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OFFICIAL RULES for the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge

1. It is your responsibility, as a participant, to read and comply with all written tournament rules and know any special tournament rules.

2. Participation and Eligibility: Berkley BIG BASS Challenge is open to anyone EXCEPT for anglers that fish in the B.A.S.S Elite, and FLW Tour events (this does not include FLW National Guard and Stren Series - only FLW Tour events). The event will be held in an individual format. That is, each participant pays for and enters the event individually. All participants under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

3. Required Activities: This is a BERKLEY bait ONLY event. Please be advised that participants must use BERKLEY baits and ONLY BERKLEY baits.

While participants may launch from anywhere, all participants, pre-registered or not - must check-in at Russo’s Marina to receive official rules and have their live well systems checked. All participants are required to co-operate with members of the press for interviews.

4. Start/End of Tournament (after registration-livewell checks): The Berkley BIG BASS Challenge's first official hour to weigh in a big bass will be from 8-9am. Please not that you will not be allowed to begin fishing until you have been officially checked in and had your live well inspected. After you are checked in, and have had your live well inspected, you can begin fishing - but you cannot weigh-in your fish until the first official weigh-in hour (8am-9am). The start times for the second day of the event will be the same as the first day. The last hour for participants to weigh-in a BIG BASS will be from 1-2pm. And the scales will be officially closed at that time.

5. Hourly Scoring: Five CASH awards will be presented each hour (from 8am-2pm) to the five heaviest fish weighed in during each hour. Largemouth, spotted and smallmouth bass are the only species eligible to be weigh-in for this event. You can win as many hourly cash prizes as you want, but you can only weigh-in one fish during each hour. Each hour, the top five hourly Big Fish leaders will be seated in the "Berkley Big Bass Zone" and will remain there until someone with a bigger fish replaces them. If no one catches a bigger fish to replace one of the top five, these top five will be declared the hourly winners.

$500 - 1st Biggest fish of each hour
$400 - 2nd Biggest fish of each hour
$300 - 3rd Biggest fish of each hour
$250 - 4th Biggest fish of each hour
$200 - 5th Biggest fish of each hour

All fish weighed will be automatically placed in the OVERALL Big Fish standings. This will give you the opportunity to claim one of the three OVERALL Big Fish awards presented at the end of the event.

You may continue to fish and weigh in other big fish throughout each day to upgrade your OVERALL Big Fish standings, and increase your chances of receiving one of the three OVERALL Big Fish awards.

5a. OVERALL Big Fish Scoring: Three CASH awards** will be presented to the three OVERALL biggest fish caught during the two days of the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge. Payout for overall scoring will be as follows:

$10,000 – 1st Biggest fish (OVERALL)
$2,500 – 2nd Biggest fish (OVERALL)
$1,000 – 3rd Biggest fish (OVERALL)

Trophies will be given out to the overall biggest fish of day one, and to the OVERALL big fish winner.

** All CASH awards are based on 250 paid entries. If there are more or less paid entries, cash prizes will be adjusted up or down accordingly. All cash and prizes will be awarded at the event. Winners must be present to receive non-cash prizes. Prizes won by participants not present to receive them at the awards ceremonies will be given to runners up that are present, or will be raffled to those in attendance. Berkley BIG BASS Challenge reserves the right to substitute all non-cash prizes with those of equal or greater value.

6. Sportsmanship: any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship and/or violates any of the official rules will be disqualified. Disorderly conduct at or during the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge event will be grounds for disqualification from the event.

7. Safety: Safe boating conduct and all safety precautions must be observed at all times by all contestants. Anyone fishing in the tournament must wear a Coast Guard approved flotation device any time the main engine is running. Such flotation devices must be worn and properly fastened when inspected at the blast-off point. In an emergency or when safety dictates, fisherman may take their BIG fish, get into another boat, and return to the weigh in site. All boats must be equipped with an engine shutoff or emergency " Kill " switch device.

8. Fishing License: Each contestant will observe State Fish and Game laws and have in his or her possession a valid state fishing license.

9. Beverages: No alcoholic beverages or drugs are allowed in the boat or to be consumed during official tournament hours or prior to weigh in.

10. Boat and Motor: The tournament director reserves the right to prohibit any boat from participating in this event if such boat is considered unsafe or the operator unqualified. A functional kill switch must be hooked up and operational at any time the main motor is running.

11. Registration: You can register for this event by printing out an entry form located on the Anglers Press website (anglerspress.net), the Future Pro Tour website (futureprotour.net), or by calling the Angler’s Press office at 916-768-0938. Entry forms can also be obtained at various tackle shops throughout the greater Sacramento and Bay areas. ALL participants must check-in at Russo’s Marina to receive official rules, and have livewells checked BEFORE they can begin fishing.

12. Late Sign-ups: Late entries will be accepted at the Ramp the morning of the event. However, a late fee of $10 will be charged per angler, for each late sign.

13. Entry Fee refunds: Because of pre-promotional expenditures, no refunds will be given. You can however, transfer your entry to another angler.

