETY

  1. All anglers taking part in EBASS tournaments are obliged to have their boats fitted with safety kill switches, which must be attached to the skipper’s life jacket when boat is under power of main motor. (1st offence 1 point penalty; 2nd offence days catch disqualified; 3rd offence disqualified from tournament)
  2. Each person on the boat will wear life jackets at all times while the internal combustion engines are operating, during tournament hours. (1st offence 1 point penalty; 2nd offence days catch disqualified; 3rd offence disqualified from tournament)
  3. Standard safety rules pertaining to local waters, including the “rule of the road” (shore on right hand side, resulting in counter clockwise movement of boats), will be observed at all times.
  4. When boats approach ahead, they will pass with the other boat to the left (port rule) at a distance and speed such that a wake will not endanger other competitors.
  5. Overtaking in the same direction will be executed with discretion and the overtaking boat will maintain its course until well clear of overtaken boat(s). Generally, the overtaking boat should keep to the deep-water side of the other without endangering boats approaching head-on.
  6. Boats approaching at right angles will apply the port-rule. The boat with the other on the port (left) side has right of way. The other boat will alter course and/or speed to astern of the boat with right of way.
  7. Powerboats will give way to boats under sail or hand power, irrespective of the right of way.
  8. (Safety rules 3 – 7) (1st offence 1 point penalty; 2nd offence days catch disqualified; 3rd offence disqualified from tournament)
  9. If a participant appears incapable of safely operating his/her boat, the EBASS committee may exercise their right to disqualify that person for that tournament.
  10. 10.   All EBASS skippers must be in possession of a valid skipper licenses and certificate of compliance for their boats, which must be available for inspection at all times during a tournament. (Failure to have these documents disqualification for current tournament)

RULE 7: SPORTSMANSHIP

  1. Competitors will at all times display a high standard of sportsmanship and courtesy to both competitors and the general public.
  2. Any competitor found hurling verbal abuse of any kind to a fellow competitor or member of the public and found guilty of such poor conduct will be banned from participating in any future EBASS tournaments. (1st offence days catch disqualified; 2ndoffence disqualified from tournament) Any competitor found guilty by the committee of fighting or violence of any sort will be banned from participating in any future EBASS tournaments. 1st Offence Disqualified all tournament)
  3. Any competitor placing EBASS in disrepute through any media whatsoever and found guilty by the committee, will be disqualified from future EBASS-tournaments. 1st Offence Disqualified all tournament)
  4. The principles of conservation will be promoted by all EBASS participants at all times both on and off the water.

RULE 8: INJURED FISH

  1. Bass found to be dead, physically damaged, altered or un-wilfully mutilated bass will be disqualified at the weigh-master’s discretion. His decision is final.
  2. Presenting dead, damaged, altered or un-wilfully mutilated fish to the weigh-master will carry a one-point penalty per fish. You will also loose the weight of that fish. (Rule 1 & 2 are the same)
  3. The introduction of materials or devices that increase the fish’s weight/mass will be deemed wilful damage and be just cause for disqualification. 1st Offence Disqualified all tournament
  4. Old and/or accidental injuries that do not cause the fish to be heavier than if it were not injured will be accepted.
  5. Living fish that have partially ingested their prey will not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and not counted towards the weight.

RULE 9: ELIGIBLE FISH

  1. Only live bass measuring 300mm and over will be acceptable for weighing. The measurement is to be from the outer extremities of the closed mouth to the outer tip of the tail the fish placed on a flat surface.
  2. Any undersize fish presented to the weigh-master will incur the one point penalty deducted from the team’s score. That fish will be rejected,. No portion to be counted
  3. A fish that is gilling will be deemed to be alive with the final decision at the weigh-master’s discretion.

