Section XI: MARYLAND BASS FEDERATION NATION OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT RULES

The following rules shall apply to all Maryland Bass Federation Nation (MBFN) tournaments except:

1.  Rules for special tournaments (not to include the SQT, Mr. Bass and the Tournament Trail) may differ from those contained herein.

2. These rules may be changed by the MBFN immediately upon notice to its members; such notice may be published on the MBFN internet website at http://www.mdbass.com.

A.  TOURNAMENT STAFF:

1.  Mr. Bass:     

a.     The Mr. Bass Tournament Director and Staff are the responsibility of the MBFN and will run the Mr. Bass Tournament

b.     The host region will be required to supply 4 helpers for each day of the tournament.  These people cannot fish in the tournament.

2.  SQT:

a.     The host region will be required to supply 4 helpers for each day of the tournament.  These people cannot fish in the tournament.

b.     If a region fails to provide such persons it will be fined $50.00 per person per day.

Note: Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director or his designee at a tournament. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may impose such sanctions, as he deems appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, and forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Director or his designee shall be final in all matters .

B.  TOURNAMENT FOLDER:  The Tournament Director will maintain a file pertaining to State Federation Tournaments.

C.  CANCELLATION POLICY AND DELAYED STARTS:

1.     If the Tournament Director cancels a regularly scheduled tournament for any reason, it shall be rescheduled by the Tournament Director and approved by the Executive Board.

2.     2. In the event of a delayed start, all tournaments will keep the same weigh-in time.

D.   PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY:

1.  Tournaments are open only to current members of the MBFN who are 16 years of age or older. Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of potential competitor. Any candidate for competition who, in the judgment of the Tournament Director, is disabled in such a manner as to unfairly hinder his partner or endanger the safety and well-being of his partner or himself shall not be eligible.

2.  Eligibility will be limited to those chapters who have actively affiliated with the MBFN prior to July 1st of the year preceding the tournament and who are in “good standing” with the MBFN in accordance with State Bylaws.

3.  If a club’s affiliation is not up to par by the entry deadline date of a tournament, they are   pulled 

from that tournament and cannot fish any other tournament until the club in back to being 100% affiliated.

4.  Observers can be either members or non-members, but they must be at least 16 years of age.

Note: A letter from BASS on qualifying members for state teams.  Two exceptions to “home rule”.

(a) No one can fish for two states in an attempt to qualify for two different state teams.

(b) States cannot use buddy or team tournaments as qualifiers.  They must use “solo” or “blind  

draw” tournaments where there is an unbiased observer in each boat.

5.  Mr. Bass:

a. Each eligible chapter is allowed to send a designated Mr. Bass representative.  In the event the chapter’s Mr. Bass is unable to fish the tournament, an alternate may be appointed or selected by the chapter. However, only one name may be submitted for the Mr. Bass Tournament.

b. Each contestant is required to provide a boat for use during the tournament.

c. Each chapter is required to provide an observer for both days (it doesn’t have to be the same  person both days) that should provide their own PFD.  The Tournament Director or his/her staff will not provide an observer for any reason.  If the contestant does not have an observer, he/she will not fish the tournament.

6. SQT: Entry Qualification: An 80% club participation level will be used to fill the competition field.

E.  PRACTICE AND COMPETITION:

1.  During regular season events, there will be no off limits or official practice day.

2.  During the tournament and any official practice days, a competitor may not have the assistance or advice of anyone for the purposes of locating or catching bass, nor enter the tournament waters with anyone who has been on the tournament waters during the off-limits period including, but not limited to, a professional guide, state or federal wildlife agency employee, or any other person deemed an “expert” on these tournament waters by the Tournament Director, unless they are a competitor in the tournament.

3.   During two-day tournaments, contestants or observers may not be on tournament waters outside of the tournament hours except to return to a launch site or with approval of the Tournament Director (especially to show a friend spots learned during the first day of the tournament).