14. Confirmation of entry: If you wish to have a confirmation of your entry you can receive one by calling the Angler’s Press offices @ 916-768-0938.

15. Checkpoints: Contestants must check in and out at all designated checkpoints.

16. Participant Identification: All contestants will be given a participation wristband that must be worn during the competition – at all times.

17. Boat Inspection: On-ramp and on dock boat inspections will be conducted by tournament officials. Officials will be checking livewells for fish, safety equipment, live bait, alcohol, etc. At the ramp, or dock, participation ribbons will be placed on each boat during both days of competition to verify your livewell was checked. All boats must have a ribbon tied to their trolling motor before blast-off.

18. Running Lights Must Be On: If applicable, at blast off and until contestants arrive at their first fishing spot. This a procedural rule required by our insurance company and will cause you to be sent to the end of the line and be the last boat out in the event if your boat is in violation of the rule.

19. Partners Must Remain Together: throughout the fishing day and may not leave the boat unless approved by a tournament official (exception: use of rest room facilities). A contestant may not leave for the purpose of carrying, towing, or pushing his boat or to reduce weight to improve floatability for the purpose of gaining access to fishing waters that are otherwise inaccessible. If a boat is inadvertently stuck on a sand bar you may leave the boat in an effort to regain float ability back to point of entry only. Not forward past the sand bar.

20. Permitted Fishing Methods: Only BERKLEY baits may be used. No live bait is permitted at any time. Only one rod may be used at one time. However, any number of rigged rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes. Trolling, as a method of fishing, is prohibited. All fish must be caught live and in a conventional angling method. All fishing must be done from your boat.

21. Sight fishing for Bedding Bass: A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and watched as it approaches the lure. Fish being caught under these conditions must be caught by hook and line and by the fish ingesting the lure. Any bass caught that is either a "sight" or "bed" fish must be caught "hook in mouth with the hook point entering from the inside of the mouth. Any "sight" or "bed" fish caught by snagging or with hook starting from outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by the legal method - with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any angler catching a fish under these conditions and not verifying the hook location with the other person in the boat may be disqualified from the tournament.

22. Platforms in Boat: The use of any device to raise a contestant above the normal freeboard of a boat is prohibited. This rules includes any device that is constructed to raise the contestant up to a higher position as to allow them to cast into areas that would not normally be accessible or which would allow a contestant to see fish from a better angle.

23. Infringements/Permitted Fishing Areas: A "25-yard rule" is in effect at all times during competition. No contestant's boat may move within 25 yards of another contestant’s boat at any time for the purpose of fishing. A boat moving from one area to another may infringe upon this distance as long as the transient fisherman do not attempt to fish while moving. Exceptions to the 25-yard rule apply only to docks, break walls, and slough channels.

Exception example 1: If you wish to fish a boat dock next to a boat dock another team is fishing, and it falls inside the 25 yard parameter, you are allowed to fish it. In all cases, please be courteous.

Exception example 2: If you wish to fish in a slough channel that is longer than 25 yards, and there is another team fishing inside of it, you must continue by them 25 YARDS before you can start fishing. If you wish to fish the opposite side of the slough channel, you may do so. Again, in all cases, please be courteous.

Please note that encroachment and infringements will not be tolerated and that protests can lead to a disqualification for the offending teams.

24. Boat Control: Contestants must leave and return to the tournament weigh-in site by boat. Boats cannot be trailered from one fishing location to another during tournament hours.

25. Fish Size/Culling: Fish will be measured flat, mouth open on a flat board with a 13-inch minimum size. No measuring or culling inside of 5 mph buoys or the area between the check-in point and the weigh-in site will be permitted. Infractions may result in disqualification.

26. Number of fish in Limit: Participants can only bring one fish to the scales per hour. All fish will be weighed and subsequentially released by tournament officials after weighing.

27. Breakdowns/Emergencies: Anglers are not permitted to leave their boats nor touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In this case, it is permitted to be towed either to safety or back to the weigh-in area by any safe means available. You may have your fished transported to the weigh-in by another tournament boat participating in the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge event. At least one person must stay with your fish at all times and neither angler is permitted to fish while under the assistance of another boat during the breakdown period. PLEASE NOTE: Berkley BIG BASS Challenge officials will not be responsible for ensuring that you make it back to the weigh-in site in the case of an emergency or breakdown. If you call and reach tournament officials during an emergency or breakdown, we will do our best to dispatch emergency services to assist you, but cannot guarantee that someone will be sent out for you. It is your responsibility to take the necessary precautions (i.e. cell phones, emergency numbers, tow insurance, equipment) with you BEFORE you participate in this event to call any necessary public or private emergency services personnel.

28. Penalties: All fished weighed in must be alive to be eligible for any of the Berkley BIG BASS cash or prizes. Any fish that appears to have been altered, mutilated or snagged will also be disqualified. All decisions regarding fish that are determined to be dead, snagged, altered, or mutilated by the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge officials are final and cannot be disputed. Any team disqualified from the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge will forfeit all entry fees submitted.