RULE 10: WEIGHING FISH AND FISH LIMITS

  1. Once a competitor enters a buoyed-off area, the fish in their possession become the property of the weigh-master, who may also inspect their live-wells at any time.
  2. Only the competitor will handle his/her catch to be weighed and presented for scoring. Helpers will be provided, but may not handle the fish until weighed.
  3. The daily fish limit will be five live fish only, on the boat at any one time.
  4. In the event of a competitor having more than the legal limit of dead or alive fish on the boat.
  5. Where there are more than the five-fish limit (dead or alive) on the boat per angler (if more than one) and doubt is expressed relating to responsibility, all the anglers on that boat be disqualified for that tournament.
    1.                        i.        (RULE 10) No. 2 – 5 (1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)
  6. Weighing-in at tournaments may take place throughout the day at the organizers’ discretion.

RULE 11: LATE WEIGH-IN

  1. A sufficient waiting area will be provided and marshalled; however your tag must be placed on the tag board before the dedicated cut-off time.
  2. The cut-off time will be indicated visually or audibly at the weigh station. Any competitor rendering emergency assistance to another competitor, which results in his/her late arrival, may have his/her catch weighed if he/provides satisfactory proof of such assistance given.
  3. The tag board system is utilized for EBASS tournaments and if your numbered tag is not on the weigh station’s board by cut-off time, the boat and its catch will be Disqualification from days fishing
  4. In case of a lost tag the competitor must identify himself to the weigh-master and inform him of a lost tag before the dedicated cut-off time, to avoid disqualification.
  5. Emergency assistance does not allow for the following:
    1. Flat battery
    2. Running out of fuel

The tournament director’s cell number will be displayed or given to all anglers at the weigh station in cases of emergency. It is the competitor’s duty to take down the number and call if an emergency arises. The tournament director will inform you of the protocol.

RULE 12: FISH CULLING

  1. No dead fish will be weighed
  2. No dead fish will be allowed on any boats. Dead fish are to be returned to the water as soon as it becomes evident.
  3. No culling will take place in the vicinity of the weigh station or in the waiting area(s) as all culling will have been completed while fishing to prevent the fish limit exceeded at any one time.

RULE 13: SESSIONS

  1. Angling day and times may be divided into discrete sessions at the organizers’ discretion. Each session will be treated as if a new day with defined start/finish times live-well inspections other applicable provisions as mentioned in these tournament rules.

RULE 14: NO-WAKE AREA

  1. A no-wake area will be in force for at least 100 (one-hundred) meters either side of the weigh-in site and 50 (fifty) meters into the water in front of the weigh-in site of any tournament. The shore extremities will be clearly marked and no angling permitted in such areas. 1st offence 1 point penalty; 2nd offence days catch disqualified
  2. All boats within this area will proceed at idle pace below 800RPM to avoid causing a wake. (1st offence 1 point penalty; 2nd offence days catch disqualified)

RULE 15: PROTESTS

  1. Complaint forms will be available at every tournament at the weigh station.
  2. Complainants need to fill in form and witnessed by witnesses before the prize giving starts.
  3. The form needs to be given to the weigh master and he must be made aware of the complaint, it is your responsibility to make sure he is aware of your complaint. If the prize giving starts and you have not been called to attend a hearing then the complaint has not been received and will be null and void. So please shout out and stop the prize giving and inform the speaker thereof.
  4. Once received all the parties must attend the hearing at the water’s edge and present their cases to the committee in an orderly fashion.
  5. The outcome will be decided and penalties/ disqualifications will be given before the prize giving by the committee.

 

RULE 16: TIE-BREAKING

  1. In the event of a tie, the bag with the most fish followed, if necessary, by the bag containing the heaviest fish, will decide the winner.

