North East Bass Association of Massachusetts 2009 Tournament Rules
Equitable Entry System (EES)
No qualifying to reach to the finals under the EES. In order to fish the finals on Bellows Falls, you need to be a NEBA of MA member and meet the criteria outlined below.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - To be held in conjunction with the finals and the trophy to be awarded to the winning club at the finals
EES Equitable Entry System for INDEPENDENT NEBA of MA Members - 3 tournament minimum to qualify for the finals. If you are an INDEPENDENT member of the NEBA of MA and do not belong to a sanctioned club, you must fish 3 state trail events to qualify for the finals and your INDEPENDENT partner must do the same. If your partner cannot fish the finals you can pair with a NEBA of MA club member in good standing or another INDEPENDENT member that has met the 3 state tournament minimum requirement. All entry fees will count towards the finals in the EES.
EES Equitable Entry System for NEBA of MA Club Members – NEBA of MA members in good standing can fish as many or as few state tournaments as they wish with all their entry fees counting towards the finals. NEBA of MA members can fish the finals with any NEBA member of any club or Independent member that has met the 3 event requirement.
EES Financial Breakdown – If you fish all 5 state trail events with the same partner then your entrance to the finals is free. The equitable dollar amount is $30 per team per event that is taken via the 70/30 split. That means that a team fishing all 5 events contributed $150 and that is the equitable number for this year. No money is ever lost if you participate in the finals which will be a 100% payout of the EES for that year. Example (1) If you are a NEBA of MA club member and you and your partner fished 2 state trail events you would have contributed $60 towards the finals and the EES number for 2008 is $150 so the finals would only cost you $90 to enter. Example (2) If 2 NEBA of MA members fished all 5 events and then decided to each fish the finals with another NEBA member from any club that didn’t fish any state trail events then they would have contributed $150 the EES number but because they split into 2 teams they each would bring $75 in EES money to their team and the entry fee for the finals would be $75 for each team. The team EES number simply has to add up to $150 so the more state trail events you fish, the cheaper the finals are.
Angler of the Year Ties - All ties will be honored and all winners will be co-champions for that season. The prize package will be as follows: If 1 team wins, then that team will receive 4 paid tournaments, plaques and jackets. If there are two winning teams then each team will receive plaques and 2 paid tournaments (anglers can choose to exchange their 2 tournaments for 2 jackets). If 3 or more teams tie, then the officers will determine, with input from each winning team, the best way to divide up the prize package for those involved.
Lunker(s) of the Year – There will be special plaques issued to the angler that catches the biggest largemouth and the biggest smallmouth for the 5 tournament trail season. There will also be a special super lunker pool that will be paid to the anglers at the banquet for big largemouth and smallmouth for the season. Anglers in this special pool must be paid on the date of the first tournament to be eligible. The super lunker pool is a cash award only and has no bearing on lunker of the year awards.
PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY - The NEBA of MA Tournament Trail is open only to members of the North East Bass Association of Massachusetts, with current membership cards. (Membership fees may be paid on-site.) Any person under the age of 18 must have the signature of their legal guardian. Watercraft (Marine) Liability insurance is required with a minimum of $300,000 coverage. Professionals: Individuals that have fished two or more tournaments requiring an entry fee of $500 or more in the preceding six months are not eligible to fish.
REGISTRATION - PRE-REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS - In all state tournaments, all pre-registered participants must check-in with the Tournament Officials by 6:30 AM and have their boats inspected and in the water by 6:45 AM. Participants not checked-in by 6:30 and launched by 6:45 AM will not be allowed to fish, no points will be awarded, and the team's entry fee will not be refunded. On-site registration must be completed by 6:00AM
REGISTRATION - ON-SITE - Participants registering at the tournament site must check in with the Tournament Officials by 6:00AM and have their boats inspected and in the water by 6:45 AM. Pre-Registered participants not checked-in by 6:30 or launched by 6:45 AM will not be allowed to fish, no points will be awarded, and the team's entry fee will not be refunded. The following are required for on-site registration: Payment of registration fee, Marine/watercraft liability insurance with a minimum of $300,000 coverage, NEBA of MA Mass. Membership Card. (Membership Fees may be paid on-site.)
PRE-TOURNAMENT FISHING - There is no cut-off date for pre-fishing tournament waters. However, NEBA of Ma. Club Tournaments are prohibited on Trail Tournament Waters for 6 days prior to each Trail Tournament.
SPORTSMANSHIP AND COURTESY - All participants in NEBA Tournaments are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs in a participant's boat or on their person during official tournament hours will be cause for immediate disqualification. Anyone on medication under a doctor's order must notify the Tournament Officials prior to the start of the tournament. Tournament hours extend from the start of registration until the scales have been officially closed by the Tournament Officials. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially in regards to the general public. No competing boat may fish within 50 feet of another occupied boat, regardless of whether the other boat is a tournament contestant. Any act of a participant which reflects unfavorably upon the NEBA's efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean water, and sportsmanship will be reason for disqualification from the current tournament and/or all future NEBA of MA Tournaments. Protests must be submitted to the Tournament Officials, in writing and signed, before the scales are officially closed. The protesting participants must be available to confront the accused with the Tournament Officials.
SAFETY - Safe boating must be practiced at all times. Each contestant is required to wear a chest-type, Coast Guard approved life preserver (PFD), fastened securely, at all times that the combustion engine is running. Anglers must be seated in the main boat seats when the boat is on plane. No angler will be allowed on any deck of the boat while the boat is on plane. Suspender-type vests must be worn on the outside of all garments, and cannot be removed unless there are other acceptable Type III vests readily accessible in the boat. All boats must operate in a safe and sane manner and observe any and all speed zones that are posted on tournament waters. The maximum speed limit for all tournaments is 45 MPH, unless lower or higher speed limits are posted on the tournament waters, required by law or local rules and regulations, or required by the Tournament Officials. Ignition kill switches must be used properly, and attached to the driver at all times that the combustion engine is running. Boats on plane must maintain at least 150 feet of distance between each other and or applicable local law.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT - 0nly artificial lures may be used. No live or prepared bait is permitted, with the exception of pork strips or chunks and rinds, etc. Only casting, spin-casting or spinning rods and reels may be used. All others are prohibited. Any number of fishing rods may be rigged in the boat but, only one rig may be used at a time. Nets, with a maximum overall length of 6 feet (72 inches), are allowed. Trolling as a means of fishing is not allowed. No underwater listening or vision devices of any kind are allowed. Cell phones and two-way radios may be used for emergency/non-tournament purposes only.
BOAT AND MOTOR -Every boat must have all Coast Guard required equipment. The minimum boat length is 14 feet. Canoes, barges, and similar cumbersome or unstable craft are not allowed. The horsepower rating of the motor must not exceed the horsepower rating of the boat. Tiller steering is allowed, but stick steering is not allowed. All boats must have a functioning ignition kill switch, which must be used properly.
LIVE WELLS - All boats must have a functional live-well space, of proper and adequate size, and properly aerated to maintain alive a team's limit of bass. Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity are "proper and adequate". Stringers are not allowed.
EMERGENCIES - Contestants must remain in their boat at all times during tournament hours, except in the case of dire emergency. If toilet facilities are not available and contestants must leave their boat to relieve themselves during tournament hours, they must ask another participating boat to witness their leaving and returning to their boat. No boat shall approach within reaching distance of another boat during the tournament, except for an emergency. It is mandatory that a courtesy bucket is aboard for all participants and it is to be used if the need arises.
OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT - There shall be only one official checkpoint in the morning and afternoon, and this point shall be designated at the pre-tournament briefing. At the time of check-in, all competitors and their boats shall be in full compliance with all the rules set forth herein and by the Tournament Officials. All boats must proceed directly past, within 50 feet of, the launch boat at tournament check-in. All boats must check in, regardless of whether they have fish are not. At check-In, all boats shall identify themselves by means of their boat number and proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. The check-in boat will remain on the water for 15 minutes after the official check-in time. Check-in and weigh-in procedures will be as defined at the pre-tournament briefing. At least one team member must stay with the team's catch until the catch has been weighed and recorded.

