Southeast Texas Bass Club Rules

January 6, 2004


1. A minimum number of 2 boats are required to hold a tournament. The tournament director is responsible for making the decision to hold a tournament.

2. All tournaments will be two (2) man team events, with both men in the same boat. Exception (1) Member has actively solicited a partner until tournament start or (2) member has lost partner between pre-tournament meeting and tournament start. These reasons can only be excused by the tournament committee prior to the tournament.

3. You may fish with the same club member a maximum of five (5) times during the year. Wives and children (under the age of 18) are excluded unless they are club members.

4. Each member may fish with four (4) different guests per year. Guests may fish five (5) tournaments per year. Entry fee for guest is same as member, of which $5 will go towards the club’s general fund. Wives and children under 18 (or still in high school) will not be counted as guests.

5. No fishing with a full time guide the week before the tournament.

6. Refunds for tournaments will be as follows: If you notify the tournament director 24 hours before tournament, you will receive all monies paid. After 24 hours there will be no refunds. Entry fees must be paid before the tournament starts.

7. Tournament waters are off limits eight (8) hours prior to tournament start. Between the two-day family events fishing is allowed but there will be a mandatory live well check on day two before start time at the weigh-in ramp.

8. You must check in with the tournament director before weigh-in time. After weigh-in time a ten (10) minute grace period is allowed, but a one-pound penalty will be levied against the total stringer weight. After ten (10) minutes, you are disqualified. Official time will be kept by the tournament director.

9. Pre-paid participants may launch from any ramp on the tournament lake at the prescribed starting time set by the tournament director. They should try to contact the tournament director or another participant by cell phone if not coming to weigh-in. If unable to notify someone in the tournament that they will not be coming to weigh in, they must report to the weigh in location. A cumulative one-pound penalty will be levied against individual yearly weights for failure to check in. The penalties will be structured as follows: 1st infraction = one-pound penalty, 2nd infraction = two-pound penalty, etc. All non pre-paid contestants must leave the desiganated tournament site at the prescribed starting time set by the tournament director. Trailering is allowed. If you are not pre-paid and miss the official check in time you must launch at the tournament site, you cannot trailer.

10. All lake and state regulations shall be followed. Individual creel will be five (5) fish per day per person, 14 inches or larger, black bass only. Five (5) fish per team will be weighed for team weight. Individuals must keep their fish separate at all times. Tournament creel payouts based on team tournaments creel only.

11. No trolling with big motor.

12. You may fish with only one rod at a time. All fish weighed in must have been caught on the tournament lake, by rod and reel, during tournament hours. All fish must be caught from the team boat. (no bank or wade fishing)

13. Only artificial bait may be used, with exception of rind/trailers.

14. No fishing within fifty (50) yards of another member that is anchored or tied up.

15. At least one member of the team must accompany the fish to the weigh-in.

16. No fish on ice. These fish will be culled at weigh-in. Any fish that are dead when weighed in shall be penalized by deducting four (4) ounces or .25 from the weight of that fish. It is the tournament director or the club’s tournament committee’s decision to determine whether the fish is alive or dead.

17. Any fish ruled illegal is culled and the individuals stringer is penalized its biggest fish, including the big bass prize.

18. In the case of a tie for stinger, the big bass of the stringer shall break the tie. In case of a tie for a big bass, the length of the bass shall determine the winner.

19. The club ruler is off limits when the tournament director calls the tournament closed to begin the weigh-in.

20. Tournament director shall be appointed by the vice-president.

21. Bass Angler of the year shall be awarded at a designated meeting. Each fisherman shall keep his fish separate from his partners for weigh-in purposes. All penalties are to be deducted during the weigh-in. The angler with the most weight at the end of the year is the Bass Angler of the Year.

22. Tournament Entry Fee: $40 per team. Big bass is an additional $5 per man and is optional.

23. Big Bass of the year: Members are eligible by paying $10. Only (1) first place big bass will be paid for the year. The fee can be paid at any time, but must be paid prior to the fish being caught to be eligible for the big bass of the year. The angler with largest (weight) bass will be the winner.

24. Tournament Awards: Payout will be based on one place per every 4.5 boats to a maximum of 3 places. Example 4 boats pays one (1) place, 5 boats pays two (2) places, 10 boats pays (3) places. Big bass pays only one (1) place. The top six (6) anglers win a club shirt. Anglers 7 – 10 will also be awarded a club shirt if membership is 30 members or above.

25. A club tournament may be postponed after a pre-tournament meeting only for reason of unsafe conditions and only after a majority vote of the members present at the tournament site.

26. All protest must be levied to the tournament director prior to monies being disbursed. No monies will be disbursed until all protests are final. Once monies are distributed the tournament becomes official.

27. All new members must attend a meeting to be voted on by club members. New members may be submitted at a previous meeting.

28. Club standings will be based on the cumulative weight of all tournaments. No tournament weights will be dropped.

29. Life Jackets and kill switches must be worn while the boat is on plane.






By-Laws