1st Bassmasters of Sullivan Co. NY.
3nd Annual Richard Kappes Memorial Open Tournament Regulations

1. These rules are in effect for designated practice day(s), as well as tournament day(s). Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. The "spirit of the rule" will apply in all decisions. The decisions of the Tournament Committee shall be final in all matters.
   
   
2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation in this tournament is open to all anglers sixteen years or older. Proof of age to the satisfaction of the Tournament Committee shall be the responsibility of the prospective competitor. Any prospective competitor who is under 18 years of age must submit written permission from their parent or guardian. Any candidate for competition who, in the judgment of the Tournament Committee, is handicapped in such a manner as to unfairly hinder their partner or endanger the safety or well-being of their partner or themselves shall not be eligible. The Tournament Committee has the right to refuse any competitor if there is reasonable cause for the competitor to be questionable due to health or medication reasons. A properly completed and signed official entry form must be received by the end of the registration period. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of entry forms prior to the deadline date and also the right to extend the acceptance period. The Tournament Committee also reserves the right to limit the number of entry applications. Refund or transfer of entrance fees will be made at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Slots permitting, entry deadline for the tournament will be one hour prior to ease off.
   
   
3. PRE- TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: The tournament waters SHALL BE OFF-LIMITS TO ALL COMPETITORS BEGINNING AT 5PM ON THE DAY BEFORE TOURNAMENT. All contestants must be off the water by this time. It is the responsibility of the contestant to know and observe these dates and times. A competitor may not have the assistance or advice of, nor enter the tournament waters with anyone who has been on the waters during the off-limits period, or a professional guide, State or Federal wildlife employee, or any other person deemed a local expert on these tournament waters by the Tournament Committee. During the official practice and during the official tournament, a competitor may not "SKIN DIVE", "SCUBA DIVE", or use underwater cameras ON THE TOURNAMENT WATERS. NO MARKER BOUYS may be set prior to the start of the tournament.
   
   
4. REGISTRATION: Each competitor MUST register in person at the time and place designated. Pre-payment of entry fee and completion of the entry form DOES NOT exempt the contestant from subsequently registering in person. FAILURE TO REGISTER IN PERSON DURING THE DESIGNATED HOURS SHALL RESULT IN A PENALTY OF A 1/2 POUND. Failure to appear at registration prior to the beginning of the tournament will result in DISQUALIFICATION for that tournament. No exceptions. Other prior arrangements are at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. IT SHALL BE THE Competitor's RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN THE REGISTRATION TIME AND PLACE from the Tournament Committee.
   
   
5. SAFETY: Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by the tournament competitors. Each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver. The preserver must be worn at any time the combustion engine is operating. The preserver must be snapped, strapped or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the competitors reach their fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. The preserver must be attached to the ignition kill-switch in RULE #8. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE DURING DESIGNATED PRACTICE OR TOURNAMENT TIME SHALL BE REASON FOR DISQUALIFICATION.
   
   
6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors in the tournament will be expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the official practice or during the official tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for immediate 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 the tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon 1st Bassmaster's effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, prescription or otherwise, will be allowed in boats during the official practice or during the official tournament, or within restricted registration and weigh-in areas.
   
   
7. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: ONLY artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted, with the exception of pork rinds, strips, etc. Only ONE casting, spin-casting, or spinning rod (8 foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. All other types prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready for use, however only ONE is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be brought to the boat in a conventional and sporting manner. Net landing fish IS permitted.
   
   
8. BOAT AND MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF IGNITION KILL SWITCH. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver's body at any time the combustion engine is operating and the device must disconnect and shut off the engine any time the operator leaves the operating position. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE DURING DESIGNATED PRACTICE OR TOURNAMENT TIME SHALL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. Fishing boats may be used that are 14 feet or more in length. A small motor, gas or electric, may be used for slow maneuvering. It shall be the responsibility of the partners to agree on sharing boat operational expenses PRIOR to send-off tournament morning.
   
   
9. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: MINIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS, USED IN COMPETITION, WILL BE 12 HP. MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS, USED IN COMPETITION, WILL BE 250 HP, not to exceed the horse power limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard. When required, each boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must NOT exceed the rating specified on this rating plate or the 250 HP maximum set by 1st Bassmasters. Each competitor agrees to submit, by his signature on the entry form, the boat and outboard motor used in a tournament to an inspection by factory trained personnel, if there is any reason to suspect the horsepower is in excess of the rating. Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to increase the horsepower rating is forbidden, and will result in disqualification. Falsifying information on the entry form or altering the horsepower rating numbers on the motor, also would be cause for immediate disqualification from any future tournaments.
   
   
10. INSURANCE: In order to participate in 1st Bassmaster's tournaments, all boat owners must have at least $100,000 general boating liability insurance. Proof in the form of an INSURANCE CERTIFICATE, indicating a minimum of the $100,000 liability. Insurance must be submitted prior to the tournament or at the registration period prior to the entry deadline. Failure to submit proof will make a competitor ineligible to participate as a boater in the tournament.
    
    
11. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it must have a functional bilge pump and LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED, TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE A LIMIT CATCH OF BASS BY BOTH ANGLERS USING THE BOAT. Tournament Committee shall have sole responsibility for determining whether aeration capacity is "proper and adequate".
    
