2008 NASA-LANGLEY BASSMASTERS (NLB)

 

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

 

1.      Introduction: NASA-Langley Bass Masters Principles of Operation are published for the purpose of coordinating NLB’s overall effort. These principles may be changed, amended, or supplemented by NLB without notice; however, where changes or amendments influence the overall effort of NLB or its participating members, every effort shall be made by the Board of Directors to publish changes or amendments at the earliest possible date.

2.      Support of Sponsors: Every member is encouraged to listen to the product message of NLB and when appropriate, advise others of the products use and effectiveness. Failure to spread the “word” can result only in the loss of sponsors with a resultant loss to our fisherman.

3.      Membership Fees: The annual fee for membership in NASA-Langley Bassmasters shall be $30.00.

4.      Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall consist of the club officers and Tournament Directors.

5.      Election of Officers: Officers (President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Tournament Directors) will be elected at the meeting before the Classic.

6.      Member In Good Standing: A member must be at least 16 years old, have submitted and had accepted by the Board of Directors a complete membership application with annual membership fee and have not been previously disqualified by the Tournament Directors pursuant to rule 18 of NLB Official Tournament Rules and Regulations.  A member is NOT considered to be in good standing if outstanding monies or debts are owed to either NLB or its members. All money issues or debts shall be resolved for a member to be in good standing and allowed to fish in future tournaments. Any resolution of these issues not reached between members shall go before the NLB board of Directors.  New members will be on probationary status until accepted by the membership’s majority vote at the meeting following participation in at least two (2) club tournaments.

7.      Tournament Schedule: Committee of NLB Tournament Directors will determine dates and locations of NLB Tournaments and the annual NLB Classic. Tournament schedule will be presented to the general membership at the first regularly scheduled meeting. Location for the NLB Classic may be decided at a later date, but no later than the last regularly scheduled tournament of the season.

8.      Classic Qualification: Any member who fishes two or more tournaments qualifies to fish the NLB classic as long as he/she remains in good club standing. Members joining late in the season shall be allowed to fish the classic at the decision of the Tournament Directors.

9.      Shared Expenses: It shall be known the non-boater is expected to share the expenses with the boater they are fishing with for each tournament. This can be resolved between the partners or presented before the NLB Board of Directors.

                               

Official Tournament Rules and Regulations

 

1.      Rule changes/Interpretation: In so far as possible, the following rules shall remain unchanged. Interpretation of these rules is left exclusively to the Tournament Directors. The Tournament Directors decision on disqualification, assessment of penalties, and interpretation of these rules shall be final. Tournament directors, Club President and Club Vice-President may waive these rules in part or totally if an unusual situation arises.

2.      Participants and Eligibility: Participation in the NLB Tournaments is open only to members of NLB in good standing unless the Tournament Directors declare a Tournament as an open. Only two contestants may fish together as a team or individually from one boat unless changed by a Tournament Director.

3.      Tournament Entry Fees: Tournament entry fee shall be $15.00 per angler per tournament day including the Classic. Completed entry forms and fees may be accepted at the meeting before each tournament but no later than the morning of the tournament. Pre-registration is encouraged.

4.      Tournament Payback: Tournament payback shall be according to NLB published payback schedule for qualifying tournaments. Classic payback shall be in accordance with the NLB payback schedule except substituted for the listed payback. Payback at qualifying tournaments shall be 100% on net entry fees ($15.00) while the classic payback shall be 100% of net entry fees with sponsor product being substituted and the remaining funds being paid to other classic fisherman. 100% of the big fish pot shall be returned to participating fisherman.

5.      Boat and Motor: All boats shall meet USCG requirements and shall be equipped with a functional livewell (s), bilge pump and kill switch. All boats used in competition shall be required to have insurance.  The Tournament Directors may disqualify any boat from participating in a tournament if it has any damage/deterioration/configuration that is of questionable safety to the participants.  Also the boat livewell(s)must be capable of supporting/maintaining the legal limit/catch of both competitors.

6.      Safety: Safe boating conduct shall be observed at all times. Each competitor shall wear an USCG approved chest type life preserver. This preserver must be worn at any time the combustion engine is running and the boat is on plane. The preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition at all times while the boat is on plane. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs may be consumed during tournament hours.

7.      Sportsmanship: Contestants shall follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially in regard to boating and fishing in the vicinity of non-competitors.

8.      Partner Pairings: Draw for partner pairing and boat position will be conducted at the meeting prior to each tournament.  Meeting shall be held the Tuesday prior to the scheduled tournament at place and time designated by the Tournament Directors.  No deviations to partner pairings will be allowed at the tournament location unless approved by the Tournament Directors.

A)    Non-boaters: Non-boaters will be paired with boaters. In the event of a shortage of boats at the draw, the members present for the meeting will be given priority. If it is not possible to pair a member present due to a shortage of boats, that member is guaranteed a partner for the next tournament.

B)    Boaters: Boaters will be paired with non-boaters. In the event of shortage of non-boaters, prior to boater pairings each boater must declare if they wish to fish from their own boat (in this, boaters are guaranteed the use of their own boat). Boaters declaring that they do not elect to fish from their own boat will be considered non-boaters and paired with the next boater drawn. If in the event of boater status change, pairing will be done prior to launch.

C)    Guests: Guests will be paired per paragraph 23.

9.      Late Registration: Tournament registration is considered late if not received prior to the tournament draw. Pairing of non-boaters will be based on the availability of non-paired boaters. Late registration of a boater will result in the pairing as a non-boater for the tournament. If boaters/non-boaters are evenly paired, boater may fish without a partner. Any member electing to fish after drawing at meeting will be drawn at random (from remaining boaters without partners) to fish as non-boater for that tournament  

10.  Tournament Release of Boats: The order of release of boats in based on the order drawn at the tournament meeting.

11.  Official Checkpoints: There shall be only one official checkout/check-in point. At checkout, boats shall be released in the order designated by the Tournament Director. Check-in shall be accomplished by each boat insuring the official at check-in is aware of his presence on or before the official check-in time. After proper recognition at check-in, competitors will be allowed ample time to proceed to weigh-in. All fishing shall cease after check-in. The Tournament Director will announce the official checkout/check-in times. 

12.  Fishing Methods: Only artificial lures may be used. No “live-bait” or “prepared baits” baits may be used with the exception of pork rinds and strips. Only one rod per competitor may be used at any one time, however, other rods and reels may be in the boat ready for use. Trolling as a fishing method is prohibited. All fishing and landing of fish must be done from the boat.

13.  Permitted Fishing Locations: Contestants may fish anywhere in tournament waters except in areas designated as off-limits by the Tournament Directors or local law. Contestants shall also show proper courtesy to any non-competitors. 

14.  Care and Disposition of Fish: Contestants shall use care in the handling of fish from catch to weigh-in so as to take every precaution and effort to keep fish alive for proper release after weigh-in. A watertight plastic bag shall be used to transport fish to weigh-in.

15.  Conservation: Weigh-in of fish shall be staggered so that fish are not out of the water for extended periods of time. Plastic bags shall be used to transport fish from boats to weigh-in. Five minutes from removal of fish from live-wells to weigh-in is too long. Lack of oxygen causes brain cell destruction and eventual death to fish. All fish except dead or trophy shall be returned to the water.

16.   Weigh-In:  Weigh-In of fish will be conducted at the time and location selected by the Tournament Directors.  The participants in the first boat of the launch order are tasked to assist the Tournament Director(s) with conducting the weigh-in (set-up/take down of scales, measuring/weighing of fish, etc.).  Weights will be verified and recorded by a tournament director.  Each participant shall proceed to verify his/her correct recordation of weight and any penalty assessed immediately following weigh-in of their fish.

17.  Scoring:

A)    General: Only spotted, largemouth and smallmouth bass, caught on the day of the tournament may be presented for weigh-in. Except as otherwise directed by the Tournament Director or required by law, the daily “creel” limit shall be four (4) fish per member (or the limit established by the Tournament Director) of the above species in aggregate. Bass shall measure a minimum of 12” or the minimum length established by law. Only Tournament Directors shall be permitted to weigh fish with the exception of their own fish, which shall be weighed by another club official.

B)    Protests: All protests shall be reported in writing to a Tournament Director prior to weigh-in.  The decision of the protest by the Tournament Director shall be final.

C)    Standings: The total number of ounces of bass finally credited to a members catch shall determine Tournament standings and final winners. A four (4) ounce penalty shall be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish weighed. Ties shall be resolved by dividing the placement awards equally between the persons tied.

D)    Season Standings: NLB season ranking will be determined by the total weight (minus assessed penalties) from the five (5) best regular season tournaments. NLB classic does not count towards season rankings. Additionally, the Tournament Directors may declare other tournaments exempt for the season rankings. Angler of the Year will be determined by the total weight of all qualifying tournaments.

