Angler's Choice Team Tournament Trail Rules
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PURPOSE: Tournament rules provide equal opportunity for all participants to successfully apply their fishing skills and abilities, improve the safety of both participant and non-participant users of the tournament waters, and provide for proper handling of fish.
INTERPRETATION: The Tournament rules are subject to interpretation only by the tournament officials under the coordination and supervision of Angler’s Choice Marine. The Tournament Director’s decision shall be final.
ELIGIBILITY: Participation in the tournament is open to anglers 18 years old or older. Younger anglers are permitted if partnered with an adult and legal guardian must provide consent for viable entry This is an invitation team trail and sponsors retain the option of declining applications to the tournament.
ENTRY FEES: The entry fee is $160 per tournament per team (includes big fish award). The two-day Classic entry fee is $180 per team (includes big fish award for both days of competition). Big Fish Award - a team can only submit one fish out of its weigh bag for the big fish award unless there is a Big Largemouth and Big Smallmouth award for a particular lake/tournament. In this case, teams can submit one of each species.
TEAMS - Participants register themselves as a team before its first tournament of the season and must fish together as boater-captain/non-boater. That team will accrue points for the division (NC or VA division) in which the tournament is held. The registered team must fish in at least 4 of the 6 Angler’s Choice qualifier tournaments in one division to enter the two-day Classic for that division. If a team fishing in 6 of the possible 12 qualifiers in either state than that team is eligible to fish both classics (NC & VA). Both members of the team must fish in the same boat for the points to count. If team members fish in separate boats for any reason, then they will be treated as two new teams and cannot carry any previous points forward from the original team.
SUBS – A team may use a sub in only one Angler’s Choice qualifier, even if fishing both divisions. Any Sub may only fish one event with any team. If that person decides to fish any other tournaments in that year, the membership fee must then be paid before registering for the second event, even if fishing with a completely different team. All subs must be preapproved by the tournament director prior to arriving at the tournament site. Approval can be made by contacting the tournament director, Randy Carter (VA division) at 276-358-0844 or Brad Staley (NC Division) at 336-253-8596. Exception - A substitute may be utilized in the classic if the substitute has also qualified by fishing 4 out of the 6 events for that division. For example, a member from each qualifying team can combine to create a new team for the Classic.
BASS PRO SHOPS US OPEN POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP - NC & VA DIVISION will each have a points championship. Top points finisher from each division will advance to Bass Pro Shops US Open and the chance to win $1 million. Please see Bass Pro Shops US OPEN web site for complete details. Boat captain must be a registered owner of a White River Marine Group boat (Ranger, Triton, Nitro, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Tahoe). If top points finisher does not qualify, the next highest qualifying points finisher that meets Bass Pro Shops US OPEN requirements will advance.
BASS TOYOTA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – NC & VA DIVISION will each have a points championship. Angler's Choice Team Trail will be allowed to send one (1) team to the B.A.S.S. Toyota Team Championship for every 25 teams that registers per division. The qualifying teams will be determined by the highest finishing eligible teams in the Angler's Choice Points Championships. Any team that participates in this program must sign a separate waiver and release/liability required by B.A.S.S.
ANGLERS BUCKS: In order to be awarded Anglers Bucks in any event, contestant must have purchased his/her boat from Anglers Choice Marine, be the registered owner of that boat, and use that boat for the duration of that event. Subject to verification by the tournament director.
INSURANCE: All boat owners must maintain a minimum of $100,000 liability insurance on the boat used in our tournaments. Documentation shall be provided to the Tournament Director upon request.
REGISTRATION: Tournament registration will redirect you to a secure website to enter all your information. You should receive a confirmation once payment has been submitted.
INTERPRETATION: The Tournament rules are subject to interpretation only by the tournament officials under the coordination and supervision of Angler’s Choice Marine. The Tournament Director’s decision shall be final.
ELIGIBILITY: Participation in the tournament is open to anglers 18 years old or older. Younger anglers are permitted if partnered with an adult and legal guardian must provide consent for viable entry This is an invitation team trail and sponsors retain the option of declining applications to the tournament.