29. Cheating: Anyone caught cheating in this event will be disqualified and never be allowed to fish future Berkley BIG BASS Challenge events. Violators will be subject to full criminal prosecution as dictated by California and U.S law. The OVERALL Big fish winners will be required to take a polygraph test. Refusal to take or failure to pass the polygraph test - FOR ANY REASON - will result in immediate disqualification. All findings of the polygraph results are final.

30. Official Boats: officials may be on the lake during contest hours, and can approach or observe any contestants boat. Each contestant is requested to cooperate with all reasonable requests from media representatives or officials.

31. Event Referees: There may be several visibly identifiable official referee boats on the water to ensure that rules governing the event are followed. Event referees that report violations to tournament officials could result in that team being disqualified.

32. Live Wells: Adequate livewells are mandatory on each boat and must provide proper aeration to maintain fish in good condition, as all fish will be released alive after the weigh- in. In the case of a boat without built in livewells, a large Ice chest with portable aerators with be acceptable. You may be asked to show the aerators working.

33. Trophy Bass: Contestants will not retain any bass after a tournament. However, a trophy bass meeting minimum Fish and Game Commission sizes: Largemouth- 10 pounds, smallmouth- 6 pounds, and spotted bass-6 pounds. may be kept if designated at weigh in time as such.

35. Lake Off-Limits: There is No off limits period for this event.

36. Off-Limit Areas: Every lake may have off-limit areas. If no specific off-limit areas are announced, then 50 yards from any gas pumps and the host marina will always be enforced.

37. Special Raffle/Prizes: Any empty Berkley Powerbait or Gulp bag with your name written legibly on it will be placed in the Berkley BIG BASS Challenge raffle barrel, to give anyone in attendance a chance to win raffle prizes. Only registered PARTICIPANTS in the event will be eligible to win the GRAND raffle prize which consists of a “day on the water” with Berkley national pro-staff member, Skeet Reese. Day on the water will be fulfilled at a time and day scheduled by Berkley BIG BASS officials.

38. Reserved Areas: No person may "hold" or "reserve" a fishing area for a contestant at any time. Infraction of this rule will result in disqualification of all parties involved.

39. Radio or Phone Transmitting: of information concerning any aspect of fishing during a tournament is prohibited. Communication between contestants and/or land lines may, however, be used for breakdowns, extreme emergencies.

40. Speed-Restricted Areas: No boat may pass another contestant's boat in a restricted speed zone, in an effort to gain an advantage.

41. Live release: All contestants will be required to return the fish to the lake. Anglers are required to handle the fish with the utmost care according to the Fish and Game guidelines (i.e., 5 pound plus fish in a separate bag). If the fish, for any reason, are not returned to the designated release area, immediate disqualification will result.

42. Paybacks: Berkley BIG BASS Challenge reserves the right to substitute products advertised for prizes of equal or greater value depending on availability. All cash and prizes will be paid out immediately after the award ceremonies.

43. Awards/Prizes: Any person unable to attend the awards ceremony should have a designated representative, other than a tournament official, be present to claim all prizes and awards for the event. If you cannot be present at the awards ceremony, your cash award will be mailed to you. All other product prizes will be either given to the "runner up" contestants, or given away in a random drawing.

44. Integrity of Berkley BIG BASS Challenge event: Anyone caught cheating in this event will be disqualified and never be allowed to fish future Berkley BIG BASS Challenge events. Violators will be subject to full criminal prosecution as dictated by California and U.S law. OVERALL Big Fish winners will be required to take a polygraph test. Refusal to take polygraph testing will result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of cash and/or prizes. Failure to pass polygraph testing results in immediate disqualification of the team with all cash/prizes forfeited. All findings of the polygraph results are final. All decisions regarding disqualifications are final.

46. Special Rules: The tournament director may add specifics rules when necessary. These special rules will be in effect for the length of the tournament and should not be considered regular rules, but will be announced and enforced as such. Interpretation of all rules will be left exclusively to the tournament director, whose decision will be final in all matters.

47. Protests: Any contestant has the right to make a protest against another contestant. A protest form will be available from the tournament director and must be filled out and presented to the chairman within one hour of the close of the fishing day. A $150 protest fee will be required to accompany any formal protest. The fee will be returned if the protest is found to be valid by the protest committee.) Any contestant involved with the protest must be on call for three hours following the end of the fishing day.

48. Ties: In the event two contestants have the same weight, prize money will be split equally between them.

50. Damages and Claims: All contestants by entering this Berkley BIG BASS Challenge event hereby waive and release the tournament officials, sponsoring organizations from all claims for injury and/or damage incurred in connection with this event. Promoters and organizations assisting in the tournament operation, their agencies and agents are not responsible for death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire, or any loss to any entrants. Each entrant, upon signing the entry form, will in effect be signing the waiver. All participants are required to have the necessary boating liability insurance prior to entering this event.

51. Insurance: It is the responsibility of all boat owners to have current boat insurance to participate in this Berkley BIG BASS Challenge Event. Failure to do so could result in your not being allowed to participate in or being disqualified from the event.

52. