2010 Individual Series Rules

Revised on April 22, 2010

 

1. RULES CHANGES: The following rules will remain unchanged throughout the event unless State or Local Laws are in conflict. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Directors. In the event of a rule violation the Tournament Directors may impose such sanctions, as he/she deems appropriate including, without limitation disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent events. The decision of the Tournament Directors will be final in all matters. It is at the Director’s discretion to make a change where safety is a concern. All Federal, State and Local Laws must be obeyed. It is the contestant’s responsibility to know these laws and to obey these laws.

 

2. PARTICIPANTS, ELIGIBILITY: Participation in each event is open to all sex and races. A legal guardian must sign a waiver for any contestant under the age of 18. You must have a valid Texas fishing license to enter tournament. 

 

3. ENTRY & CHAMPIONSHIP FEES: The entry fee for Anglers Quest Individual Series events will be $155.00 plus a one time yearly $20.00 Championship fee due for each different lake series that you participates in. Credit Card entry will be $165.00. The Championship fees will be paid back at the Tournament of Champions Championship. Entry may be made by mail at 18923 Keyturn Ln Humble, Tx 77346 or by Phone/Credit Card at 281-852-8842. Take off numbers will be issued at time of paid entry. Anglers Quest bus will be at Mill Creek Park on site # 110 on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays before each Rayburn event for entry. Anglers Quest bus will be at Kickapoo Bait & Tackle on Friday evenings and all day Saturdays before each Livingston event for entry. Anglers Quest bus will be at El Dorado Jack’s all day Saturdays before each Conroe event for entry. Anglers Quest bus will be at Lake Houston Marina all day Saturday before each Lake Houston event for entry. No refunds allowed after entry.

 

4. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES & DRUGS: At no time during Tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed in the boat.

 

5. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates any state or local laws or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be subject to disqualification.

 

6. BOATS & 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 U.S. Coast Guard and State regulations. All boats must have an operable emergency kill switch. All boats must have an aerated live well large enough to sustain one tournament limit per entrant in live releasable condition. Carrying extra gas tanks or containers of gasoline during event is prohibited.

 

7. SAFETY: Boating safety must be observed at all times during competition. A US Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver must be on and fastened any time the boat is on plane, and the kill switch must be attached to the driver. All entrants in boat are responsible for this rule.

 

8. FISHING, TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Must be done with artificial lures only. Pork is permitted. Contestants may use only one rod and reel at a time. Each cast must be completely retrieved before using another rod and reel. No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of another contestants boat or 50 yards from anchored contestants boat with trolling motor out of water (permission to one is permission to all). No tube, bank or wade fishing is allowed. No trolling with the combustion engine is allowed. All fish must be caught in a legal and sporting manner during tournament hours from tournament waters. Waters fished must be accessible by boat without getting out of boat to gain access. A contestant may not leave boat to retrieve fish, line, or lure from any structure. Only contestants may be in boat during tournament hours. All fishing must be from a previously inspected boat. All Bass at weigh in become property of Anglers Quest to be released at host weigh in site. NO intentional snagging of bass. NO elevated platforms or ladders allowed in boat. Push poles are permitted. Hole sitting by or for entrants will be grounds for disqualification. No fishing inside any state, federal or lake buoys disallowing entrance to area. HOST MARINA BOUY LINE IS OFF LIMITS. No communication pertaining to fishing is allowed via cell phone, VHF radio, pager or any electronic device during competition.

 

9. PROTESTS: Must be submitted in writing before scales are turned off. NO Verbal Protests. 

 

10. POLYGRAPH: All contestants are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in disqualification. Any person who has failed a polygraph test in connection with any fishing tournament for cheating must have since that time retaken and passed the polygraph test with regards to the failure in question.

 

11. SCORING & PENALTIES: Will be determined by the total weight of not more than 5 bass per contestant. Ties for cash prizes will be settled (1st by number of fish) or, (2nd by combining two cash awards and splitting the total between tied contestants). Largemouth Bass and Kentucky Bass will be counted. The minimum length limit will be 14” with the exception of Lake Conroe, which is 16”. All fish will be measured on a “CHECK-IT STIK” with mouth closed & tail compressed. A dead fish penalty of .25 lbs. per fish will be deducted from total weight and Big Bass weight. Anyone bringing in a short fish in their bag will lose their entire creels weight. 

 

12. OFFICIAL TAKE OFF TIME & WEIGH-IN: Any boat ramp may be used for launch however; entrants will be responsible for their own launch fee. All Lake Livingston events are trailering events, BUT must have boat inspected morning of event at Kickapoo Bait & Tackle before launching. All other Lake series are NOT trailering events. Take off will be at safe light in a safe orderly manner from host lake ramp, take off numbers will be issued in order of entry received. Weigh in times will be announced at take off and is the responsibility of each entrant to know.  Weigh bags will be supplied by A/Q at weigh in. At time of take-off, all contestants & their boats must be in full compliance with all rules set forth by Anglers Quest and state and federal laws. 

 

13. CULLING FISH: If more than 5 fish are in boat per entrant during inspection you will be disqualified. NO CULLING OF DEAD BASS.

 

14. BREAKDOWNS/EMERGENCIES: In an emergency or major equipment failure, you may hitch a tow from any boat on the water, but may not bring your fish in except in yours or another tournament contestants boat. 

 

15. AWARDS CEREMONY ATTENDANCE: Those who cannot attend will forfeit any claim to trophies or merchandise earned in competition.

 

16. INSURANCE & LIABILITY:  It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to have adequate public liability insurance covering him/herself and passengers. All contestants are required to sign release & waiver absolving sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury obtained as a result of your participation in the tournament.

 

17. CHAMPIONSHIP & AOY QUALIFYING: Each entrant will receive 2 lbs per tournament entry. Positions will be determined by accumulated yearly pound standings. For the TOC, because 2 rods are better than 1, Individual Championship qualifiers will be allowed to choose any Individual Championship Series qualifier for a team partner for the TOC. The Individual Series Championship event will have a $155.00 entry fee. BB pot will be $50.00 and BB pot will be paid back 100% to 2 places split 60%/40%. All Individual Championship qualifiers will be eligible for TOC. Top 25 in pounds will qualify for Individual Championship with a minimum of 4 entries to a series. Enter all 9 events in any Lake Individual Series and automatically qualify for Individual Championship. "Bonus" Enter last 5 events in any lakes Individual Series (May-Sept) and automatically qualify for Championship. Championship will include a Calcutta auction. Each Individual must be sold in Calcutta Auction for a minimum of $50.00 to be eligible for Calcutta pot; only Calcutta owners will be paid. Ties will be broken 1st by number of fish weighed in during event. In case of a 1st place tie, winner will be determined by an overtime fish-off. The Tournament Directors will decide special rules. Combining both places and splitting equally will break other ties. Pounds gathered from all 9 events will determine “Angler of the Year”, and will be awarded Free Entries to Series won for 2011.

18. Any A/Q Championship qualifier will qualify for "Tournament of Champions"