ENTRY FEES: The entry fee is $160 per tournament per team (includes big fish award). The two-day Classic entry fee is $180 per team (includes big fish award for both days of competition). Big Fish Award - a team can only submit one fish out of its weigh bag for the big fish award unless there is a Big Largemouth and Big Smallmouth award for a particular lake/tournament. In this case, teams can submit one of each species.
TEAMS - Participants register themselves as a team before its first tournament of the season and must fish together as boater-captain/non-boater. That team will accrue points for the division (NC or VA division) in which the tournament is held. The registered team must fish in at least 4 of the 6 Angler’s Choice qualifier tournaments in one division to enter the two-day Classic for that division. If a team fishing in 6 of the possible 12 qualifiers in either state than that team is eligible to fish both classics (NC & VA). Both members of the team must fish in the same boat for the points to count. If team members fish in separate boats for any reason, then they will be treated as two new teams and cannot carry any previous points forward from the original team.
SUBS – A team may use a sub in only one Angler’s Choice qualifier, even if fishing both divisions. Any Sub may only fish one event with any team. If that person decides to fish any other tournaments in that year, the membership fee must then be paid before registering for the second event, even if fishing with a completely different team. All subs must be preapproved by the tournament director prior to arriving at the tournament site. Approval can be made by contacting the tournament director, Randy Carter (VA division) at 276-358-0844 or Brad Staley (NC Division) at 336-253-8596. Exception - A substitute may be utilized in the classic if the substitute has also qualified by fishing 4 out of the 6 events for that division. For example, a member from each qualifying team can combine to create a new team for the Classic.
POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP - Any team fishing the Anglers Choice Marine Team Tournament Trail will accrue points in each division as the season progresses. Points can only be accrued from the qualifying tournaments. No points will be awarded at the two-day Classic. Points champions will be determined by a cumulative score out of the qualifying tournaments fished per division (NC or VA). No team will be allowed to carry points over from division to division. Payout is as follows: 1st place points finisher: $500; 2nd place points finisher: $300; 3rd place points finisher: $200.
BASS PRO SHOPS US OPEN POINTS CHAMPIONSHIP - NC & VA DIVISION will each have a points championship. Top points finisher from each division will advance to Bass Pro Shops US Open and the chance to win $1 million. Please see Bass Pro Shops US OPEN web site for complete details. Boat captain must be a registered owner of a White River Marine Group boat (Ranger, Triton, Nitro, Tracker, Sun Tracker, Tahoe). If top points finisher does not qualify, the next highest qualifying points finisher that meets Bass Pro Shops US OPEN requirements will advance.
BASS TOYOTA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – NC & VA DIVISION will each have a points championship. Angler's Choice Team Trail will be allowed to send one (1) team to the B.A.S.S. Toyota Team Championship for every 25 teams that registers per division. The qualifying teams will be determined by the highest finishing eligible teams in the Angler's Choice Points Championships. Any team that participates in this program must sign a separate waiver and release/liability required by B.A.S.S.
ANGLERS BUCKS: In order to be awarded Anglers Bucks in any event, contestant must have purchased his/her boat from Anglers Choice Marine, be the registered owner of that boat, and use that boat for the duration of that event. Subject to verification by the tournament director.
INSURANCE: All boat owners must maintain a minimum of $100,000 liability insurance on the boat used in our tournaments. Documentation shall be provided to the Tournament Director upon request.
REGISTRATION: Tournament registration will redirect you to a secure website to enter all your information. You should receive a confirmation once payment has been submitted.
BLAST-OFF: Blast-off numbers are assigned in ascending order by time of registration by each team.
Each registered team must idle by and be checked off during blastoff in order for that qualifier to be counted towards the total tournaments fished by that team for the year. If you have any questions, please contact the Tournament Director for clarification.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Participants must observe high standards of ethics, sportsmanship, and personal conduct. They shall obey all laws and the authorities having jurisdiction in the tournament area. They shall keep themselves informed and aware of the rules, laws, and conditions applicable to each tournament. Drunkenness during competition and scoring activities is prohibited. No alcoholic beverages shall be permitted in competition boats during competition hours or by competitors at tournament site. Competitors shall yield to inspection by Tournament Officials at any time during the tournament.
