SECTION 1. The name shall be "SOUTH MISSISSIPPI ASSOCIATION OF BASS CLUBS", known as the S.M.A.B.C.

SECTION 2. The S.M.A.B.C. was organized to ensure the conservation of this natural resource that we call "Our Sport"; Bass Fishing. We must conserve now to insure there will be a future for the large mouth bass as we know it today. We certainly want our children, grandchildren, and all future generations to enjoy this sport as we do today. With this in mind, the S.M.A.B.C. has set up tournament guidelines. Guidelines that S.M.A.B.C. clubs and organizations who conduct open bass tournaments, are requested to comply with. It is recommended that S.M.A.B.C. clubs boycott any organizations who conducts a tournament that does not strictly adhere to S.M.A.B.C. tournament guidelines. These guidelines are set up with conservation being the primary goal. The S.M.A.B.C. will set the standard for protecting the sport we love.

SECTION 3. To offer our State Conservation Department our organized, moral, political support and encouragement. To call public and political attention to any polluter or violator of our natural water resources.

SECTION 4. To promote and encourage youth fishing and teach basic ethics of conservation for all future generations to enjoy.

SECTION 5. To promote a tournament trail that bass fishermen can participate in on a local scale. (Local being that all tournament sites will be on the Mississippi Coast).

SECTION 1. NUMBER OF MEMBERS

This organization shall begin with a minimum of nine (9) clubs. These clubs shall be the charter clubs. Each club will select one (1) member from their club to represent that club as a charter member of the South Mississippi Association of Bass Clubs Board of Directors. The charter clubs and charter directors are as follows:

The goal for membership in the S.M.A.B.C. shall always be 100% of all South Mississippi Bass Clubs. The membership will always be open to new or existing bass clubs. When a new club becomes a member, that club will appoint a member to serve on the S.M.A.B.C. Board of Directors.

SECTION 2. REQUIREMENTS FOR MEMBERSHIP

To become a member of the South Mississippi Association of Bass Clubs, a club shall:

1. Have a minimum of six (6) active members.
2. Voluntarily express sincere desire for membership at a regular Director’s meeting. Produce roster with names, addresses and telephone numbers of members.
3. Be a bonified club that holds at least twelve (12) monthly meetings each calendar year (one each month minimum), and a minimum of twelve tournaments a year (one each month minimum). These are minimum requirements. If any club falls below these requirements during the calander year, that club must notify the Board of Directors to explain the club’s intentions and/or any membership or other problems that may be related to that club falling below the minimum requirements. Failure to meet these requirements, by any club, is cause for that club to be voted out of the S.M.A.B.C. The vote will require ¾ of the member clubs be present at that meeting. Upon being accepted as a new member and after paying club dues, the new club and director have immediate voting rights. Note: In order for club members to participate in S.M.A.B.C. tournaments, said members must be at least eighteen years of age.

SECTION 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITY

It shall be the responsibility of each director to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors or have his designated representative present at the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of each director to discuss with his club all issues discussed at the S.M.A.B.C. directors meeting. Each director should discuss with his club all S.M.A.B.C. matters, both pro and con and be prepared to discuss same items at S.M.A.B.C. directors meetings. Each director will be voting on issues as a representative of his club, not as an individual.

SECTION 4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

The president and/or the Board of Directors shall set the meeting dates as needed with a minimum of one (1) meeting per quarter. Meetings will be attended by directors and each director may bring one (1) club member with him to the meeting, however this member will be a guest and will not have voting permission or discussion rights. This privilege is reserved for Board of Directors only. This provision is to expedite meetings; it is not intended to alienate any club.

SECTION 5. MEMBERSHIP DUES

Charter clubs and clubs that are S.M.A.B.C. members through 1989 shall pay no initial dues. Effective January 1990, all S.M.A.B.C. clubs must pay fifty dollars ($50.00) per year dues. Dues must be paid in January of each year or before the first scheduled S.M.A.B.C. tournament each year. No club or director, who is representing a club whose dues are not up to date, will be allowed to vote or participate in S.M.A.B.C. functions. All membership dues will be deposited in the S.M.A.B.C. bank account. Ten percent of all moneys collected from S.M.A.B.C. tournaments will also be deposited in the S.M.A.B.C. bank account. This ten percent will be used as operating expense money. This money will be used to help defray the cost of postage, telephone calls and other miscellaneous costs that are incurred by the S.M.A.B.C. directors while operating the organization. Itemized bills or receipts must be presented at the board of directors meeting highlighting such expense. After approval of the directors, the director who incurred the expense will be reimbursed.

It must be pointed out that the S.M.A.B.C. is a non-profit organization. All moneys collected from dues, tournaments or other fund raising events will be returned to the fishermen and clubs.