E)     Big Fish Pot: Big fish pot may be collected at the tournament draw or the day of the tournament prior to blastoff and is strictly voluntarily. Fee for big fish pot will be $5.00. 100% of this pot shall be paid to the angler that weighs the largest bass caught during tournament hours. An equal division of the pot shall resolve ties.

F)     Tournament Payoff: All tournaments with at least twenty-one (21) members shall pay five (5) places. Otherwise one (1) place per five (5) contestants shall be paid. In the event an insufficient number of fish are weighed in to allow payment for allotted places, then place monies for the unpaid places shall be divided equally among the winner(s). In the event no fish are weighed in during a tournament, then all entry fees shall be absorbed into the club Treasury.

18.  Disqualification or Expulsion: Any of the following actions found by the Tournament Directors to result in undue advantage or violation of acceptable standards of good sportsmanship, courtesy or safety shall result in disqualification or expulsion.

A)    Weigh-in of Another’s Fish: A contestant may not allow any bass caught by him to be counted on the score of a different contestant.

B)    Culling Fish at Weigh-In Site: The practice of culling fish at weigh-in site is prohibited.

C)    State and Federal Regulations: Violation of any prevailing statute or regulation of either the state or federal government is prohibited.

D)    Rules of Violation: Violation of the rules or regulations of NLB, except where penalties are assessed. Disqualification results in forfeiture of all fees paid.

E)     Violation of B, C, and D: Two violations and a member is subject to expulsion from NLB.

F)     Violation of A:  Any person(s) in violation of (A) above is subject for disqualification from NLB.

G)    Dead Fish: Culling of dead fish is prohibited and grounds for expulsion.

19.  Penalties: The Tournament Directors shall assess penalties as follows:

A)    Short Bass: Each bass which does not measure the minimum length established by the Tournament Directors or by law on the official NLB cull board at weigh-in shall result in deduction of eight (8) ounces of total weight plus the short fish. Any discrepancy in determining short bass shall be resolved only by the Tournament Directors.

B)    Altered Fish: Any fish that appears to have been mangled, mauled or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of the Tournament Directors.

C)    Late Penalty: Late arrival at the Check-in site shall result in a penalty of one (1) pound per minute deducted from the day’s catch. Any contestant arriving more than fifteen (15) minutes late shall loose all credit for that days catch.

D)    Dead Fish: Four (4) ounces per fish as provided in paragraph 10C.  Dead fish will not be culled.

20.  Boat breakdown, Etc: All teams shall return to the official dock by boat. In the event of a breakdown, either one or both partners may take their fish, get in a boat operated by another member, tournament official or designated rescue boat and return to check-in. It is suggested that all boat owners carry a white flag or rag to alert other anglers to their distress. Failure to stop and assist distressed club members shall be grounds for disqualification.

21.  Fishing Conditions: Tournaments will be held, regardless of weather conditions, but the safety of all contestants will be considered at all times. Tournament hours will not exceed ten (10) hours in a single day. If, in the judgement of the Tournament Directors, hazardous conditions threaten the safety of contestants the tournament starting/weigh-in times, locations or dates may be changed.

22.  Boat Operations: Any contestant found operating their boat in an obvious and deliberate manner to handicap his partner or other tournament participants shall be disqualified. 

23.  Guests:  A guest is defined as a non-member that is eligible to join NLB.  The purpose to invite a guest is to introduce other fishermen to the NLB and tournament fishing. The following guidelines have been adopted by the members of NLB to manage guest participation in club tournaments:

A)    All guests must pay the appropriate tournament entry fee(s) and are eligible for tournament payoffs.

B)    A boater or non-boater is limited to declaring a guest for two (2) tournaments per season and will be paired with that guest unless other arrangements are made with the Tournament directors prior to the tournament draw.

C)    Guests will not be allowed to fish the club Classic.

D)    If there are not enough boaters to accommodate all club non-boaters there will be a draw between boaters declaring guests to determine which guests will be allowed. The intent is to ensure no club non-boater is disallowed to fish a tournament.

E)     If a boater shows up at the tournament without his/her guest the boater will be paired with a non-boater by the Tournament Directors.

F)     No guest may fish with NLB as a guest more than two (2) times a season.

G)    Any boater/non-boater that is not paired up at the tournament draw is allowed to bring a guest at any time.

24.  Rule Deviations: All deviations of existing rules shall be put to a vote of the majority of the club members present at the meeting. Tournament Directors will make decisions on deviations during tournaments when possible. Club President and/or Vice President may stand in for an absent Tournament Director. All decisions shall be made by a minimum of three club officials.