ANGLER CODE OF CONDUCT: Anglers participating in any ACTTT event shall observe this code of conduct and the applicable rules for the ACTTT event in which they are participating. Anglers, parents, and family members of anglers shall always conduct themselves in a manner becoming of ACTTT anglers that will not reflect unfavorably on the ACTTT, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors. To this end, anglers, parents, and family members of anglers shall use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support of the sport of tournament fishing. Any angler, parents, and family members who violate any of the provisions of the angler code of conduct may be subject to forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in future ACTTT events, permanent ban from competing in ACTTT events, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by the ACTTT.
TOURNAMENT WATERS: Tournament waters shall be defined as public waters which are accessible by boat from the tournament headquarters. All fishing by participants must be done from a boat on tournament waters. All participants and competing boats must remain on tournament waters throughout the competition hours. Fishing on tournament waters shall not be permitted within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat, which was first anchored. Any such boat shall have its trolling motor retracted from the water. No such anchored boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed by him or her to the exclusion of any other competitor. It is the responsibility of the anchored boat to make other competitors aware that he or she is anchored.
OFF LIMITS: The off-limits period for any ACTTT qualifying event will begin at 12:00 am the Monday before the event and last until 12am Friday before said event. No contestant may be on designated tournament waters for any reason during the official off-limits period. (Clarification: Fisherman may only practice the Friday before each tournament weekend with the exception of the Classic for that trail. See Below)
North Carolina & Virginia ACTTT 2024 Two-day Classics will have a 2-day practice period consisting of Thursday and Friday before the event. The only areas of a lake that will be off limits during tournament hours are the areas designated by the state DNR and areas deemed by ACTTT to be off limits.
During the tournament water off-limits period, other than using publicly available information (e.g. newspaper and Internet reports), competitors cannot solicit, gather or intentionally receive any information via phone, electronic devices or any other means about locating or catching fish on tournament waters. THERE SHALL BE NO EXCEPTIONS. Anglers shall not purposely engage in conversations regarding the locations to gain an advantage and should leave the conversation if the other party starts talking about methods that would provide the angler with a competitive edge for that location.
All rules that are stated on this page apply to all fisherman that plan to participate in the Anglers Choice Team Tournament Trail no matter when your entry fee is paid.
Official Practice- You are allowed to fish with anyone you choose as long as the person has not been on tournament waters during the off limits period.
Please reach out to the tournament director with questions.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Tournament Officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel an ACTTT event because of inclement or dangerous weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather or water conditions. Competitors shall not fish during a period of suspension or after termination of competition.
SAFETY AND INSPECTION: Safety is our highest priority to all participants. Life jackets and kill switches must be worn when the gas engine is running and in gear. Lights must be on for blast-off unless otherwise directed by the Tournament Director. Idle by start boat or dock, live wells open, kill switch ON. Do not swamp the Tournament Director. Any boat equipped with an engine exceeding the Coast Guard approved rating will not be allowed to compete. Competition equipment found to be unsafe or not seaworthy by the Tournament Officials may be prohibited from use in the tournament.
FISHING TACKLE: All fishing is limited to casting, spinning, and spin-casting rods and reels and artificial lures. No live or dead bait is allowed. Animal skin (pork frogs for example), fur, and feathers may be used to dress artificial lures.
FISHING METHODS: Trolling is prohibited. Only one rod and reel per person may be in use at one time (exception is if you have a lure hung up, you may cast a second rod before retrieving your lure).
EMERGENCY CONDITIONS: Emergency conditions are those that subject persons or property to imminent danger or which are deemed by the Tournament Officials to be an emergency by nature. Competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Both competitors must always remain in boat except in case of dire emergencies or with permission from the Tournament Director. In the event of a needed restroom break or a refueling situation at a marina gas pump, contestants can leave the boat, at which time all fishing must cease until partners are back together in the boat. In an emergency, a designated team member may ride in another competitor’s boat and bring their fish to the tournament headquarters for scoring only after notifying the Tournament Director first.