SECTION 1. A club can be removed from membership by the following:

1. Voluntary resignation
2. Failure to pay dues.
3. A club or a member of a club may be restricted from S.M.A.B.C. functions because of unsportsmanlike conduct. This unsportsman-like conduct can also be reason to remove a club from membership, especially if the club or member does anything that would reflect badly upon the S.M.A.B.C., therefore giving the S.M.A.B.C. a bad name. This will be accomplished by a special called meeting of the Board of Directors where the facts shall be discussed. After discussion by the directors, a vote on appropriate action will take place immediately.
4. Failure to meet and uphold (on a yearly and monthly basis) the minimum club requirements for membership as set forth under Article II, Section 2, Requirements for Membership.
5. Removal from membership shall require a majority vote of ¾ of the member clubs present at the meeting.

SECTION 1. OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES

PRESIDENT: Presides at all meetings of the Association and direct all official business. Appoint the chairman of all committees and shall be ex-officio member of all committees.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Act as program chairman, assist the president in his duties and preside in the absence of the president.

SECRETARY: Maintain accurate minutes of all meetings and matters for which a record shall be requested by the association. He shall take roll at the meetings and maintain a record of members present and absent, read the minutes of the previous meetings, keep a current record of members of the association with their addresses and telephone numbers. The secretary shall call a meeting to order and preside in the

absence of the president and vice-president.

TREASURER: maintain accurate financial records and report at each meeting. He shall collect and receive all moneys due or belonging to the association and receipt thereof. He shall deposit same in a bank satisfactory to the association in the name of the association. His books shall at all times be open to inspection by the association members.

SECTION 2. ELECTIONS

The election of officers shall be held annually at the regular meeting during the month of September. Elections shall be simple majority of the members present. Newly elected officers shall take office at the first regular meeting after the classic. Each retiring officer shall turn over to his successor in office all properties and records pertaining to that office prior to or at the time of installation. Election for each officer shall be held separately, in order listed in article IV Section 1.

SECTION 3. VACANCIES

In the event of an office becoming vacant, the secretary shall inform all members that nominations shall be asked and an election held at the next regular meeting to fill the unexpired term of office. The president shall, at his discretion, appoint an association member to fill the unexpected term until the election is held.

SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE

Each club, whose dues are current, is entitled to one vote. Proxy votes are not permitted.

SECTION 5. ELIGIBILTY FOR HOLDING OFFICE

Any member is eligible to hold office provided that they have been a member of the organization six (6) months.

SECTION 6. TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office shall be for one (1) year, in accordance with Article IV, Section 2.

Regular quarterly meetings shall be called to order on the designated time and shall not exceed two and one half (2 ½) hours. Official association business shall not exceed one (1) hour and forty five (45) minutes and shall comprise the first part of the meetings. Non-official discussions, entertainment, films, refreshments, etc shall comprise the latter forty-five (45) minutes of the meetings. Any official association business not concluded at the end of the designated time shall be tabled and discussed at the next quarterly meeting. A quarterly meeting may be extended by a motion from the floor with three fourths (3/4) of the members present concurring by a show of hands vote. NOTE: General motions shall require three fourths (3/4) of the members present.

Section 2. SPECIAL CALL MEETINGS

Special call meetings may be called by the president or by majority vote of the members

who are present and voting at any quarterly or special meeting or by the secretary upon receipt of a petition signed by six (6) members of the board of directors who are in good standing. Written notice of such meetings shall be mailed to all directors by the secretary at least five (5) days and not more than fifteen days prior to the date of the meetings; and said notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and no other association business may be transacted. The president is empowered to call a special meeting in emergency situations without written notice. Any business conducted at such meetings must be approved by the association at the next regular meeting if a quorum is not in attendance at the special meeting. The quorum for such meetings shall be three fourths (3/4 of the membership).

The association may be desolved at any time by written consent of not less than three fourths (3/4) of the directors. In the event of dissolution of the association, its assets shall be distributed among current clubs only and only to the extent of the dues paid in advance of the month of dissolution. Any items on loan to the association shall be returned to the owner. The remainder of the funds, if any, shall be donated to a national, state or local organization(s) for the improvement of our national resources: to be selected as a result of motions from the floor and in affirmative majority of show of hands vote.

The following rules and regulations of this tournament and their interpretation by the tournament officials shall be the final decision in all cases.

Section 1. ELIGIBILITY

Participants must be a member of S.M.A.B.C., must properly complete and sign the official application form, and pay an entrance fee for each tournament. Late entries will be accepted with a twenty dollar late fee. S.M.A.B.C. club dues must be paid prior to the first yearly tournament. Any new clubs must pay dues before members will be allowed to participate in tournaments. Entry fees can be transferred if unforeseen circumstances arise and S.M.A.B.C. Directors are notified PRIOR to tournament.

