Rules

Tournament Rules (UPDATED 08/18/11)

Allstar Bass Teams
Allstar Bass Couples & Kids
Best Bet Aluminum Boat Series
Allstar Bass Teams Nite Series

Allstar Bass reserves the right to refuse any entry into its team tournaments at the discretion of the tournament authority.

1. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY

Participation in each tournament is open to all Allstar Series members in good standing. The Membership year is from October 1 until September 30. Non-members may join Allstar at any time by filling out the membership form found on the allstarbass.org website, or at the tournament sign up.  Membership fees have been discontinued, however the information on the membership form must be provided.   At least one team member must be 18 years or older or have a signed liability release from a parent or legal guardian.

Allstar Couples & Kids teams can either be a male - female team; or a same sex team.  One member of a same sex team must be a minor child under the age of 14 who does not require a fishing license at the beginning of the season. The team must fish at least one tournament while the minor child does not require a fishing license.

Best Bet Aluminum Boat Division is intended for nonprofessional amateur anglers.  Allstar Bass and the tournament director reserve the right to refuse any entry into the Best Bet Aluminum Boat Division at its discretion based upon angler's skill level.

2. INSURANCE & LIABILITY

It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have proof of adequate public liability insurance covering them and passengers. All contestants are required to sign a waiver absolving the tournament sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their participation in the tournament or related activities. Contestants are required to have in their possession and provide proof of insurance on demand by the tournament director. All participants agree to hold harmless Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments officers, directors and agents.

3. SAFETY

Boating safety must be observed at all times during practice and competition. A U.S. Coast Guard approved life preserver must be on and fastened anytime the combustible engine is operative and the kill switch lanyard must be attached to the driver during competition day. It is suggested that this be practiced during any practice day, but will be enforced only on competition day. A violation during a competition will result in a disqualification.

4. SPORTSMANSHIP

All teams are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any team who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or any Department of Fish and Game, state or local laws, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be disqualified.

Specifically the use of obscene language or gestures is strictly forbidden at any time prior to, during, or after the event in the area of the host marina, lodging or tournament headquarters. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification or other penalty.

Use of alcohol or drugs, other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician, by any competitor during an official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification for this and all future tournaments. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the operation of tournament, damaging to organized bass fishing, to Allstar Bass, or any of its sponsors, or to permitting agencies or their officers (such as rangers, fishery biologists, etc.) during or after the tournaments may result in temporary or permanent suspension from all future Allstar Bass tournaments.

Any act of a competitor, which reflects unfavorably upon the efforts of Allstar Bass to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy, may be deemed reason for disqualification.

Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments reserves the right to cancel membership at anytime. Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

5. BOATS AND MOTORS

There is no horsepower limit; however, no engine may exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat on which it is used. All boats must meet US Coast Guard and state regulations. All boats must have an emergency kill switch. All boats must have lights required by the Coast Guard. Lights must be in and turned on before the sun comes up prior to a day tournament or after sunset during a night tournament.

6. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT

All fish must be caught in a legal sporting manner. Intentional snagging of fish will not be allowed. Trolling with the aid of combustion or electric motors is not permitted. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait is permitted with the exception of pork rinds. Liquid fish attractants are allowed. Only one (1) rod per angler may be used at any one time. Other rods may be in the boat and ready for use, however, every cast and retrieve must be completed before another cast is made. Rods may not exceed more than eight feet in length. The official measuring board for Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments is the Golden Rule (flat board). The use of electronic fish tracking equipment including underwater cameras is allowed in official practice days only and not in competition.

7. PROTEST

All protests must be submitted verbally and then in writing no later than 15 minutes after the tournament official closes the scales. This means once the tournament is over, it’s over. You must have at least one witness to confirm the violation other than your non-boater. The Tournament Director will hear protests and the decisions of the Tournament Director will be final.

8. POLYGRAPH

All contestants, winners and non-winners are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in immediate disqualification. Any contestant who has failed a polygraph test in connection with any bass tournament for cheating or whose results are found to be inconclusive will not be eligible to compete in Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments tournaments.

9. OFFICIAL BOATS

Official boats will be on the lake for boat inspection and observation during tournament hours. Each team is required to cooperate with all requests.

