TEAM RULES
2024 / 2025 OFFICIAL RULES & OFF LIMITS
1. TOURNAMENT WEEK OFF LIMITS ARE MONDAY AND TUESDAY ALLOWING FOR PRE-FISHING ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY WHEN COMPETITION DAY(S) ARE ON THE WEEKEND EXCEPT OTHERWISE NOTED OR ANNOUNCED.
2. ANGLERS MUST BE OFF OF THE WATER BY 5:00 PM ON FRIDAY THE DAY BEFORE AN EVENT EXCEPT OTHERWISE NOTED AND/OR ANNOUNCED.
3. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST COMPLETE THE TEAM REGISTRATION ELECTRONICALLY. COMPETITORS REGISTER AND PAY VIA E-COMMERCE, PLEASE PRINT THE COMPLETED REGISTRATION. IF THE REGISTRATION IS DONE AT THE LAKE THERE IS A $10 LATE FEE. BOTH TEAM MEMBERS MUST SIGN THE COMPLETED FORM AND THE RECEIPT MUST BE PRESENTED. REGISTRATION FORMS CAN BE PRINTED AND BROUGHT TO THE EVENT, OR FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE SIGN-UP TABLE DAY OF THE EVENT. ALL ANGLERS’ FISHING TEAM EVENTS MUST HAVE MEMBERSHIP PAID IF ANY APPLY. OPEN EVENTS DO NOT REQUIRE A MEMBERSHIP.
3. LAUNCH NUMBER IS DETERMINED FOR E-COMMERCE REGISTRATIONS AS RANDOM DRAW. ELECTRONIC E-COMMERCE REGISTRATIONS END AT 12:00 PM FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT WITH RANDOM DRAW ORDER RESULTS POSTED FRIDAY EVENING. THE DAY OF SIGN-UP AT THE LAKE PROCEEDS AS THE NEXT NUMBER IN THE SEQUENCE. FLIGHTS ARE GROUPED IN AMOUNTS OF FIFTEEN (15). JUMPING THE LAUNCH ORDER IS PROHIBITED AND MAY RESULT IN BEING HELD BACK TO THE END OF THE FLIGHT NOT EXCLUDING EVENT DISQUALIFICATION.
4. TEAMS CONSIST OF TWO PEOPLE. IF A TEAM MEMBER IS NOT AVAILABLE, AN INDIVIDUAL MAY FISH ALONE IN FOUR OF THE SIX QUALIFYING EVENTS. TEAM MEMBERS MUST REMAIN THE SAME FOR THE REQUIRED FOUR OF THE SIX EVENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. IF FOR MEDICAL REASONS, A TEAM MEMBER MAY BE REPLACED IF THE DISBANDING TEAM HAS PARTICIPATED IN FEWER THAN 3 QUALIFIER EVENTS. A LETTER FROM THE MEDICAL PROVIDER MAY BE REQUESTED.
5. PARTICIPATION BY INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE 16 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER AS A BOATER.
6. AN ENTRY CARD (BOAT CARD) WILL BE ISSUED TO YOU AT THE TIME OF CHECK-IN; THIS CARD IS CONFIRMATION YOU HAVE HAD A LIVEWELL CHECK AND PAID FOR YOUR ENTRY. THE CARD WILL HAVE YOUR BOAT NUMBER INFORMATION, FLIGHT NUMBER, FLIGHT CHECK-IN TIME, LIVE WELL CHECK, BASIC INFORMATION, AND EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION. THIS CARD MUST BE RETURNED WHEN WEIGHING FISH IN OR NOT. THIS CARD IS ALSO USED TO TRACK THAT CONTESTANTS ARE SAFELY OFF OF THE WATER.
7. BOATS SIXTEEN (16’) FEET OR MORE WITH WORKING NAVIGATION LIGHTS, LIVE WELL, AND OPERATIONAL KILL SWITCH ARE CONSIDERED A MINIMUM TOURNAMENT BOAT. IN NO CASE MAY THE HORSEPOWER OF YOUR OUTBOARD EXCEED THE RATING SPECIFIED ON THE RATING PLATE. ALL COAST GUARD RULES APPLY TO EACH TEAM.
8. ONCE AN EVENT HAS STARTED NO REFUNDS OR “ROLL-OVER” WILL BE GIVEN OR ALLOWED. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR HAS THE FINAL SAY.