4.   No competitor may buy or barter a fishing location from any other competitor for use during any competition day.

5.  During the official competition days of the tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine-band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Competitors are permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency. If so equipped, competitors may listen to the marine-band weather information.

6.  A designated tournament official must be granted access to the competitor’s boat at any time during the official practice or competition days. Failure to grant such access may result in immediate disqualification.

7.  Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Director any violation or infraction of any tournament rules. Failure to report violations, or suggestions to another competitor that he or she should violate these rules, or false verification of weigh-in forms will be cause for disqualification.

F.  PAPERWORK:

1.  Waiver and release: A properly completed and signed official entry form and the entry fee must be received by the MBFN Tournament Director or his designee on or before the entry fee deadline date. The Tournament Director reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of applications prior to deadline and also the right to extend the acceptance date as a whole, but not to individual clubs or individuals.   Entry fees will only be refunded if proper notification is made to the MBFN Tournament Department prior to the entry fee deadline date.  While a sponsor may pay the entry fee, competitors agree to use any and all official products provided by the MBFN.

2. Insurance:

a.  During the official practice and competition days of any MBFN tournament, no competitor may operate a boat unless that contestant has documented proof of a minimum of $100,000 boating liability insurance covering the boat being used in the tournament. Proof of said insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover the competitors using that boat.  Random checks will be conducted and any competitor who does not have proof of in-force said insurance may be disqualified           

b. Any boat operated by a non-boater owner must have a letter from the boat owner granting him/her permission to use the boat and a copy of the boat owner’s insurance policy confirming coverage.

c. Any homeowner policies used for insurance purposes must cover the boat on the water.

d.  At least $5,000 medical coverage is highly recommended.

3.  Ramp Fee: The contestants are responsible for paying ramp fees on tournament days.

4.  Lunker Pool:

a. (Mr. Bass): There will be an optional $10.00 per contestant lunker pool for the entire tournament.

b. (SQT): There will be an optional $10.00 per contestant lunker pool for the tournament with half being paid out each day for that day’s lunker.

5.   Awards:

a. (Mr. Bass):  $100.00 is given away each day to a random observer.

b. (SQT):  An award plaque will be presented to the top eight (8) finishers of the tournament.

G.  REGISTRATION:

1.  Each competitor must register in person with official MBFN staff at the time and place designated.  Failure to register in person during the prescribed hours shall result in being disqualified from participating in the tournament. In tournaments with observers, each contestant must have their observer sign in each morning to insure that everyone is accounted for and that they are qualified to fish.  A “Pre-tournament Meeting” will be held the morning of the event.

2.  Pairing of Competitors: Two competitors (or competitor/observer for Mr. Bass) will be assigned to each boat. The Tournament Director will determine the method of pairing partners. No contestants or observers will be paired from the same club. In two competitors per boat type tournaments an announcement of your fishing partner shall be made by United States Mail to both partners, posted on the MBFN website and posted at the “Pre-tournament Meeting” on the morning of the event. This meeting must be attended by at least one of the competitors. It shall be the responsibility of each partner to appear at a mutually agreed upon location with sufficient time remaining to check out at the official checkpoint and start on time. Tournament officials shall have no responsibility for finding missing partners. The Tournament Director, at his sole discretion, may reassign partners prior to the morning take-off. It is suggested that a minimum of 30 minutes is required for preparation to depart to the check-out point.

3.  Tournament Trail:

a. Priority entry: Boaters entering with non-boaters will be paired first. If more boaters enter than non-boaters, boaters may be paired together. If more non-boaters enter than boaters, non-boaters may elect to change to a boater and pay appropriate entry fees or elect to have money refunded or transferred to a future tournament. Selection of these anglers will be determined by date of entry. If your guaranteed angler fails to show up, you will loose your guaranteed status and may be bumped from the event. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final.

b. Boater position: Boater positions are not transferable.

c.  Penalties:

(1) Contestants will be penalized for the tournament in which the problem occurred.