10. SCORING

Allstar Teams Circuit:  Each team may weigh-in five (5) fish per day with a minimum of 13 inches in length or per Arizona Game and Fish rules (slot lakes). Any team bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. Fish will be measured on a Golden Rule (flat board) with the mouth closed. Any team weighing in a fish shorter than the legal tournament length (13 inches) will be assessed a one (1) lb. penalty plus the loss of all short fish. Currently, one slot fish per angler is allowed per Arizona Game and Fish rules. Any team weighing in more slot fish than is legally allowed will be disqualified. Any infraction of Arizona Game and Fish rules will result in disqualification.  A penalty of two tenths (.20) lbs. per dead fish will be deducted from the total weight.

The Couples & Kids Circuit and the Best Bet Aluminum Boat circuit: 

Each team may weigh-in five (5) fish per day with a minimum of 12 inches in length or per Arizona Game and Fish rules (slot lakes).  Any team bringing more than five (5) fish to the scales will be disqualified. Fish will be measured on a Golden Rule (flat board) with the mouth closed.  Any team weighing in a fish shorter than Arizona Game and Fish rules (12 inches) will be disqualified. Currently, one slot fish per angler is allowed per Arizona Game and Fish rules.  Any team weighing in more slot fish than is legally allowed will be disqualified. Any infraction of Arizona Game and Fish rules will result in disqualification.  A penalty of two tenths (.20) lbs. per dead fish will be deducted from the total weight.

Tournament standings will be determined by the total weight for the competition days of the tournament.

Only largemouth, spotted, red eye or smallmouth bass will be scored.

When presenting fish to be measured, the contestants cannot touch the fish while the official takes the measurement. Once fish are presented to the weigh master, they immediately become the "official catch" of the contestant and become the possession of the weigh master to measure weigh and record as such.

Any team failing to check-in within 15 minutes of their designated check-in time will forfeit all points for that tournament including the 5 points for entering the event.

There will be five (5) participation points awarded to each team entered. Points and pounds will be awarded as follows: 55 points and pounds in hundredths for first place, 54 points and pounds in hundredths for second place inclusive through 6 points plus pounds in hundredths for 50th place. Contestants in 51st place and below will receive 5 participation points plus their pounds in hundredths. These points along with total pounds are accumulated for the season to determine the team standings. To accumulate team points in more than one tournament, no change in team partners is

allowed.  If the partners change, a new team point accumulation will be started for the new team.

11. CULLING FISH

It is the responsibility of each team to keep no more than a maximum of the tournament limit for the particular lake you are fishing in a live well. If more than the tournament limit is present in the live well during the event you will be subject to disqualification.

You cannot cull a dead fish.

You cannot cull in the host marina.

Culling after you have checked in with the check-in boat is grounds for disqualification.

12. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS

All fishing must be done from a previously inspected boat, no tube or wade fishing is allowed. Boats may not be trailered to and from weigh-in during tournament hours unless under the direction of the tournament director.

No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of a non-anchored tournament boat without that boat’s permission.

No fishing is allowed within 50 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat with the trolling motor out of the water without the anchored boat’s permission.

Both team partners must fish from the same boat.

Only contestants may be in the boat during the tournament hours. Having a non-contestant sit in a hole for you (save your spot) will not be tolerated.

Contestants cannot leave a boat to land a fish.

Navigable waters are the only waters to be fished during the tournament. Contestants must be able to drive the boat into the fishing area without getting out of the boat.

The practice of restricting the natural movement of fish by any means such as, but not limited to, the use of nets, tanks, or dams will not be tolerated and will result in disqualification. Restricting the access to waters normally accessible by all anglers, by any means such as, but not limited to the falling of trees or the construction of obstructions will not be allowed and will result in disqualification.

13. GUIDES

Guides are allowed to fish in any and all tournaments provided a tournament contestant does not hire them to fish.

14. REGISTRATION

Mail in entry forms must be mailed with sufficient time to be received in Tonto Basin by the Thursday before the tournament date.  Registration will be held on Friday night prior to the tournament at the lake or local tackle store, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. See allstarbass.org for specific information on a lake by lake basis. Late registrations will be taken Saturday morning at the launch site for 1 hour prior to start of tournament. Fishing hours and checkpoints will be disclosed at the registration/start. It is each team’s responsibility to obtain this information from the tournament director.

