The INDIAN RIVER B.A.S.S. ANGLERS CLUB, hereinafter referred to as
"The Club", is a non-profit organization formed to provide a social
setting for bass fishermen to meet on a monthly basis and fish together in
friendly tournament competition.
The club is open to all
applicants over the age of sixteen (16) regardless of race, creed, color,
religion, gender, or national origin.
It is the philosophy of the
club to promote the enjoyment of bass fishing through reasonable rules and by
enlisting members who want to fish competitively with friends and not suffer
the stress of fishing with competitors who have the "win at all cost"
mentality.
The club is a strict catch and release organization and encourages members to
take all measures to ensure the safe, healthy release of all bass caught.
ORGANIZATION
The club officers will
consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, treasurer, and a
tournament director nominated and elected by the members during the December
meeting. The club year is from January
through December of the calendar year.
The duties of the club
officers are as follows:
a) President: Presides over all meetings,
directs all official business, appoints and directs committee functions and
oversees all club functions.
b) Vice - President: Assists the president in his duties and presides in the absence of
the president. Works with the tournament
director helping at weigh–in’s
and assisting as needed.
c) Secretary: Maintains accurate minutes of all club meetings, maintains all club
correspondence, and gives monthly reports to members.
d) Treasurer: Maintains accurate financial
records and gives a financial report at each monthly meeting. Must have records up-to-date and be available
for audit at any time. Disburse and
collect monies when required.
e) Tournament Director: It will be the tournament director’s responsibility to determine safe
light at all club tournaments, supervise weigh-in procedures, record the
weighing-in and measuring of fish and report that information to the club
officer who is disbursing payouts. It is
also his responsibility to resolve any question(s) or dispute(s) that arise
during a club tournament by applying club by - laws and tournament rules or in
his/her best judgment. The tournament
director has the authority and responsibility to make any changes based on
safety considerations or weather related conditions to change the tournament
format if necessary.
The club will maintain a
checking account and the treasurer is responsible for the maintenance of the
account and will provide an accounting of the credits and debits at each
meeting. The signature of a club officer
is required to issue a check from the account.
The club financial records are open to inspection of any member during
meetings.
All monies remaining in the
club's account at the end of the club year, less the Lunker Fund, will be
disbursed by dividing it among the members with the top five total weight
accumulations from the previous year's tournaments. .
The club will meet once a
month on the first Monday of each month.
In the event that falls on a holiday, the presiding club officer will
set an alternate date and every effort will be made to notify all members of the
new date.
The club will conduct a
tournament each month for members and guests.
The date has been set for the third Saturday of each month. The location of each tournament will be
decided upon and announced at that month's meeting.
Any changes or amendments to
the club by-laws may only be made once a year with the following exceptions:
A) As
required by B.A.S.S. or the National and/or State Federation
B) Any
serious safety concerns
B.A.S.S. ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP
The club must, at all times,
maintain 100% B.A.S.S. membership and submit to the B.A.S.S. chapter federation
an updated chapter membership roster once each year upon receipt of current
B.A.S.S. roster at year’s end. The names
and addresses of new members joining the club during the year will be submitted
to B.A.S.S. as they occur. The club will maintain 100% membership in the
B.A.S.S. State and National Federation programs and support its conservation
and youth programs, a fee of $25 (for both State and National Federation
membership) is required.
.The club shall and will
maintain at least six members at all times.
.
As
the Indian River Bass Anglers is a B.A.S.S. affiliated club, members of the
Indian River Bass Anglers are to be members of the national B.A.S.S.
organization and National and State Federation.
In
order to become a member of the Indian River Bass Anglers, prospective new
members must attend a regular monthly meeting.
A prospective member or guest may fish one tournament per annual calendar year with the club without becoming a member of the club. Any fish caught and weighed during the tournaments by a guest will not count towards the year-end totals should the guest subsequently join the club. Non-members are not eligible to win the Lunker Fund or the Big Bass of the Year fund. The fees associated with these two awards will not be collected.
REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
A
club member can be removed from membership after a vote for removal by a
majority of the members in attendance at any regularly scheduled meeting. Possible reasons for removal include the
following:
The members present at the
monthly meeting will take a secret ballot count. A majority vote will be necessary to remove
the member from the club.
DUES AND
FEES
Yearly club membership dues
are twenty dollars in addition to the $30 for membership in the State and
National Federation. These dues are payable at the time of joining the
club. The dues are not pro-rated if
joining during the year.
The entry fee for the monthly tournament for members is thirty ($30) dollars. This includes the $15.50 for the tournament payout, five dollar Big Bass fund, a two dollar second big bass fund, a one dollar Lunker Fund pot, one dollar annual Big Bass fund, $2.50 to the General Fund, and three dollars to the year end classic. The entry fee must be paid to the club treasurer or the tournament director prior to the cast-off of the tournament. Members may "pre-pay" a tournament but the money is non-refundable in the event the member cannot fish the tournament. (The entry fee will be applied to the next monthly tournament the member attends.)
* The first and second big bass will be paid out regardless of who wins. Same person can win both first and second big bass.