(2) The contestant will lose their entry fee plus the show-up points for that tournament.

H.  TOURNAMENT PROCEDURES:

1.  Official Checkpoint:

a. There shall be only one official point for check-out in the morning and check-in in the afternoon.  These points shall be designated at the “pre-tournament” meeting.

b. Prior to each day’s start, each boat will be given an inspection check by a tournament official, and will be given a number, which must remain with the boat. This number must be displayed upon the request of tournament officials.

          c. At the time of check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformity with all   rules set forth by the Tournament Director.

          d. At check-in, all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbers described in “part b” above and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Partners must stay together, and numbers must be turned in at check-in.

             e. The boater and non-boater must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. After proper recognition at the check-in point, competitors will be allowed ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site; however, all fishing must cease upon check-in. They must remain together at all times, in sight of each other and each other’s catch, under the conditions cited above, in order for their catch of that day to be scored in the tournament.  A competitor must not allow any bass caught by him to be counted on the score of another competitor. In such a case, both competitors shall be disqualified from this tournament and from all future tournaments conducted by the MBFN.

             f.  A competitor who does not catch any fish can sign-off at the registration table and will not   have to accompany his partner through the rest of the weigh-in.

          g. Exact starting and check-in times will be announced at the “Pre-tournament Meeting”. It is the angler’s responsibility to confirm check-in times each day on the daily pairings.

            h.  In the all two-day tournaments, the second day’s launch sequence will be the reverse of the first day (ie: the last boat the first day will be the first boat on the second day.  If more than one flight is required, the flights and contestants will be reversed.)

            i. Mr. Bass: Failure to Check In: For any contestant that fails to check-in at the official checkpoint, his/her chapter shall not be allowed to fish the following year’s Mr. Bass tournament.

      2. Fishing and Boating Considerations:

a.  Boater/Non-boater” type tournaments:

(1)   SQT: A full discussion must be held between the two partners, prior to the morning departure, as to the schedule of boat operation.  This schedule must permit each partner equal time to fish from the front of the boat,to operate the trolling motor, so as to afford each partner the opportunity to fish their selected waters an equal amount of time.  If a contestant waives the above rights, they shall retain the right to select the fishing waters for one-half of the tournament day.  Partners will fish together both days of the tournament.                

(2)   Tournament Trail: The Boater at his discretion may allow the non-boater to operate and fish from the front deck. Non-boaters are only allowed to drive the boat in emergency situations or loading and unloading from trailers. Any boater, who, in the judgment of the officials, operates the boat in such a manner as to unfairly handicap his non-boater partner, shall be disqualified. At no time may a boater request that the non-boater not fish.

(3) Mr. Bass: It is at the sole discretion of the boat captain-angler whether or not the observer in the boat is allowed to fish.  Observers can be either members or non-members, but they must be at least 16 years of age.

Note: In view of the expense involved in operation and maintaining a boat, it is suggested that the non-boater (but not an observer) assume at least the cost of gas and oil for the competition.

          b. Competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing                 waters.

                    c. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days.

d. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS: The boater and non-boater must remain in the boat at all times except in case of dire emergency. In such an emergency, they may be removed from their boat to either a boat operated by other competitors or a rescue boat designated by the Tournament Director.  In the event of a needed restroom break, contestants are allowed to leave the boat upon which all fishing must cease until partners are back together in the boat. If a competitor violates any of the above conditions to contact a tournament official by phone or other means or to report an emergency or breakdown, both competitors must cease fishing at this point, and their catch must be verified by a tournament official in order to be counted in the tournament. If after the emergency situation is resolved by tournament officials and enough time is left for the competitors to resume fishing, a “restart” will be allowed and the competitors will continue and their catch will be counted. This applies only to dire emergency situations as determined by the Tournament Director or his designee.

          e. Towing boats on trailers during tournament hours is prohibited, except by the direction of                  tournament officials.

                    f.  Posted speed limits must be observed and all boats must be operated in a safe manner.

                    g. All angling must be done from the boat. 