All contestants registered by mail in entry or by Friday night at 7:00 p.m., will be in the computer draw for starting position. 

Contestants waiting until Saturday morning to sign up will be assigned a start position in the order of sign up.

15. PRACTICE FISHING

There are NO "OFF LIMITS" effective September 1, 2008. You can fish the lake when ever the lake is open prior to the tournament. You may pre-fish at anytime up until midnight the day prior to the tournament. During the tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. These devices may be used for emergency purposes only. During the competition day(s) a contestant must not have the assistance or advice from anyone to locate bass except from another contestant in this tournament. Failure to report violations or suggestions to violate these rules will be cause for disqualification. During a two day event the lake is off limits except during tournament hours.

16. CONSERVATION

Conservation and safety is the primary concern of Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments. Adequate live wells are mandatory on each boat and must provide adequate aeration to maintain fish in good condition.

17. WEIGH-IN

At the weigh-ins, once the contestant has passed his sack of fish to the weigh master, the contestant cannot touch the fish again. Any angler may request a one-time immediate "re-weigh" of their fish before leaving the scale area with their sack of fish. Once a sack of fish has left the scale area, the angler loses his right to request a re-weigh and any request of that nature will be denied.

18. CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING

Teams must fish with a partner a minimum of four (4) tournaments to qualify for the Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments Championship. The total tournament participation will be averaged after the final tournament of the season.  The top thirty five percent (35%) of that average total team participation will qualify for the Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments Championship. In addition, the last tournament of the season will be a qualifying event.  The top 15% of the final tournament that have fished a minimum of four (4) tournaments with a partner will also qualify for the championship.  No points may be transferred from one team to another.

Each team is allowed to fish two (2) events alone and represent the team providing the team fishes at least four (4) events together.

A contestant may fish the first event alone without a designated partner and accumulate points when fishing alone providing the other team member does not participate in that event.

Allstar Couples and Kids will hold a combined championship with Best Bet Aluminum Boat Division so long as there is a combined average of 30 participants during the regular season.

19. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND DRUGS

At no time during tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed in the boat or to be consumed while on the water. All local, state and lake laws will be enforced.

20. TIE BREAKERS

Big bass breaks all ties.

21. TOURNAMENT PROTECTION

Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, in the opinion of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the bass tournament, damaging to organized bass fishing, to Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments, or any of its staff, sponsors, or to permitting agencies or their officers (such as park rangers, fisheries biologists, or other officials), during the practice rounds or tournament, may result in the temporary or permanent suspension from all future Allstar Bass Fishing Tournaments events. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH CONTESTANT to know these rules. A rules violation compromises the entire tournament field, not just your partner for the day.

22. SIGHT FISHING

This rule concerns "sight fishing or bedding bass" and is in effect at any time that either of these conditions exists, and is designed to eliminate the illegal snagging of bass. A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and is watched as it approaches the lure. Fish being caught under these conditions must be caught by hook and line and by the fish ingesting the lure. Any bass that is caught that is either a "sight" or "bed" fish must be caught "hook in mouth with the hook point entering from inside the mouth". This catch must be verified as a legal catch by the angler's in-boat partner. Any "sight" or "bed" fish caught by snagging or with the hook starting outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by legal method - with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any angler catching fish under these conditions without verifying the hook location with the other in boat partner may be disqualified from the tournament.

23. NIGHT TOURNAMENTS

Early mail in registration entry forms must be received in Tonto Basin by the Friday before the tournament.  Registration will also be held at the lake beginning at 4:00 pm prior to the tournament.  Start position will be assigned in the order of sign up.  Anchor/Stern light must be in and on starting at sunset. Life vest and kill switch must be worn at all times while the big motor is running. Speed limit will be determined by the lake or the tournament director prior to the tournament and announced at the meeting. Additional rules for the night tournaments will be announced at the meeting prior to the tournament.

24. NIGHT TOURNAMENTS YEAR END PLACE MONEY QUALIFYING

The Nite Series Year End Place Money will be determined by the final standing after the series is completed.  The payout will be 1 in 10 of the average participants for the series.  This is a team event; however you may fish ONE tournament alone and still qualify for the Year End Place Money winnings.

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