9. FIRST FLIGHT WILL BLAST OFF AT “SAFE LIGHT”. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY, AT HIS DISCRETION, DELAY THE TOURNAMENT START, AND ALTER THE LAUNCH RAMP DUE TO R AMP AREA WEATHER OR CONDITIONS OR OTHER HAZARDS NOT EXCLUDING POSTPONING THE EVENT OR CANCELING THE EVENT. THE FIRST FLIGHT CHECK-IN TIME IS AT 3:00 PM (15:00HRS) AND MAY CHANGE AT THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S DISCRETION.
10. SAFE BOAT CONDUCT MUST BE OBSERVED AT ALL TIMES BY TOURNAMENT COMPETITORS. DURING ANY OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT DAYS, EACH COMPETITOR IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A COAST GUARD-APPROVED, TYPE III, CHEST-TYPE LIFE PRESERVER. THIS PRESERVER MUST BE WORN ANYTIME THE COMBUSTION ENGINE IS OPERATING AND ENGAGED. THIS PRESERVER MUST BE STRAPPED, SNAPPED, OR ZIPPERED SECURELY AND MAINTAINED IN THAT CONDITION UNTIL THE COMPETITOR REACHES THEIR FISHING LOCATION AND THE COMBUSTION ENGINE IS SHUT OFF. TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DELAY OR CANCEL THE START OF AN OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT DAY BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER OR OTHER FACTORS THAT WOULD ENDANGER THE SAFETY OF THE COMPETITORS, OR THE INTEGRITY OF THE EVENT. IN THE EVENT OF A THUNDERSTORM, LIGHTNING, SEVERE WEATHER, OR ANY UNSAFE CONDITION, PARTICIPANTS SHOULD REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE COMPETITION AND SEEK SAFETY OR SHELTER UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO CONTINUE FISHING. PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT LEAVE THEIR BOATS DURING TOURNAMENT HOURS EXCEPT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. TOURNAMENT WATERS MAY ALSO BE RESTRICTED AT ANY TIME BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER OR HAZARDS. BASS JUNKYZ WILL ANNOUNCE EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS AND INSTRUCTIONS AT A PRE-LAUNCH BRIEFING. THE RULES OF THIS EVENT, PARTICULARLY THE SAFETY RULES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH CONTESTANTS IN THE BOAT TO VERIFY AND ADHERE TO PERSONALLY. ANY COMPETITORS RECEIVING A CITATION DURING THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
11. COMPETITORS IN A BASS JUNKYZ TOURNAMENT ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE VERY HIGHEST STANDARDS OF SPORTSMANSHIP, COURTESY, SAFETY, AND CONSERVATION. PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS MAY INCLUDE DISQUALIFICATION AND A BAN FROM FUTURE EVENTS. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE BASIC SPORTING PRINCIPLES MAY BE DEEMED CAUSE FOR DISQUALIFICATION. USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS (OTHER THAN THOSE DRUGS 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 POSSIBLY ALL FUTURE BASS JUNKYZ TOURNAMENTS.
12. INSURANCE – DURING ANY OFFICIAL COMPETITION DAYS OF ANY BASS JUNKYZ EVENT, NO CONTESTANT MAY OPERATE A BOAT UNLESS THAT CONTESTANT HAS DOCUMENTED PROOF OF INSURANCE THAT SHOWS THE DATE OF COVERAGE FOR THE EVENT WITH A MINIMUM $250,000 BOATING LIABILITY COVERAGE ON THAT PARTICULAR WATERCRAFT. RANDOM CHECKS WILL BE CONDUCTED.
13. ARTIFICIAL BAIT ONLY. NO LIVE BAIT, NO TROLLING, AND NO CAST NETS. ALL AZGF, FEDERAL, TRIBAL, AND MARITIME RULES APPLY.
14. TOURNAMENT WATERS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND PUBLISHED FOR EACH EVENT. EACH COMPETITOR MUST OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION FROM BASS JUNKYZ. FISHING ON TOURNAMENT WATERS IS PERMITTED ANYWHERE EXCEPT WATER WITHIN TOURNAMENT BOUNDARIES POSTED "OFF-LIMITS OR NO FISHING" BY STATE OR FEDERAL AGENCIES WHICH WILL BE OFF-LIMITS. ALSO, THE LIVE-BASS RELEASE AREA ESTABLISHED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WILL BE OFF-LIMITS AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE TOURNAMENT BRIEFING. NO CONTESTANT MAY “BUY” OR “BARTER” A FISHING LOCATION. ONLY THAT WATER OPEN TO ALL PUBLIC FISHING WILL BE CONSIDERED TOURNAMENT WATERS. ANY WATER CLOSED TO PUBLIC FISHING WILL BE CLOSED TO TOURNAMENT CONTESTANTS. ALL ANGLING MUST BE DONE FROM THE BOAT.