There will be an additional fee of three dollars for a non-member to fish as a guest. That money is not a part of the tournament payout and will be deposited into the club's checking account and will be used to augment the yearly Classic Tournament payout. The total fee for a guest is $33 dollars.
Guest who win any
tournament check and are living in the Brevard, Indian River, and St. Lucie
Counties are required to pick up their check within two monthly meetings. If the check is not picked up then the money
is rolled over into the Classic Fund. If
the guest is out of the three county areas then the check will be mailed to
that individual. (With exceptions being to emergencies.)
TOURNAMENTS
The club will sponsor a
tournament each month for members and guests.
The site of that month's tournament will be chosen by drawing one
selection from a list of six lakes chosen by the
members to be fished during a half-season.
The same lake sites will be used for each month of that half-season.
Once drawn, a lake is removed from consideration for the duration of that
half-season's drawings.
The monthly tournaments will
be held on the third Saturday of every month.
A change of the date will happen only if the majority of the members
present at the monthly meeting vote to change the date.
Payouts will be made at the
first club meeting after the tournament by the secretary-treasurer or another
officer of the club. The payout total is determined by calculating ninety per-cent (90%) of the entry fees after the Big Bass, Lunker
Fund, and Trophy/Plaque fees are deducted. The ten percent (10%) remainder is
deposited into the club operating account.
The number of anglers
participating determines the number of places paid. Seven or fewer anglers pay first and second
place; eight or more anglers pays three places, 41 or more anglers
participating in a tournament will pay-out four places. In a two-angler payout,
first place will pay 60%, second place 40%.
A three-angler payout pays 60%, 30%, and 10%. In a tournament with 41 or more anglers the
pay-out will be at 50%, 25%, 15%, and 10%.
In the event of a tie in total weight between members qualifying for a
payout, the shares of the positions that would be awarded will be combined and
divided equally among the members tied.
In the event that only one
participant in a tournament catches an eligible fish, that person will be paid
for the first place (60%) and Big Bass.
The remaining payout money will be maintained in the operating account
and set aside for the Classic payout. If only two participants weigh eligible
fish in a tournament that would pay three places, they will be awarded first
and second place and Big Bass based on their creel weights. The third place payout (10%) will be
maintained in the operating account and set aside for the Classic payout.
Big Bass is a fund to be
paid to the member weighing in the largest bass for that tournament. A second big bass will be paid out to the
angler with the second largest big bass.
In the event that there is a tie for big bass, the first and second big
bass funds will be divided equally among them.
The Lunker Fund is a
cumulative fund to be paid to the first member who weighs a bass eight pounds
or over at a tournament. The lunker fund payout will be paid by check at the next
meeting. Guests will not be eligible for
the Lunker Fund and the one-dollar fee will not be collected from them. If no Lunker Fund payout occurs during a club
year, the Fund is rolled over to the next year.
TOURNAMENT
RULES
No one is permitted to
cast-off before being directed to do so by the tournament director. If a member arrives at the ramp site prior to
the last boat casting off, he/she will be allowed to participate in the
tournament provided he/she pays his/her entry fee to the tournament director or
a club officer prior to cast-off.
If, for any reason, any angler(s) is late for the launch time on the
tournament date they may still fish that tournament providing he/she:
a)
If a boat is late the
member(s) must find another boat fishing the club tournament BEFORE they
start fishing. (I.e. there must NOT be
any fish in the live well(s)). Find a
club member fishing that tournament pay their entry fee to that member. It will then be the club member’s
responsibility to collect the entry fee; to check the live well(s), and give
all collected monies to the treasurer or club officer at the weigh - in.
Or
b)
If the tournament is pre - paid
then the late member must find a club member to report he is present and
fishing in the tournament. The reporting
boat must check the live well(s).
(
Weigh-in time will be called
by the tournament director and will be strictly adhered to. Members must be at the weigh-in site either
beached or at the dock at the designated weigh-in time to be eligible to weigh
in without penalty. There will be a
one-pound per minute late penalty assessed for up to five minutes. Any tournament boat over five minutes late
will be disqualified.
There will be a penalty of
eight ounces assessed for each dead fish weighed in.
If a fish is brought to the
weigh-in and is less than fourteen (14") inches (or other legal limit) in
length, the person presenting the fish will be assessed a penalty of
disqualification of the short fish AND the largest fish, by weight, in his/her
creel. The disqualified largest fish
will also not be eligible for Big Bass or Lunker Fund consideration. The length
is measured by laying the fish flat, mouth closed, pinching the tail and
measured on a standard Golden Rule.
The tournament director will
determine the weights and measurements and his/her decision is final. The tournament director may enlist the help
of other members to assist in the recording of weights and the releasing of
fish in order to facilitate the weigh-in procedure. The weigh-in order will be in the same order
of the boat launch. The tournament
director will provide a fish bag to the participant to bring the fish to the
scales. Three fish bags will be
maintained by and distributed by the tournament director and all bags will be
returned to him/her at the conclusion of the tournament.