Section 2. SAFETY

Safe motoring conduct must be observed at all times by all contestants. Kill switches must be installed and operational, and each boat operator is required to have his kill switch securely to his person or life jacket when the engine is running. Failure to do so is cause for disqualification. Kill switches may be inspected on a random basis by any S.M.A.B.C. officer. Life jackets must be worn when the combustible engine is running. Failure to do so is cause for disqualification. The S.M.A.B.C. recommends that all boats meet BA and Coast Guard requirements.

Section 3. PAIRING OF CONTESTANTS

Pairing will be 7 p.m. on the Thursday night before each tournament. Pairing location will be at the Juan de Quavis community center, in D’Iberville, MS. Each club will be responsible for notifying their members about tournament information (partner, boat number, flight, etc.) Each club must have a minimum of one (1) representative, maximum of four (4), representing their club at the pairings meeting. The community center does not have the room to accommodate a large crowd. No one will be paired without a completed entry form and entry fee, and will not be eligible to fish that months tournament.

Section 3A. GUARANTEED BOATER

Any boater who enters a tournament as a boater will be guaranteed to fish as a boater from his boat. If required to shift a non-boater, due to his partner not fishing the tournament, the non-boater will be placed in the next available boat where the boat owner has no partner. If the next available boater or any other boater is unable or unwilling to accept a non-boater, that boater will be disqualified from that tournament.

Section 4. PENALTIES

Contestants not in the official docking area at the official weigh-in time will be disqualified.

Section 5. TACKLE

Only artificial baits, with the exception of prepared pork, may be used. Only casting, spinning, spin casting rods and reels may be used. Wading or trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Contestants may have any number of rods and reels in the boat, but only one at a time may be used.

Section 6. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS

Fishing is permitted anywhere on the tournament waters except fifty (50) yards of another contestants boat that was anchored there first or secured at a location, or any designated areas of the lake or river that is off limits to fishing. In order for a contestants boat to be anchored the anchor must be down and the trolling motor up. All contestants must leave the dock (Official) by boat, and must return by boat. Trailering of boats is prohibited during fishing hours, unless instructed to do so by the tournament director. Any other restricted fishing locations will be announced by the tournament director at the pairing preceding each tournament or at the tournament site the morning of the tournament.

Section 7. MOTOR OPERATION AND EXPENSE

Partners must discuss a schedule of boat operation prior to the take-off. Each partner is entitled to equal time to fish from the front of the boat, and to operate the trolling motor. Each partner shall have the option to fish his selected waters an equal number of fishing hours. Boat expenses are the responsibility of fishing partners. However, it is suggested that the non-owner partner at least assume fuel costs for the day.

Section 8. SCORING

Only Bass (Green Trout), large mouth or spotted, will be weighed. No Striped Bass or White Bass will be allowed. The limit shall be five (5) bass per day. Any one presenting more than five (5) bass to the tournament officials will be disqualified. The official minimum size for bass is eleven (11) inches on the official "Golden Rule" board, will result in the contestant being penalized by the loss of his largest fish and the short fish. No fish that has been mutilated to obtain the eleven inch minimum length will be weighed. A courtesy "Golden Rule" board will be available. Culling at the dock area will result in disqualification.

Section 9. SPORTSMANSHIP

Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification from a tournament. Maximum courtesy should be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Drunkenness shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future S.M.A.B.C. tournaments.

Section 10. TIES

In the case of a tie for any place, including lunker, (I.E. tie for 1^st, 2^nd or 3^rd place) pay off will be combined and split evenly.

Section 11. PROTEST

Any protest must come before the tournament committee within 30 minutes after the last contestants fish has been weighed in, and must be submitted in writing. Tournament protests are for infractions occurred from the actual take-off until the last contestants fish have been weighed. ALL PROTESTS MUST BE IN WRITING.

Section 12. CLASSIC

Section 13. CARE OF FISH

Fish shall be kept in good condition in live wells and only boats equipped with aerated live wells will be permitted in any S.M.A.B.C. tournament. Weigh-In bags will be provided to each contestant and all fish must be brought to the weigh-in in the bag. The bag should contain sufficient water to facilitate keeping as many fish alive as possible. All live fish deemed in good condition will be returned to the water. Two (2) ounces will be deducted from the total weight for each dead bass presented for weigh-in.

Section 14. TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

The tournament committee will rule on all infractions of these rules and its decision will be final. Failure to abide by these rules is grounds for disqualification.

Section 15. BOAT INSPECTION

None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated tournament official from approaching or boarding and inspecting any competitors boat at any time during the competition day.

Section 16. POINTS

The S.M.A.B.C. will fish under the POINT SYSTEM. Points will be awarded by order of finish. Beginning with 100 points for first place, 99 for second, 98 for third and so on. Ties will earn the same score. Anglers who enter the tournament and do not weigh a fish shall earn 10 points for that tournament.

Section 17. DISQUALIFICATION

If disqualified for any reason, the contestant will lose all weight for that tournament, but will receive the 10 points for fishing that tournament.