TOURNAMENT WORKERS - must be allowed to trailer their boats before all other tournament participants' so that they can proceed to their duties. Any team/boat that obstructs a tournament worker's boat may be disqualified. Any team/boat that fails to follow weigh-in procedures, as announced at the pre-tournament briefing, may be disqualified.
WEIGH-IN AND SCORING - Tournament scores will be based on the total weight of bass caught by each team. Only black bass (largemouth and smallmouth), caught during tournament hours on the tournament waters shall count toward a team's catch. Daily limits and size will be established at the pre-tournament briefing. If more than the legal limit of fish is found in a team's possession, that team will be disqualified. If in the judgment of the Tournament Officials any bass presented for weigh-in has been mashed, mauled, mangled, or altered, that bass will not be counted toward the team's score. Bass presented for weigh-in that fail to meet the established minimum length will not be weighed-in and shall incur a one-pound penalty for each short bass. Due to the variance in measuring devices, all participants may check their measuring device against the official 'Golden Rule' prior to the close of the morning registration period (6:30 AM). There will be no 'courtesy checks' of fish.
Competitors are expected to keep their bass alive if at all possible. Dead fish may not be "culled"--they must be weighed-in with the team's catch. Four ounces (.25 lb.) will be deducted from the team's score for each dead fish weighed-in. The determination of a 'Dead Fish' will be based on the Tournament Officials' judgment of the fish's likelihood of survival.
TEAM ACCUMULATES TRAIL POINTS FOR ANGLERS OF THE YEAR - 200 points awarded for first place; 2 points less for each place after first; 20 points less than the last team with fish for teams that check-in with no fish; 0 points for teams that do not check in or are disqualified. A change in partners constitutes a new team and new points however each team may engage the use of a substitute 1 time only per season per team as long at that substitute meets all the NEBA of MA qualifications and as long as 1 team member is present. A substitute receives no EES value towards the finals. A team can fish with 1 member any time.
SUBSTITUTE FEES – Substitute fees will be $35 for a 1 time participation and do not include banquet or state finals participation. A Substitute can sub for another team or join NEBA of MA by paying an additional $20 and becoming a full member. They would still need to fish 3 times or join a NEBA of MA club to be eligible for the state finals.
TOURNAMENT DROP POINTS - No points will be awarded for dropped tournaments.
TIES - In the case of a tie for any place, the tie will be broken in the following manner: (1) biggest fish, then (2) Total number of live fish. If still tied, the prize money and points of both places will be divided equally between the teams.
LATE PENALTY - There shall be no excuse for tardiness. A late penalty of 1 pound per minute will be assessed for teams that check-in after the official check-in time, and the team will be disqualified if more than 15 minutes late. All fishing must cease upon check-in. After proper recognition at the check-in point, competitors will have ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site at a slow idle. The official starting and check-in time will be announced at the pre-tournament briefing.
VIOLATIONS – Any ticket or citation issued for speeding, fishing violations or improper boating operation during a NEBA of MA event will cause immediate disqualification from the event. Other violations will be at the tournament committee’s discretion for disqualification.