FISH: Possession limit for our tournaments is five bass (exceptions are actively culling or reeling in a fish). The size limit will be announced by the Tournament Director at blast off. The dead fish penalty is 1/4 pound per dead fish and will be deducted off total weight. If the lunker fish is dead, the ¼-pound penalty will apply to big fish pot also. You cannot cull a dead fish. A short fish will not be weighed, and a one-pound penalty will be deducted from team’s total weight. All fish must measure the predetermined size limit on a Golden Rule (mouth closed and tail pinched). Once a fish is weighed for tournament standings it shall be released at the tournament weigh-in site or in an area designated by the Tournament Director.
TIMELINESS: Each team must check in with the check-in boat or at the check-in point marked by the Angler’s Choice beacon light on the back of a check in boat or designated dock area. If late, you will be informed at that time. The official time is always on the Tournament Director’s clock. Any boat not in the weigh-in area promptly at the appointed time will be assessed a penalty of 1 lb. for each minute late - disqualification after 15 minutes. If you have a big fish, the penalty will be assessed to that fish also.
SCORING: Competitor’s scores shall be the weight of bass they have caught and kept during the competition hours. Weight may be deducted from competitor’s scores by the Tournament Officials as a penalty for short fish, dead fish, or late return to weigh-in. Any bass that appears mangled, mashed, or mauled will be credited only at the discretion of the weigh-in officials. Bringing more than 5 fish to the weigh-in will result in disqualification. THREE HUNDRED POINTS will be awarded to first place, 299 to second, 298 to third and so on until all 300 points are used for teams with fish. All teams with NO fish get 10 points below the last place team with fish unless there are no points left to award (200 or more teams weighed in fish).
TIES: In case of a tie, the prize or points will be divided between the participants equally if for money.
PROTESTS: Participants who suspect that the Tournament Rules have been violated may file IN WRITING a protest with the Tournament Director within 15 minutes of the conclusion of that day’s weigh-in process and before awards begin. The Tournament Committee will decide all protests. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES: Participants shall honor the letter and intent of the Tournament Rules, or they shall be judged to have violated them. All judgments are reserved to the Tournament Officials. All participants are expected to be familiar with the Tournament Rules. Participants accused by Tournament Officials to have violated the principles of fairness, sportsmanship, or ethical conduct explicitly or implicitly included in the Tournament Rules may be disqualified.
POLYGRAPH TESTS: Polygraph tests may be given in any of the tournaments and to any participant. Failure to pass the test may result in disqualification.
TOURNAMENT HOURS: Tournament hours for each event will be listed by on the Angler’s Choice website (www.anglerschoicemarine.com) under the “Tournaments” tab.
CLASSIC PRIZE: The team that wins the ACTT Classic in either division will receive $25k.
ANGLER’S CHOICE IS AN INVITATIONAL TEAM TOURNAMENT TRAIL. ANGLER’S CHOICE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY ANY COMPETITOR OR TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FISH IN ONE OR ALL OF THE TOURNAMENTS INVOLVED IN THE ANGLER’S CHOICE MARINE TEAM TOURNAMENT TRAIL.
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Tournament Officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel an ACTTT event because of inclement or dangerous weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather or water conditions. Competitors shall not fish during a period of suspension or after termination of competition.
SAFETY AND INSPECTION: Safety is our highest priority to all participants. Life jackets and kill switches must be worn when the gas engine is running and in gear. Lights must be on for blast-off unless otherwise directed by the Tournament Director. Idle by start boat or dock, live wells open, kill switch ON. Do not swamp the Tournament Director. Any boat equipped with an engine exceeding the Coast Guard approved rating will not be allowed to compete. Competition equipment found to be unsafe or not seaworthy by the Tournament Officials may be prohibited from use in the tournament.
