Rules and Regulations
Entry Fee: (No Refunds)
$90 per boat must accompany application. No mail-in entry will be accepted post-marked after May 8, 2009. Applications will be accepted at the Palatka City Docks from noon to 4 pm on Friday, May 15, and 2 am to 8 am on Saturday, May 16, 2009.
Additional $10 Big Bass entry fee may accompany applications or you may register at sign-in.
Participation:
NO LONE FISHERMEN. Must fish as a team. Open to anyone 18 years of age or older or, if under 18, must have consenting adult fishing with him. Only TWO persons in a boat. Boat operator must be over 18. Tournament director reserves the right to reject any participant for any reason within his sole discretion.
Start:
First flight will launch at safe light. Weigh-in at 3 pm Departure will be determined by the order in which entries are received. Weigh-in staggered by boat number.
Safety:
All boats must have USCG equipment as required by law. USCG-approved life jackets must be worn anytime boat is on a plane. All boats must be equipped with kill-switches. No alcoholic beverages allowed. All boats will be checked before launching.
Boats and Motors:
Any boat 14 feet or longer is allowed, as long as it has 25 HP or larger gas-powered motor. Aerated livewells are required. No canoes, airboats or pontoon boats are allowed. Flats boats will be permitted as long as no one is using the poling platform, ladder or any other raised tower. If caught, you will be automatically disqualified.
Tackle and Equipment:
Artificial lures only. No live baits or "prepared baits" will be permitted other than pork strips, rind, etc. Only one casting, spin casting, spinning or flipping rod and reel in use per person is permitted. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready to use. All bass must be caught alive by rod and reel. Trolling as a method of fishing will not be permitted. No fly rods allowed. No fishing within 50 yards of another contestant, provided he is anchored with his trolling motor up.
Scoring:
- Determined by pounds and ounces
- Large mouth bass only
- (5) five fish per boat
- No fish under 14 inches
- The state regulation of only one fish over 22 inches will NOT be waived for this tournament
- Undersized fish will be culled and a three-pound penalty assessed
- One pound penalty for each minute late, up to 10 minutes, at which time the team will be disqualified
- A .25 pound (4 oz.) penalty for each dead fish weighed in. CULLING OF DEAD FISH IS PROHIBITED
This is a CATCH AND RELEASE tournament. All live fish must be released by tournament officials immediately following their weigh-in.
Protest:
There are two times during this contest in which you can register a protest. The first, is before the first boat is launched, for any infraction that may have incurred prior to the beginning of the contest. The second for registering a protest is immediately after the weigh-in of the last boat's catch and before the awards presentation begins. Once the awards presentation begins, all results of the contest are considered fair and final.
Tournament Director: Larry Starling
Make Checks Payable to: WCH Bass Tournament
Mail Entry Form to:
WCH Bass TournamentFor more information call: 904.291.0833
P.O. Box 5964
Jacksonville, FL 32247-5964
All participants must sign in at City Docks area on the morning of the tournament to receive Boat Number Decals and Captain's Bags.