15. CONTESTANTS MUST NOT DEPART THE BOAT TO LAND FISH OR TO MAKE THE BOAT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO FISHING WATERS. CONTESTANTS MUST LEAVE AND RETURN TO THE CHECK-IN BY BOAT AND ALL BOATS MUST REMAIN IN THE TOURNAMENT WATERS DURING THE TOURNAMENT DAY. NO BOATS MAY BE LOADED ON A TRAILER BEFORE THE WEIGH-IN EXCEPT WITH THE PERMISSION OR DIRECTION OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. IN THE EVENT OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR EMERGENCY, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MUST BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. THERE ARE ONLY TWO PERMITTED METHODS OF RETURNING TO THE CHECK-IN:
(1) BY BOTH PAIRED ANGLERS REMAINING IN THEIR BOAT AND BEING TOWED BY WATER,
(2) WITH PERMISSION FROM THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, BY ONE OR BOTH PAIRED ANGLERS ENTERING THE BOAT OF ANOTHER TOURNAMENT CONTESTANT, AT WHICH POINT ALL FISHING MUST CEASE BY ALL PARTIES.
UNDER THESE TWO CONDITIONS, BOTH CONTESTANTS’ CATCHES MAY BE COUNTED WITHOUT A PENALTY (EXCEPT FOR LATE PENALTIES, DEAD-FISH PENALTIES, OR OTHER PENALTIES ABOUT OTHER TOURNAMENT RULES) PROVIDED THAT ALL CONTESTANTS’ FISH ARE ADEQUATELY MARKED SO AS TO PROVIDE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN THEIR CATCHES TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. CONTESTANTS WHO ELECT TO RETURN TO THE CHECK-IN BY ANY OTHER MEANS THAN CITED ABOVE WILL FORFEIT THEIR DAY’S CATCH TO THAT POINT IN TIME OF THE TOURNAMENT DAY. OTHERWISE, CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN TOGETHER AND WITHIN SIGHT OF EACH OTHER AT ALL TIMES. THE MOMENTARY CONDITION OF BEING OUT OF SIGHT OF EACH OTHER FOR A RESTROOM BREAK IS PERMITTED. HOWEVER, ALL FISHING MUST CEASE ANYTIME PARTNERS ARE SEPARATED.
16. THERE SHALL BE AN OFFICIAL SAFETY CHECKPOINT FOR CHECKOUT IN THE MORNING AND CHECK-IN IN THE AFTERNOON. FAILURE TO GO THROUGH THIS CHECKPOINT WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. AT THE TIME OF CHECK-OUT, ALL COMPETITORS AND THEIR BOATS SHALL BE IN FULL CONFORMANCE WITH ALL SAFETY AND TOURNAMENT RULES. AT CHECK-IN, ALL BOATS SHALL IDENTIFY THEMSELVES, AND PROCEED IMMEDIATELY TO THE DESIGNATED WEIGH-IN AREA. PARTNERS, PLEASE STAY TOGETHER, THROUGH CHECK-IN AND WEIGH-IN UNTIL WEIGH-IN SLIPS HAVE BEEN ISSUED (PHOTOS OR PROTESTS). YOU MUST CHECK IN EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FISH.
17. LATE TEAMS TO CHECK IN WILL BE DISQUALIFIED.
18. ONLY ONE ROD MAY BE IN USE PER TEAM MEMBER TO CATCH FISH. THE LINE CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN TWO HOOKS PER LINE PER AZGF.
19. FOR EACH LEGAL DEAD FISH PRESENTED TO WEIGH-IN OFFICIALS, THE COMPETITOR SHALL BE PENALIZED ONE POUND (1 LB) OF WEIGHT DEDUCTED FROM THEIR DAILY WEIGHT. TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS SHALL HAVE SOLE AUTHORITY FOR ACCESSING PENALTY POINTS. A DEAD BIG FISH CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CUMULATIVE WEIGHT LESS THE PENALTY.
20. THE MINIMUM LENGTH OF FISH IS TWELVE INCHES (12”) EXCEPT IN COLORADO RIVER WATERS WHICH IS THIRTEEN INCHES (13”). FISH PRESENTED AT WEIGH-IN FOUND TO BE A “SHORT” FISH WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE SHORT FISH AND THE TEAM’S LARGEST FISH.
21. IF A TEAM COMES TO THE SCALE WITH MORE THAN THE PRESCRIBED EVENT CATCH LIMIT FOR AN EVENT (3 OR 5), THE TEAM WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FOR THE DAY.