·
Safety:
Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the official practice and the
tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved
chest-type life preserver, which must be worn anytime the combustion engine is
operating. This preserver must be
strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until
the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut
off. Violation of this rule shall be
reason for disqualification.
·
Sportsmanship:
Competitors in Indian River Bass Angler club sponsored tournaments and mini
tournaments 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. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those
purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any
competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for
automatic disqualification from this and all future Indian River Bass Angler
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 tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects
unfavorably upon the club’s effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean
waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.
No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or
otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the official competition day(s)
and mini tournament competition day(s) or until completion of weigh-in by all
tournament participants when in the weigh-in area. Chemical substance addiction or abuse,
conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude or other
conduct reflecting unfavorably upon the club’s efforts to promote safety,
sportsmanship and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for
disqualification from the tournament and removal from the club. (The first time offence will result in
removal for the period of one year.
Second offence will result in at least a two year suspension.) The third offence will result in permanent
removal from the club.
·
Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial lures may
be used. No “live bait” will be
permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only ONE casting, spin-casting or spinning
rod and reel may be used at any one time.
All other types are 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 caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging fish
on spawning beds will have their day’s catch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, all
bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be verified by your partner
before unhooked to be counted as a legal fish.
The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.
·
Boat and Motor: For the safety of all
contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF OPERABLE IGNITION
KILL SWITCH. Anytime the combustion
engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver’s seat in
full control of the boat. An electric
trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering. However, trolling as a method of fishing is
prohibited with the combustion engine. The only vessel type restriction is that
no airboats will be allowed to participate in a club tournament
·
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
FISHERMEN USING THE BOAT. The Tournament
Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration
and capacity is “proper and adequate.”
Permitted Fishing Locations: Tournament waters shall be
established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted
anywhere except: Within 50 yards of any marina gas pump or within 50 yards (150
feet) of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or secured in a fix
position and trolling motor is out of the water and stowed. No such boat shall permit selected
competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed by him to the exclusion
of any other competitor. Any water
within these boundaries posted Off-Limits or NO Fishing by state or federal
agencies will be OFF LIMITS. Only that
water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be
closed to this tournament’s contestants.
All angling must be done from the boat.
Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the
tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or federal
regulations. . In the case of a "Classic"
tournament, the designated lake will be off-limits for two weeks prior to the
tournament. As a matter of safety, members are encouraged to pre-fish a lake,
especially if the member has never boated that lake
before. (The tournament director may change
Classic Tournament rules.)
·
·
Contestants Must Remain in
Boat:
Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish. Boats must remain in tournament waters during
tournament days. Both competitors must
remain in boat at all times except in case of dire emergency (fire, boat
sinking…). In such an emergency, a
competitor or competitors maybe removed from their boat, to a boat operated by
another competitor, for immediate return to the weigh-in site. Should one competitor elect to stay behind
with his or her boat to await rescue, the returning competitor may transport
the catch of the partner remaining with the boat to the weigh-in-site, along
with his own catch, under the scrutiny of the rescue boat occupants. The competitor, who remains with his/her boat
for rescue, waives his right to protest his weight should this election be
made. All competitors involved in the
rescue must cease fishing at this point, and a club member must verify their
catch in order to be counted in the tournament.
If after the emergency situation is resolved by and enough time is left
for the competitors to resume fishing, the competitors will continue and their
catch will be counted. This applies only
to dire emergency situations. Failure to
render assistance, when requested in an emergency situation is cause for
immediate disqualification.
·
All contestants are expected to obey all applicable Florida Boating or
Fishing and Wildlife Statutes or Rules.
Violation of such rules may result in your disqualification from the
tournament. Repeated or flagrant
violations will result in said contestants being banned from future
participation in Florida B.A.S.S. Federation tournaments.
MINI - TOURNAMENTS
The mini-tournament director
will set the date of the mini–tournament after the date of the monthly
tournament has been set by the tournament director. Any mini - tournament that has its date set
during a monthly meeting is a club-sanctioned event. The anglers who are present and fishing in
the tournament shall decide the format of the tournament. The mini-tournament director of any
club-sanctioned mini-tournament shall contribute back to the club 10% of the
monies taken. This money will be put
into the Classic fund.
Mini-tournament
payouts will be 10% to the club before any money is handed out. Mini-tournaments with six boats or less will
then have a 100% payout to the boat with the most weight. Mini-tournaments with seven or more boats
will have a 60% payout to the boat with the most weight and 40% to the boat
with the second most weight. Cost of the
mini-tournament is $25 per boat with $20 towards the most weight payout and $5
towards big fish payout.
Mini-tournaments contestants
must consist of at least one club member in each boat and all club rules still
apply.
THE CLASSIC TOURNAMENT
The qualifications to be
able to fish in the annual club sponsored “Classic” are as follows:
a) Members must fish at least
five tournaments during the year.
b) Members must attend at least
five monthly meetings during the year.
c) In the event that only four
tournaments and/or meetings are attended the fifth tournament and/or fifth
meeting may be purchased for the cost of $30 apiece. This money will be placed into the Classic
Fund.