RULE 17: SCORING SYSTEM

  1. Competitors will be awarded one point per kilogram or part thereof.
  2. Important – If a team has not fished eight of the nine events, they will not qualify for the final.
  3. The final EBASS classic will be a 2-day event and will be held on 1 and 2 November 2014, at venue to be determined.
  4. The total weight of the two tournament days (5 fish per day )will determine the event results

RULE 18: LURE-TYPE TACKLE

  1. Angling will be with artificial lures only.
  2. No live bait or prepared (organic) bait will be permitted.
  3. Only one wet-line attached to a rod and reel per angler may be used at any one time. (
  4. No trolling will be permitted i.e.: no lure attached to a line may be overboard while the main (outboard) engine is running.
  5. No tethered or hand-line of any description may be used under any circumstances.
    1.                        i.        (RULE 18) ( 1- 5) (1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)

RULE 19: WET LINES

  1. No boat may approach closer than 40 meters to another competing boat except by mutual consent and in the event of rendering emergency assistance. If an angler allows any one angler into wet-line radius, then he/she is obliged to allow any angler into this area.
  2. Fish will not be transferred to another host for any reason whatsoever other than an emergency assistance. One of the anglers from the immobilized boat must accompanying the catch and the fish must be properly tagged and transported in a separate livewell.
    1.                        i.        RULE 19) (1 & 2) (1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)       

RULE 20: METHODS OF ANGLING

  1. Angling may only take place with a recognized rod and reel with only one wet-line in use at any one time.
  2. A landing net may be used to land fish.
  3. An angler must catch, fight and land the fish without changing the structure to enable the fish to be landed or leaving the boat and entering the water to retrieve a fish caught on undergrowth. He/she may, with the assistance of his/her co-angler; retrieve a fish caught in the undergrowth provided he/she does not leave the boat. 1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)

RULE 21: PROHIBITED AREAS

  1. Anglers will be disqualified if they encroach on the out-of-bounds areas declared off-limits by the tournament director, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, nature conservation or dam authorities. These include, but are not limited to dam wall areas, weirs and private property. If the tournament director has put any such areas off-limits, it is the angler’s duty to confirm he/she understands what is off-limits. If no angler asks questions with regard to this, it is deemed they understand the tournament director and in the event of a violation in this rule, the boat will be disqualified.
  2. Anglers will be disqualified if excessive speed is applied in a no-wake area such as a sanctuary, breeding area and/or private property (where this stipulation is a condition of entry to such areas).
  3. An angler may not leave the boat other than at the weigh-in station or for an emergency. No receiving of items from non-competitors will be tolerated.
  4. Any boat or a casted line seen in the off-limits area is grounds for immediate disqualification. The tournament director’s decision is final.
    1. RULE 21 (1 – 4) (1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)

RULE 22: ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

  1. No member may be under the Influence of alcohol while participating in a tournament. The stipulations of National Road Safety rules will also apply. (1st Offence Disqualification from days fishing 2nd Offence Disqualification from Tournament)
  2. The use of illegal drugs or substances (as defined in common law) by contestants during tournaments is prohibited. 1st Offence Disqualified all EBASS tournaments
  3. Contravention of Rule 22 I and/or II above will constitute a serious offence and be dealt with severely, preventing further participation, removing (by force if necessary) the capability to a boat or motor vehicle until deemed safe to return such control.

RULE 23: PENALTIES AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

  1. 1.     A tag not on the tag board will carry a one-point penalty, and the entire catch will be disqualified and this will be regarded as a minor infringement.
  2. 2.     Failure to wear your life jacket, while the main motor is running will carry a one-point penalty.
  3. 3.     Planning in the no-wake zone will be a one-point penalty and considered a minor offence.
  4. 4.     Fishing in an off-limits area will be a disqualification and considered a serious offence.
  5. 5.     It is the committee’s discretion whether any other infringements are considered minor or serious offences.
  6. 6.     A disqualification is a serious offence and will not be considered as a lowest-score dropped.

RULE 24: POWER OF DISQUALIFICATION

Under ANY of the above rules, the EBASS committee is empowered to disqualify any competitor, after due consideration, deemed to have broken these rules at their level and/or apply disciplinary measures as defined in the EBASS rules. The committee may ban any angler for a serious breach of rules.

In the event of a dispute, the EBASS committee reserves the right to call for polygraph testing on any anglers. If found guilty; anglers will be responsible for the entire cost of the polygraph test.

By completing the entry form and submitting and participating in the EBASS series, anglers agree to abide by all the rules and have acknowledged and have accepted the indemnity at the bottom of the entry form