FISHING TACKLE: All fishing is limited to casting, spinning, and spin-casting rods and reels and artificial lures. No live or dead bait is allowed. Animal skin (pork frogs for example), fur, and feathers may be used to dress artificial lures.
FISHING METHODS: Trolling is prohibited. Only one rod and reel per person may be in use at one time (exception is if you have a lure hung up, you may cast a second rod before retrieving your lure).
EMERGENCY CONDITIONS: Emergency conditions are those that subject persons or property to imminent danger or which are deemed by the Tournament Officials to be an emergency by nature. Competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Both competitors must always remain in boat except in case of dire emergencies or with permission from the Tournament Director. In the event of a needed restroom break or a refueling situation at a marina gas pump, contestants can leave the boat, at which time all fishing must cease until partners are back together in the boat. In an emergency, a designated team member may ride in another competitor’s boat and bring their fish to the tournament headquarters for scoring only after notifying the Tournament Director first.
FISH: Possession limit for our tournaments is five bass (exceptions are actively culling or reeling in a fish). The size limit will be announced by the Tournament Director at blast off. The dead fish penalty is 1/4 pound per dead fish and will be deducted off total weight. If the lunker fish is dead, the ¼-pound penalty will apply to big fish pot also. You cannot cull a dead fish. A short fish will not be weighed, and a one-pound penalty will be deducted from team’s total weight. All fish must measure the predetermined size limit on a Golden Rule (mouth closed and tail pinched). Once a fish is weighed for tournament standings it shall be released at the tournament weigh-in site or in an area designated by the Tournament Director.
TIMELINESS: Each team must check in with the check-in boat or at the check-in point marked by the Angler’s Choice beacon light on the back of a check in boat or designated dock area. If late, you will be informed at that time. The official time is always on the Tournament Director’s clock. Any boat not in the weigh-in area promptly at the appointed time will be assessed a penalty of 1 lb. for each minute late - disqualification after 15 minutes. If you have a big fish, the penalty will be assessed to that fish also.
SCORING: Competitor’s scores shall be the weight of bass they have caught and kept during the competition hours. Weight may be deducted from competitor’s scores by the Tournament Officials as a penalty for short fish, dead fish, or late return to weigh-in. Any bass that appears mangled, mashed, or mauled will be credited only at the discretion of the weigh-in officials. Bringing more than 5 fish to the weigh-in will result in disqualification. THREE HUNDRED POINTS will be awarded to first place, 299 to second, 298 to third and so on until all 300 points are used for teams with fish. All teams with NO fish get 10 points below the last place team with fish unless there are no points left to award (200 or more teams weighed in fish).
TIES: In case of a tie, the prize or points will be divided between the participants equally if for money.
PROTESTS: Participants who suspect that the Tournament Rules have been violated may file IN WRITING a protest with the Tournament Director within 15 minutes of the conclusion of that day’s weigh-in process and before awards begin. The Tournament Committee will decide all protests. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES: Participants shall honor the letter and intent of the Tournament Rules, or they shall be judged to have violated them. All judgments are reserved to the Tournament Officials. All participants are expected to be familiar with the Tournament Rules. Participants accused by Tournament Officials to have violated the principles of fairness, sportsmanship, or ethical conduct explicitly or implicitly included in the Tournament Rules may be disqualified.
POLYGRAPH TESTS: Polygraph tests may be given in any of the tournaments and to any participant. Failure to pass the test may result in disqualification.
TOURNAMENT HOURS: Tournament hours for each event will be listed by on the Angler’s Choice website (www.anglerschoicemarine.com) under the “Tournaments” tab.
CLASSIC PRIZE: The team that wins the ACTT Classic in either division will receive $25k.
ANGLER’S CHOICE IS AN INVITATIONAL TEAM TOURNAMENT TRAIL. ANGLER’S CHOICE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY ANY COMPETITOR OR TEAM THE OPPORTUNITY TO FISH IN ONE OR ALL OF THE TOURNAMENTS INVOLVED IN THE ANGLER’S CHOICE MARINE TEAM TOURNAMENT TRAIL.
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