INTERPRETATION OF RULES - All decisions in interpretation of these rules by the Tournament Officials' will be final.

LIABILITY RELEASE - READ BEFORE SIGNING!

1. IN SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, I HEREBY RELEASE North East Bass Association of MA (NEBA OF MA), it’s officers, agents, employees, sponsors, owners or lessors of premises used to conduct the event (“Releasees”), herein referred to as NEBA OF MA, from all damages, claims, costs or expenses relating to injury of any persons or property, which I may sustain or which I may cause, by participating in or in connection with this tournament. I understand that by participating in this tournament, I may cause or sustain injury, including but not limited to, loss of life, limb, sight, speech, or other senses, including but not limited to, paralysis, coma, loss of mental functions, dehydration, exposure, hypothermia, frostbite, sun stoke, or any other injury(s) caused in a boating accident and / or exposure to the elements. I further release NEBA OF MA for all damages relating to adverse weather conditions while participating in this tournament, accepting that it is my responsibility to seek safety should adverse and/or unforeseen weather conditions occur prior to, during or after the tournament.
2. I KNOWINGLY AND FREELY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, both known and unknown, EVEN IF ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE, and assume full responsibility for my participation.
3. I FURTHER AGREE THAT I, FOR MYSELF AND ON BEHALF OF MY HEIRS, ASSIGNS, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE and next of kin, hereby RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS NEBA OF MA. I will never sue NEBA OF MA for damages due to any injury, death or damage I suffer or cause whether known now or which may develop in the future. In the event NEBA OF MA were named in a lawsuit because of my actions, I expressly agree to indemnify and hold NEBA OF MA harmless from any liability whatsoever, including court costs and attorney’s fee, arising with respect to such actions. I understand that in waiving my rights to sue NEBA OF MA, I am also waiving the rights of recovery from NEBA OF MA of my insurance carrier for any claims they may pay on my behalf.
4. I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTANDING THEIR TERMS, UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS BY SIGNING IT, AND SIGN IT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY WITHOUT ANY INDUCEMENT.
5. LIABILITY INSURANCE. I maintain a minimum of $300,000 liability insurance on the boat I will use in this tournament.
7. SUBSTITUTE MEMERS may enter NEBA OF MA events upon completion of this application and payment of the required $35. ALL RULES APPLY to Substitutes.
8. By placing our signatures on this entry and membership form we certify that we have read all tournament rules and liability release, and agree to abide by all rules, regulations, releases and tournament official’s decisions.

BOTH CONTESTANTS MUST SIGN AND DATE BELOW THAT THEY HAVE READ THE RULES AND LIABILITY RELEASE AND UNDERSTAND THEM.

Boat Owner: ________________________________________________________ Date: ___________________

Partner: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
(if Partner is under 18, Legal Guardian must sign also)