    
12. BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat will be given an Ease-Off position # at registration. Boaters will use the identification specified by the Tournament Committee until they are checked in by the timekeeper at the end of the tournament.
    
    
13. BOAT OPERATION AND EXPENSE: A full discussion MUST be held between the two partners PRIOR to morning departure on schedule and boat operations. In view of the large expense involved in operating and maintaining a tournament bass boat, it is suggested that the non-owner at least assume the cost of gas and oil and any damages incurred during operation by the non-owner.
    
    
14. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATION: Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Committee for each tournament. It is the responsibility of each competitor to obtain this information. Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere except within a 25 yard radius of a marina gas pump or within the area designated as too close to the weigh-in site. All angling must be done from the boat. Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing an object in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate local, State or Federal regulations.
    
    
15. COMPETITORS MUST STAY IN THE BOAT: Competitors must not leave the boat to land fish. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament hours. Contestants must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat. BOTH COMPETITORS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT AT ALL TIMES except in a case of a dire emergency. In such an emergency, contestants must stay within sight of each other and their catch, to the extent the emergency permits. Competitors may be removed from their boat to that of another competitor, or to a rescue boat designated by the Tournament Committee. All fishing must cease until both contestants are back in an authorized boat. Trailering of boats during the tournament hours is prohibited, except at the direction of the Tournament Committee.
    
    
16. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official checkpoint for the send off and return. This checkpoint shall be designated at the pre-tournament briefing. At the time of the send off, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with the rules set force by the Tournament Committee. Upon Return, all boats shall CHECK IN AT "STARTER" BOAT. ALL BOATS ARE DUE BACK AT POSTED TIME. Boat recovery will be in order of Return.
    
    
17. SCORING: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners will be determined by the weight of each team's catch during the tournament. Only largemouth and smallmouth bass will be weighed. Limit shall be a total of 5 fish per day. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statues and regulations of New York State. At no time shall a competitor have reduced to possession more than the limits described above. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE SHALL BE REASON FOR DISQUALIFICATION. AT NO TIME WILL A COMPETITOR BE ALLOWED TO CULL A DEAD FISH DURING A TOURNAMENT. VIOLATION OF THIS RULE SHALL BE REASON FOR DISQUALIFICATION. The official length for the bass shall be 15 inches. Only bass described above which will measure the official length or more on the straight line WILL be weighed in. Fish will be measured with the mouth closed and tail fanned. Bass presented for weigh-in WHICH FAIL TO MEASURE THE OFFICIAL LENGTH SHALL ACCRUE PENALTIES AT THE RATE OF ONE POUND FOR EACH SUCH BASS, and additionally, such bass WILL NOT BE WEIGHED as part of the contestant's catch. This penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the team. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Each team must present their catch to the weigh-in officials, and the weight of their catch must be certified by the SIGNATURE of presenting partner. Bass must not be placed on a stringer at any time during the tournament. Weigh-in bags will be furnished by the Tournament Committee, and ONLY THESE BAGS WILL BE USED FOR WEIGH-IN.
    
    
18. LUNKER POOL: The optional Lunker pool is $10.00 per boat to enter. Contestants must inform the Weigh-Master if they have a fish to present for the pool at the time of weigh-in.
    
    
19. DON'T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep their bass alive by the use of a properly aerated live-well. FOR EACH DEAD BASS presented to the weigh-in officials, the competitors SHALL BE PENALIZED 4 OUNCES, TO BE DEDUCTED FROM THAT FISH. The Tournament Committee and their designated appointees shall have the sole authority for assessing penalties.
    
    
20. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not at the official checkpoint area as described in RULE #16, at their appointed time (8 hours after ease-off) shall be penalized at the rate of ONE POUND PER MINUTE to be deducted from the total weight of their catch for that day, including any weight to be counted toward a lunker award. There shall be NO EXCUSES FOR LATENESS, and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up lost time. After proper recognition at the check-in point, competitors will be given ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site. ALL FISHING MUST CEASE UPON CHECK-IN. Exact hours for starting and weigh-in times will be announced at the pre-tournament briefing.
    
    
21. TIES: In case of a tie, Cash Awards will be pooled, then split. Trophies will be determined by largest fish.
    
    
22. Members of the Tournament Committee retain the right to approach or board any boat of any competitor at any time during the official practice or tournament days.
    
    
23. VIOLATION: Possible violations should be REPORTED IMMEDIATELY to the TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE at the weigh-in or WITHIN 15 MINUTES of the completed weigh-in. It is not necessary to submit a written report or protest. Each competitor agrees to report any violations or infractions of the tournament rules within the allotted time period. FAILURE TO REPORT VIOLATIONS or suggestions to violate these rules or FALSE VERIFICATION of weigh-in slips or the official entry form will be cause for DISQUALIFICATION. EACH COMPETITOR AGREES TO SUBMIT, BY THEIR SIGNATURE ON THE ENTRY FORM, TO A POLYGRAPH TEST SHOULD THEY BE ACCUSED OF ANY VIOLATION. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph test shall be solely the responsibility of the Tournament Committee and it's agents.
    
    
24. COMMUNICATION DEVICES: The use of communication devices should be avoided during official tournament hours except, in the case of an emergency, or to contact a tournament official. No telephone or digital communication between competing boats will be allowed. Such communication can result in disqualification at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
    
    
25. When you sign your name at check-in it indicates that you have read these regulations, and agree to the terms and conditions as they have been described.