NBAD Tournament Rules shall apply to both Monday NBAD Lunker Day (herein known as “Lunker Day” on Monday and NBAD Team Tournament (herein known as “Team Tournament” on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday). Lunker Day is a one-day big bass tournament for all individual contestants. Only the largest bass shall be awarded as decided beforehand by the COR. Team Tournament is a 3-day team tournament where each team shall be awarded as decided beforehand by the COR. NBAD Event consists of all meetings and tournaments, which can last up to 6 days. NBAD tournament Rules shall be included in NBAD flyers and registration packages. State and local game and boat regulations shall be included in the registration package.
Section 1 – SPORTSMANSHIP:
1) Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship shall be promptly disqualified for the entire tournament.
2) Intoxication and/or illegal drug use will be result an automatic disqualification for the entire tournament.
3) A result of disqualification, a first disqualification will lead a two (2) year suspension.
4) If a second offense is appeared, a lifetime suspension shall be imposed.
Section 2 – CLUB SHIRT:
1) Any contestant, who participates in both Lunker Day and Team Tournament, is encouraged to wear the club name on his/her shirt.
Section 3 - FISH:
1) Only black bass (largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass) may be caught and scored.
Section 4 - CONTESTANT ELIGIBILITY:
1) Participation in both Lunker Day and Team Tournament is open to any deaf or hard of hearing.
2) Contestant shall be deaf or hard of hearing and use sign language to communicate fluently.
3) Contestant shall be 18 years old or older.
Section 5 - PARTNERS IN TEAM TOURNAMENT:
1) NBAD/Host shall have no responsibility for providing any available partners to anyone or pairing of partners.
2) All contestants shall have the mutual agreement to be the boat partners in a boat.
3) A team of two contestants shall participate in Lunker Day and Team Tournament together.
4) No transfer of boat partners shall take the place for any given reason after the registration day.
5) In the case of any emergency, illness or serious injury, an observer will be appointed by the tournament chairperson and assign to the other partner in the same boat.
6) To preserve order and harmony in all NBAD Team Tournament where the arrangement of boat partner is concerned. Tournament officials reserve the right to make necessary changes upon the agreement.
7) Any team member shall any selection of water routes and fishing spots equally.
8) Fair shares on any expense of using the boat are the responsibility of both partners.
9) Non-boater shall not responsible for expenses that incurred with any breakdown on any equipment including the boat during the NBAD week. Only the boat owner shall be responsible for maintenance and expenses on his/her boat. 10) In a case if the boat breaks down, the partners can switch to another boat as long they transfer the registration number stickers to the outboard motor after getting authorization from the tournament chairperson or NBAD officials.
Section 6 – SPECIAL PARTICIPATION:
1) A Team composing of a disabled person and normal person may use a pontoon boat to fish.
Section 7 – TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:
1) Artificial lures shall be use entire NBAD week.
2) Only casting and spin casting with rods and reels will be allowed.
3) Only one line may be in the water at any time.
4) Additional rods and reels will be permitted in the boat.
5) Use of 8-foot flipping rod is permitted.
6) Trolling by using gas-powered outboard engine is prohibited. 7) Usage of any electronic device or thermometers, etc. may be used.
Section 8- FISHING LINES:
1) There shall be only one line in the water per contestant at all times.
2) Line can be casted out only when the outboard is NOT running. Both contestants’ line must be out of water completely BEFORE starting the outboard engine.
Section 9 – FISHING WATERS:
1) All lakes and rivers where NBAD event is held must be fished in.
2) No fishing shall be permitted within 50 yards of NBAD Headquarters, checkpoint area or another contestant who have anchored.
3) Bank fishing is prohibited.
4) All waters specified in the NBAD flyer and announced in NBAD meeting shall be fished in.
5) Contestant(s) may rent boats.
Section 10 – LAUNCHING/ARRIVAL TIMES:
1) Issuance of check-in tags will be conducted at the checkpoint area before the start off, usually at sunrise.
2) Tournament officials must inspect your boat, equipment and livewell at the checkpoint area before taking off.
3) Contestants must arrive with the check-in tag and turn over to any official at checkpoint area before the announced end time; if late, they will be disqualified for that particular day.
4) Contestant may return to dock area/checkpoint for lunch or rest but they shall not report for the weigh-in until 30 minutes before the end time, 10:30 am on Lunker Day and 2:30 pm on Team Tournament days.
5) Due to inclement weather, NBAD Executive Board may alternate the scheduled time for both launch and weigh-in.
6) The Lunker Day shall be from sunrise or 6:00 am to 11:00 am. Team Tournament shall be from sunrise or 6:00 am to 3:00 pm.
7) The NBAD scheduled times shall be applicable unless from the state and local game regulations in which comes first.
Section 11 – BOAT REQUIREMENTS:
1) All boats must have the following items: kill switch, two life jackets, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, valid fishing license, horn/ or whistle, and contestant’s registration badge from registration.
