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PENSACOLA HAWG HUNTERS
TOURNAMENT RULES
2000

Under the leadership of the Tournament Director, it is the responsibility of each participant to police his own adherence to the Tournament Rules.

The Tournament Director, prior to the start of the tournament will ask all participants to synchronize their watches and announce the weigh-in time. No boat will leave prior to the official start of the tournament. The Tournament Director will use his own judgment to determine safe daylight. At that point, it becomes the responsibility of each boater to judge for himself whether or not safe conditions exist and to act accordingly.

1. In order to receive credit for fishing a club tournament, a member must be in good standing. Dues and tournament fees paid up to date prior to starting the tournament.

2. There is a tournament entry fee. One Third of this fee will be placed in a "fishoff pot".

3. Normally here will be one monthly club tournament. The Tournament Director will have the authority to reschedule or delay the tournament due to emergencies, severe weather, etc. The future of the rescheduled tournament will be decided at a special club meeting or the next regularly scheduled meeting.

4. Tournament sites will be selected by a committee chaired by the Tournament Director, and comprised of he newly elected E-Board. Tournaments will include 8 one day tournaments and 4 two day tournaments (one of which will be the "Fish Off"the site of the "fish-off' will be a site which the club has previously fished). These sites will be published in the December newsletter for the following year. All members are encouraged to submit their suggestions for tournament sites prior to the December meeting.

5. Partners will be chosen by the Tournament Director. It is each man's responsibility to notify both the Tournament Director and his partner if he is unable to participate, giving as much advance notice as possible. Each boat will contain two contestants. However, a club member will be allowed to fish alone if pairing of two club members would not allow a potential member to fish his guest tournament, or an odd number of participants exists.

6. A minimum of two boats and four members are required to start a tournament.

7. Prior to the start , partners should resolve a schedule that permits equal time at the front of the boat. The contestant who is operating the boat shall have the privilege of selecting the route and the areas to be fished. However, in the event that one contestant elects not to operate the boat, and such an election is satisfactory to his partner, the contestant who waived his right to operate the boat will have the right to select areas to be fished.

8. All boats must be operated in a safe manner. Contestants must wear a coast guard approved life jacket while the combustion engine is being operated. All boats must have an operational "kill switch" . All safety equipment required by the Coast Guard, State and local regulation will be adhered to. Any infractions will result in disqualification of the offender.

9. No contestant will be allowed to fish within 50 yards of another club boat unless permission is obtained from the fisherman occupying the area in question. No fishing will be allowed in water prohibited by county, state, or federal regulations. All fishing must be conducted from the boat and contestants will not be allowed to portage boats.

10. A maximum of two rods may be used. Only casting, spinning or spincasting tackle may be used in conjunction with artificial lures or live bait. Other tackle such as flyrods or cane poles may be used during tournament hours for the purpose of catching live bait only. Any bass taken with this tackle must be released.

11. A five fish limit is allowed each fisherman per day unless state or local laws restrict limits to less. Fish must be a minimum of 12 inches long, unless otherwise restricted by state or local laws. Tournament Director will measure the fish with the mouth closed and tail pinched together to obtain the measurement. Contestants weighing in undersized fish will lose that fish and their largest fish of the day. The decision of the Tournament Director is final. Contestants weighing in dead fish will be penalized 0.2 lb. per dead fish. Late arrivals will be disqualified unless ruled by the E-Board to have been late due to assisting a boat in distress. Tournament winners and places will be determined by the total weight of the catch less any penalties.

12. There will be a convoy arranged, both to and from the tournament site. After pairing, partners are encouraged to agree on travel and lodging arrangements.

13. The three contestants recording the highest poundage at each tournament will be awarded cash prizes at the next meeting according to the following:
1st place 50% of Tournament Pot.
2nd place 30% of Tournament Pot
3rd place 20% of Tournament Pot
*In the event a place is not filled, any moneys from that place will be carried forward to the next "fishoff pot".

14. Points for each tournament and monthly meeting will count toward the Fisherman of the Year Award in December. Points will be accrued as follows:
a. 2 points for attending the monthly meeting.
b. 3 points for fishing a one day tournament or one day of a two day tournament.
c. 6 points for both days of a two day tournament.
d. 1 point for wearing a Hawg Hunter shirt and hat in at least one day of a tournament.( a one year moratorium for "official" Khaki shirt is in effect until January 1, 1996.)
e. 15 points for 1st place, 14 points for 2nd place, 13 points for 3rd place, 12 points for 4th place, 11 points for 5th place, 10 points for 6th place, 9 points for 7th place, 8 points for 8th place, 7 points for 9th place, 6 points for 10th place, 5 points for 11th place, 4 points for 12th place, 3 points for 13th place, 2 points for 14th place, and 1 point for 15th place in a club tournament.

f. In the event of a tie for a tournament place, the tied fishermen will be awarded an equal number of points by combining the points for the tied places . In the event of a tie at the end of the year, the following tie breaker will be used in order:
1. The individual with the largest number of legal fish weighed in for the year.
2. The individual with the largest number of live fish weighed in during the year.
3. The individual with the heaviest tournament stringer of fish weighed in
during the year.
15. Any protest must be filed within 15 minutes of the closing of the scales to the weighmaster or any officer present. Protests will be arbitrated by the club officials present, provided none is involved in the protest. All decisions are final.
16. All tournaments shall be live release. Fish shall be placed in plastic bags provided by the weighmaster. The weighmaster will remove the fish from the bags, weigh them and return them to the bags. Fish that show any sign of life will be considered live. Members may keep a lunker for mounting.
17. An adequate number of fish may be kept in the event of a fish fry.
18. Nothing can be attached to the fish at the weigh in.
19. Only largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be allowed.
20. Partners are expected to share normal tournament expenses, i.e., boat and automobile gas and oil, lodging cost, launch fees. The club will reimburse any member who is required to fish alone due to an odd number of fishermen upon presentation of expenses to the club treasurer.
21. A fishing partner will share expenses whether or not he rides to and from the tournament site with the boater.