22. ALL FISH WILL BE INSPECTED FOR TAMPERING DURING THE WEIGH-IN PROCESS. ANY FISH THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MANGLED, MASHED, MAULED, OR OTHERWISE ALTERED WILL BE WEIGHED AND CREDITED ONLY AT THE DISCRETION OF TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS NOT EXCLUDING FORFEITURE OF THE FISH, DISQUALIFICATION, AND/OR CONTACTING AUTHORITIES.
23. IN CASE OF A TIE FOR FIRST PLACE TEAM OR TEAM CHAMPION, THE FOLLOWING TIE-BREAKERS WILL BE USED IN THIS ORDER: 1.) THE TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL WITH THE LARGEST FISH; 2.) THE TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF LEGAL LIVE FISH WEIGHED IN DURING THE COMPETITION; 3.) THE TEAM OR INDIVIDUAL WITH THE HEAVIEST SINGLE DAYS CATCH DURING COMPETITION. IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT, THAT A TIE REMAINS AFTER THESE THREE TIEBREAKERS ARE EMPLOYED; A COIN FLIP WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE THE WINNER. TIES FOR LESSER POSITIONS SHALL BE RESOLVED BY MEANS SELECTED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
24. ALL PROTESTS MUST BE GIVEN IN WRITING TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE ANGLER’S CHECK-IN TIME. IT WILL BE THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BOTH PARTIES. BOTH PARTIES INVOLVED MUST BE READILY AVAILABLE FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WHEN REQUESTED. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S DECISION IS FINAL.
25. WINNING TEAMS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A POLYGRAPH PROCEDURE BY A CERTIFIED POLYGRAPH PROFESSIONAL. IN THE EVENT THE POLYGRAPH TEST IS FAILED THE PRIZE IS FORFEITED.
26. LOCAL, STATE, TRIBAL, AND FEDERAL LAWS ARE DEEMED TO SUPERSEDE ANY RULE IN THIS DOCUMENT WITH WHICH THEY CONFLICT. ANY ANGLER/TEAM FOUND TO BE CHEATING OR ATTEMPTING TO CHEAT WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE ABSOLUTE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.
27. BASS JUNKYZ RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE OR PARTICIPATION TO ANYONE.
28. NO TEAM SHALL PULL WITHIN 25 YARDS OR 75 FEET OF ANOTHER COMPETITOR’S BOAT. NO BOAT SHALL PERMIT SELECTED COMPETITORS TO FISH WITHIN THE 25-YARD CIRCLE CLAIMED BY HIM TO THE EXCLUSION OF ANY OTHER COMPETITOR. HAVING A CAST LAND WITHIN 10 YARDS OR 30 FEET OF ANOTHER COMPETITOR’S BOAT SHALL BE CONSIDERED ENCROACHMENT.
29. AS A CONSIDERATION FOR THE WEIGHMASTER, PLEASE TAG YOUR BIG FISH TO HELP EXPEDITE THE PROCESS. IT IS NOT MANDATORY. NO PENALTY IS APPLIED.
30. DECISIONS OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR ARE FINAL AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO APPEAL. INTERPRETATION OF THESE RULES WILL BE LEFT EXCLUSIVELY TO THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR IN HIS SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION.
31. BASS JUNKYZ EVENTS ARE PAID OUT 80/20 AND AT A 1-5 RATIO DOWN TO 20 PLACES BASED ON PAID ENTRIES UNLESS THE FIELD MEETS OR EXCEEDS 125 TEAMS. BASS JUNKKYZ WILL EXTEND THE PAYMENT FIELD AN ADDITIONAL 10 PLACES. CHAMPIONSHIP POT ACCRUES AT $25 PER PAID ENTRY. BIG FISH ACCRUES $25 EACH PAID ENTRY AND PAYS 3 PLACES AT A RATIO OF 50/30/20. THE OPTION IS PAID DOWN 5 PLACES 43/20/15/12/10 ON EACH PAID OPTION ENTRY.
32. All WATERCRAFT IS INSPECTED BEFORE LAUNCH. BASS JUNKYZ ALSO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INSPECT ROD LOCKERS AND OTHER COMPARTMENTS AT THE BOAT INSPECTOR’S DISCRETION. THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL ON THE WATER INSPECTION AT THEIR DISCRETION. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AN INSPECTION IS IMMEDIATE DISQUALIFICATION WITHOUT A REFUND. ALL INSPECTIONS ARE DRIVE-THRU AT THE TOURNAMENT TRAILER UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED BY TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.
33. ALL TEAMS PARTICIPATE AT THEIR OWN RISK AND LIABILITY.