Team Tournament Rules

 Tournament Director - Randy Joyce & Tommy Clark

1. Rules Interpretations
The Tournament Rules Committee shall be solely responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of the tournament rules. The Rules Committee will rule on any unusual situation which may occur. Their decision will be final in all instances.
2.    Eligibility of Participants
Anglers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
3.    Tournament Registration
One member of each team is required to register his team prior to starting time. Registration will be from 5:30 a.m. to 6:45 a.m. at the OCCONNEECHEE STATE PARK RAMP for all Buggs Island/Kerr Lake tournaments, Triple Springs Access at Lake Mayo, and Morningstar Marina at Lake Gaston.   Entry fee will be $110 per team.  A late fee of $15 per team will be applicable the day of the tournament.
4.    Tournament Time
The tournament time will be from first safe light or 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
 5.    Safety
Each tournament participant is encouraged to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver while the boat is underway by its main engine.
 6.    Sportsmanship
All contestants are required to comply with the Game and Fish   regulations in effect. Alcoholic beverages, stimulants or depressants will not be permitted in any tournament boat nor at the official weigh-in. All contestants are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner at all times.
  7.    Tackle Permitted
Fly, spinning, casting, or spin casting reels and rods will be approved for use in this tournament. All bass must be caught in a sportsmanlike manner on artificial lures only. A contestant may use only one rig at a time.
  8.    Boat and Motor
Trolling will not be permitted with gasoline motors. All boats must be equipped with the minimum required safety equipment by the VDG&IF and NCWRC.
   9.   Contestant Identification
Prior to start of the tournament, all boats will be checked. Each boat will be assigned a number, which must remain with the boat at all times.
  10.  Scoring
Tournament scores will be based on the total weight in pounds of bass caught by both contestants.  Daily limit will be 6 bass per team. Only  largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will be weighed in. If more than the limit is found in possession, tournament officials will cull down to the limit, beginning with the contestant's largest bass. All bass in possession must be 14 inches in length.   Penalty for violation of this rule will be 1 pound deducted from team weight for each illegal bass. No undersized fish will be weighed. If in the judgment of tournament officials, any bass presented for weigh-in has been mashed, mauled or mangled, that bass will not count in the contestant's score.   No contestant shall allow fish caught by them to be counted on the score of other competitors.  All boats will leave the designated launch site in the morning.  Weigh-in will be at the designated launch site.  Buggs Island Team Tournaments’ scales and “Golden Rule” will be official.   Method of measuring will be mouth closed and tail together.  Boats must remain in the water for contestants weighing fish.  A bonus of one-tenth pound will be awarded for each live fish.
11.   Fishing is permitted anywhere in the tournament waters, except within 50 yards of another competitor’s anchored boat.   No trailering of boats is permitted during tournament hours, unless otherwise directed by Tournament officials.  Fishing partners are required to remain together in the boat except in case of dire emergency.  In such a case, contestants may transfer, along with their catch, to the boat of another contestant or a properly designated official's boat and proceed to weigh-in.
12.    Ties
In case of a tie for any position, all affected places will be totaled and divided equally.  If a tie occurs on the Lunker, the teams tied will divide the big fish pot equally.  Each team is responsible to see that their largest fish is weighed.
13.    Late Penalty
There will be a penalty of 10% of the total weight for each one minute a contestant is late checking in at the end of the tournament day. Any contestants who fail to check in within 10 minutes after the close of the tournament will be disqualified.
14.     Penalty
 Violation of any of these rules will be cause for suspension or disqualification from this tournament trail.
15.   Protests
All protests must be made within 10 minutes after weigh-in is complete.
16.  Fishing Conditions                                                                                                                                    Tournament will be held regardless of weather, however, we reserve the right to change the starting time  postpone tournament if the Tournament  Committee feels conditions are unsafe. Buggs Island Team Tournaments assumes no responsibility for participants.
17.    Starting Position
Starting positions will be in the order that entries are received.
18.  Lunker Prize
A $20.00 per team fee will be optional at time of registration.   Payback will be 100% of big fish pot. 70% biggest fish, 30% second big fish.
19.    Payback
Payback will be 75% .One place for every six (6) boats.

20. Buggs Island Team Tournaments reserves the right to refuse any tournament entry.  Participants may be subject to a polygraph / stress test.   Failure or refusal of this test will result in disqualification.

21.     Returned checks will subject to a $35 bank service charge.