2) To ensure the safety of all contestants, the boat should have working kill switch at all times during the NBAD weeks.
3) Kill switch must be engaged while the boat is operating.
4) livewells must be empty before the start of each day.
5) Complete boat inspection sticker will be issued upon passing the inspection.
6) For those who didn’t participate on Lunker Day, shall have complete boat inspection on the following day (Tuesday).
7) For subsequent inspections, only three items are inspected as follows: livewell, lifejackets and registration badges.
Section 12 – SCORING:
1) Scoring at the weigh-in shall be based on pounds with two decimal places.
2) The minimum legal fish requirement during NBAD event shall be 12 inches or longer or in accordance with state and local game regulation if the measurement is more than 12 inches.
3) The legal length measurement shall be measured from the closed mouth to the compressed tail.
4) The maximum limit of bass per person during Team Tournament shall be 5 per day or in accordance with state and local game regulations.
5) NBAD will deduct 0.13 lbs for each bass is brought in dead.
6) Weight-in time shall not occur before 10:30 am on Lunker Day and 2:30 pm on Team Tournament days.
Section 13 – LATE PENALITY:
1) Any contestant who is not in the official checkpoint area at the announced arrival time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of catch that day, for each one (1) minute he is late. Any Contestants who are more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for that day’s catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness, and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up “lost time”. After proper recognition at the check-in point, competitors will be allowed sample time to proceed to the weigh-site; however, all fishing must cease upon check-in. After tournament begins, fishing is prohibited except during tournament hours. Exact starting and check-in times will be announced when contestants are paired.
Section 14 – TIES:
1) If a tie is apparent, all prizes shall be dividend equally. 2) Additional trophies may be award if necessary.
Section 15 – REGISTRATION:
1) NBAD flyers shall be sent out in advance to any person who is interesting in participating in Lunker Day and Team Tournament.
2) All contestants shall be required to register at NBAD Headquarters.
3) Any contestant who arrives late is still welcome to register before the time for Lunker Day or Team Tournament.
4) Scheduled meeting times shall be announced at NBAD Headquarters.
5) All contestants shall be required to sign the Wavier of Liability provided by NBAD Official or host committee as contestant picks up the registration package on the registration day.
Section 16 – RULES CHANGES:
1) Interpretation of NBAD Tournament Rules shall be responsible by NBAD Vice-President within approval of the NBAD Executive Board.
2) NBAD Officers shall make the final decision in all matters with the approval of the Executive Board.
Section 17 – SAFETY AND OBSERVERS:
1) To ensure the safety for everyone, no contestant shall be allowed to compete alone in a boat during NBAD event.
2) In case of a contestant who has registered after pairing in Lunker Day and Team Tournament, finds him/her without a registered contestant shall immediately be assigned one of several observers appointed by the tournament officials. The observer shall understand the NBAD Tournament Rules and be permitted to operate the boat and assist to contestant in any way.
Section 18 – LIFE JACKETS:
1) All contestants are required to wear the approval like jackets must be zipped, buckled and/or clasped as required for safety purposes. Life Jackets shall be worn at all times when the outboard engine is running.
Section 19 – FISHING GUIDES:
1) There shall be no guide for hire within fourteen (14) days prior the Lunker Day
2) With evidence as a proof of hiring a guide, the contestant will be disqualified from the entire NBAD Tournament.
Section 20 – NO FISHING PRATICE:
1) There shall be no fishing practice as permitted after Lunker Day.
Section 21 – BOAT NUMBERS:
1) All boats in the tournament shall be required to have numbered stickers, issued by the NBAD officials at the registration.
2) Numbered stickers must be placed on each side of the outboard motor. The number must be visible and clear at least 50 yards away.
3) Number 1 to 10 is reserved for the NBAD officials and host committees.
Section 22 – DEAD FISH:
1) Any angler shall bring any dead bass with him/her after the official weigh-in. Each host shall be responsible to take care of dead fish in accordance to state/local regulations.
Section 23 – GAME WARDEN:
1) Any contestant who receive an infraction ticket from any game warden during tournament shall be cause for automatic disqualification for the day.
2) The weight-in score will be recorded as zero for that respective day.
Section 24 – REASON FOR LEAVING:
1) If the contestant has valid reason for leaving before the start of Lunker Day or the Team Tournament another contestant as a replacement shall pay the full entire tournament fee before the start of the tournament.
Section 25 – BOAT STALLS:
1) Boat owners/partners shall not allowed to use other assigned boat stalls during the weigh-in times.
Section 26 – DISQUALIFICATION:
1) A contestant who is disqualified for any of the four days can weigh his/her fish in case for his/her reason for disqualification (s) appealed then he/she must in writing and signed by contestant and presented to NBAD Vice-President with no later than 1 hour after the start of official weigh-in time,. If there is evidence of any rule violations uncovered at a later time. The NBAD Board of Directors reserves right to review and take whatever actions if deem necessary. Results of the NBAD tournament will not be official until reviewed by the NBAD officials.