3.  Permitted Fishing Locations:

a. Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Each competitor must obtain this information from the MBFN Tournament Department. Any water within these boundaries posted “Off-Limits” or “No Fishing” by state or federal agencies as well as the live-bass-release area established by the Tournament Director will be “off-limits” and will be announced at the “pre-tournament” meeting. Only that water open to all public fishing will be considered tournament waters.

b. Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except:  within 25 yards of any other contestant’s boat. No such boat shall permit selected contestants to fish with-in the 25 yard circle claimed by him to the exclusion of any other contestant.  In order to have a claimed area, the trolling motor must be up and the boat must be anchored or tied to a fixed object.

The following exceptions will govern all MBFN tournaments at the following locations: 

1.   Smallwood State Park: Off limits inside the no-wake zone to include all docks and bulkheads

adjacent to the ramp area.  And any posted restricted areas designated by DNR.

2.   Dundee Creek Marina: All areas inside the no-wake zone at the ramp area, including the creek

beside the ramp area.  Any posted restricted areas designated by DNR.

I.  SAFETY:

1. Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by competitors. During the official practice and competition, each competitor must wear a Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver. This preserver must be worn at all times the combustion engine is operating. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification.

2. Tournament officials have the right to delay, shorten or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather.

3. The MBFN reserves the right to impose boat speed limits on any or all tournaments. Whether or not to impose a speed limit, the area covered by the speed limit and/or the actual speed limit imposed, shall be left exclusively to the discretion of the tournament director.

4. In the event of an emergency situation, competitors should call 911 first and then notify tournament officials. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger may be eminent.

5. Do not bring the boat to plane position until you are past the point designated by the Tournament staff.

J.  SPORTSMANSHIP:

1. Competitors in MBFN 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.

2. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future MBFN tournaments. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, prescription or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the official practice or competition days, or in the weigh-in area.

3. 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 efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy, shall be reason for disqualification.

4. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states within which they fish.

5. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and/or for disqualification. Any disqualification suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any tournament or fishing organization shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation in a MBFN tournament and/or for disqualification from a MBFN tournament.

6. Dead fish may not be culled and must be delivered to the weigh-master for weighing and proper disposal. 

7. Participants may be penalized for not showing up at a tournament without prior notice to the Tournament Director. Penalty in such a case will be forfeiture of the entry fee, show-up points, weight, and ineligibility for the next tournament.

8. Any individual that fails to show up for the second day of a two-day tournament without proper notification to the Tournament Director will be disqualified from next year’s tournament.

K. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: 

1.  The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.

2.  Only artificial lures may be used.

3. No “live bait” or “prepared bait” will be permitted during official practice and competition, with the exception of pork strips or rinds.

4. Only ONE casting, spin casting or spinning rod (8 foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. Other rigs as specified above may be in boat ready for use; however, only one is permitted in use at any given time.

L. FISHING METHOD RESTRICTIONS: 

1. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging visible fish will have his or her catch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, to be counted as a legal fish all bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be verified by your partner before being unhooked. 

2. An electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering. However, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited.

M.  BOAT & MOTOR REGULATIONS: 

1. HORSEPOWER: MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS USED IN  OFFICIAL  TOURNAMENT PRACTICE AND IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION WILL BE 250 HP. Horsepower cannot exceed the limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard. When required, each boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower-rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must NOT exceed the rating specified on this plate nor the horsepower maximum set by MBFN. Each competitor agrees to submit, by his signature on the official entry form, the boat and outboard motor used in the tournament, to an inspection by factory-trained personnel, if there is any reason to suspect the horsepower is in excess of the rating. Normal maintenance of engines is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of a competitor’s engine to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden, and will result in disqualification. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower-rating numbers on the engine is also cause for immediate disqualification from MBFN tournaments.

2.  A boat equipped with “stick steering” may be used if the motor HP does not exceed the stick rating.

3.  SAFETY FEATURES:

a. All boats must be equipped with an approved type of operable ignition “kill”switch. This ignition-kill device must be attached to the driver’s body any time the combustion engine is operating. Any time the combustion engine is operating and in gear there must be a driver in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat.

b.  Fishing boats that are 16 feet or more in length may be used.

c.  Any raised platforms or decks cannot be higher than the gunnel of the boat.

d.  Standing on the outboard or seats while fishing is not allowed.

e. All BLADDER tanks and any other type of AUXILIARY gas tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturer are prohibited. Additional gas tanks that are factory options and installed by a manufacturer’s authorized dealer are permitted. Boats that do not have factory-installed gas tanks are restricted to a maximum of 18 gallons of gasoline in tanks that meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Gas tanks must be properly secured or strapped in a boat.

f. Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment as well as a functional bilge pump and livewell space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain alive a limit catch of bass by both competitors using the boat. The MBFN recommends live-wells be maintained at full level and aerators on manual. Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is proper and adequate. Boaters must make a back seat available for non-boaters each competition day.

N.  SCORING:

1. After competitors check in at the official checkpoint they must present all legal fish in their possession to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed.  Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the pound-and-ounce weight of each competitor’s catch during the competition days of the tournament.  Only when a boat’s competitor’s catch is counted, measured, weighed and verified by a tournament official may the competitor/competitors return to the boat.

2. Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted, Redeye or Shoal bass will be weighed.

3. The limit for all competitors shall be a combination of 5 of the above species and varieties per day, unless otherwise specified by tournament officials. At no time shall a competitor have in his or her possession more than the tournament limit. Tournament officials will conduct checks for violations of this provision, and in the event a competitor has in his possession more than the above-described limits, tournament officials shall cull down to the limit described, beginning with the largest bass.

4. The official length for bass shall be determined by the Tournament Director and announced at the “Pre-tournament Meeting”. In most cases it will be the longest state limit covering the tournament waters. Only bass as described above which measure the official length or more on the longest straight line, shall be weighed. Bass presented for weigh-in, which fail to measure the official length, shall result in a penalty of loss of largest bass plus the short fish, which penalty shall be deducted from the total score of the competitor.

5. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of tournament officials.

6. Bass must not be on a stringer at any time during the tournament.

**  TOURNAMENT  TRAIL POINTS: Points will be awarded to MBF members in the Boater and Non-Boater categories for their respective finish among MBF members from the tournaments that they weigh fish. 105 points will be awarded to the 1st place finisher in each category. The 2nd place finisher will be awarded 99 points with each position there after dropping by one point. A 100-point show up bonus will be awarded to any angler who competes and who has not been disqualified from that event. You must be affiliated with a club in good standing with the Maryland Bass Federation prior to the tournament in order to receive points. Best 4 out of 5 events count towards weight and show up points, you will drop one event if you fish all 5. Angler of the year in the Boater and Non-boater category, based off of cumulative points will earn State Team Spots respectively

7. DEAD FISH PENALTIES: For each legal, dead bass, presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized the following, to be deducted from their daily score: 1 dead fish – 4 oz., 2 dead fish – 10 oz., 3 dead fish – 18 oz., 4 dead fish – 28 oz., 5 dead fish – 40 oz. The Tournament Director or his designees shall have sole authority for assessing penalty points.

8. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official checkpoint area as described in Rule 1 of “Tournament Procedures” at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of one pound per minute late to be deducted from the total weight of his catch that day.  That weight will be deducted starting from the largest fish down.  Any competitor 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.”

9. TIEBREAKERS:

a.  Highest number of legal fished weighed

b.  Weight of the largest fish 

c.  If the tie is not broken by applying the foregoing procedures, prizes will be split between the anglers.

e.  Lunker:  Prizes will be split between the anglers.

O. PROTEST PROCEDURES: Anyone who feels that he/she has witnessed an infraction of any tournament rule      may submit protest. The protest will then comply with the following outline for action:

1. The person wishing to make protest should immediately notify the Tournament Director upon arrival at weigh-in. The protest must be submitted in writing within 15 minutes of the official end of the tournament weigh-in procedure.

2.  The Tournament Director will then make a determination of the validity of the protest.

3. All such valid protest shall then be considered. The Tournament Director after consultation with the Rules  Committee shall determine possible action.

4.  The use of a polygraph test will be made available and put to use if deemed necessary.

P.  RULE’S COMMITTEE:

1.  The Rule’s Committee shall consist of the Tournament Director as chairman, a representative from each region selected by the Region Director of that region.

2.  All members of the Rule’s Committee shall have a copy of, and be familiar with, the Tournament Rules.

Q. RULES VIOLATIONS AND APPEALS COMMITTEE: An appeals committee will be established by the MBFN, which shall be comprised of one BASS employee not affiliated with the Tournament Department, and two anglers.  Appeals must be sent in writing seven days from the date of ruling to the Tournament Director.  If a competitor admits to a rule violation, he/she may not file an appeal of either the finding that he/she has violated the rules or the penalty imposed for the violation.  Decisions of the appeals committee shall be final.  Appeals of non-competition rulings will be handled as stated in other sections of this document.

R.  DATES AND TOURNAMENT SITES:

1.  Mr. Bass:

a. The first full weekend, Saturday and Sunday, in May will be the permanent date of the Mr.                                          Bass Tournament.

b. This date may be altered by the MBFN by petition of the site selection region due to conflicts

of tournaments, weather or conditions sufficiently unsuitable to hold the tournament on the                

prescribed dates.

c. The tournament site selection will rotate through the regions in the following order:

(1)  2008 – Southern

(2)  2009 – Western

(3)  2010 – Central

(4)  2011 – Northern    

(5)  and so on

2.  SQT:          

a. The third (3rd) full weekend, Saturday and Sunday, in May will be the permanent date of the SQT,

b. This is a two-day event and contestants need to commit to both days.

REGIONAL STATE QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS:  The Regional State Qualifying Tournament format for SQT’s has been eliminated. (4/21/05)

If the Regional Qualifying Tournaments format is used again in the future, the following rules will 

be reinstated:

a. Each region needs to set regional deadline dates and have their completed region packet of

contestants to the SQT Tournament Director by April 30th/May 1st.

b. Regional tournaments cannot be held outside of the State of Maryland.

c. Regions must keep coordinated with the Federation on all event schedules.

d. The Federation will continue to hold the regional format of RSQT’s.

e. All RSQT’s must be over by December 31st for the following SQT.

f. All regional monies due to MBF for the SQT allotments should be deferred until the calendar year of the subject SQT and paid no later than the January board meeting.

S.  QUALIFYING FOR THE STATE TEAM AND THE PATHWAY TO THE BASSMASTER CLASSIC:

Requirements: (1) Membership with National B.A.S.S., (2) Membership with the Maryland Bass Federation Nation, and (3) a member of a Maryland local Chapter Bass club.

Through the Maryland Federation, you can qualify and be a member of our state team to represent Maryland at the BASS Divisional Tournament. This is the first step for a grassroots angler to participate in being an angler in the Bass Master Classic. Ways to qualify for the state team are as follows:

Mr. Bass Tournament—State Team Captain (2 anglers)
This is a statewide competition in which each first place finalist from each of our official chapters is invited to compete against each other to determine the “best of the best”. The top two anglers from this two-day event advance to the State Team and the overall winner is crowned Maryland’s Mr. Bass and becomes the captain of the State Team. In the event an angler chooses not to fish the Divisional, the next place angler will be offered that State Team spot. First place receives a boater position and second place a nonboater position.

Tournament Trail Circuit—Angler of the Year (2 anglers)
The Maryland BASS Federation Trail Circuit offers another means of making the Maryland State Team. The Circuit is comprised of five tournaments on Maryland waters and ends with the top angler of the year in points on both the boater and non-boater category advancing to the State Team. In the event an angler chooses not to fish the Divisional, the next place angler will be offered that State Team spot.

S.Q.T. Tournament (8 anglers + an alternate*)
The SQT features the top club anglers that qualified through either their club or regional tournaments. This tournament is the last step in the progression of competitions leading to the make up of the State Team that will eventually lead to the National Bass Master Classic! The top eight competitors from this two-day event will advance to the Maryland State Team. This completes the 12-man State Team. In the event an angler chooses not to fish the Divisional, the next place angler will be offered that State Team spot and so on down the list until the spot is filled. The top one through four finishers receive a boater position; the five through eighth finishers receive nonboater positions.

*Alternate
There will be an alternate that will travel with the 12-man State Team. This alternate will be the ninth angler qualifying from the SQT. The President or designee will become the fourteenth member of the State Team.

From here the State Team will compete in the Mid-Atlantic Divisionals.

Section XII:  NATIONAL FEDERATION TOURNAMENTS (B.A.S.S.)

  A.  EASTERN DIVISIONAL TOURNAMENT:

1.  The state winner of the EDT will take the first $1200 toward expenses.  The MBF will take 30% of     

the remaining amount, and the remaining 70% will be split equally among the team members.  Also,

it was amended to give the 13th man an equal share of the 70% whether he fished or not.

(i.e. 70% will be split among team members including the 13th man (Alternate).

2.  To allow all team members to bring their boats unless restricted by the hosting state.

3.  For the MBF to pre-pay for rooms for the EDT in order to get the best price/selection.

4. The Tournament Committee shall be responsible for making annual recommendations to the Executive Board for the     current year’s State Team allocated expenses for individual Boaters and Non-boaters.  Recommendations are to be done at the first committee meeting, or as soon as the Divisional location is announced and a quorum can be held.  Recommendations are to be based on location, gas, and miscellaneous accommodations.

5.  If a member of the State Team has to back out of the Mid Atlantic Divisional for any reason, 

the person that finished in the next spot in that venue will take his position and the vacant

spot will be filled with the next place finisher from the same venue.

Example:  Mr. Bass:

                  1st Place      John

                  2nd Place     Todd

                  3rd Place      Jim

                  4th Place          Bill

If John cannot make the Mid Atlantic Divisional Todd would move into his spot, as a boater and team captain, and the vacant spot would be filled by Jim.  If Jim is unable to go the spot will be offered to Bill as so on down the list of the pertaining venue.    

This scenario is active up to and until the date in which the State Teams names are submitted to B.A.S.S.        After this time, this is usually two weeks before the tournament, the State Team alternate (9th place finisher at the SQT) will fill any spot vacated by a competitor, after all lower finishers are moved up.

6.   Upon the determination of the Executive Board, it will be determined the amount of monies

that will be paid to the boater and non-boaters fishing in this tournament.  Boater monies  

will be paid to: The Mr. Bass winner, the winner of the MBF trail (boaters side only), and

the top (4) finishers of the SQT.

7.  The 2nd Place finisher of the Mr. Bass tournament is the alternate boater.  This contestant will be required to bring a   boat to the tournament and therefore will also receive boater’s monies.  Once the State Team is at the Mid Atlantic    Divisional, and only at this time, the contestant will only be entitled to use his boat if a fellow competitor boat breaks   down and they are unable to find a replacement.  If a boater cannot fish either day of the tournament, due to illness, disqualification, or any other reason, the replacement boater (2nd Place Mr. Bass) will become the alternate boat.  It is not required that the alternate boater lend his boat to another competitor unless he chooses to do so.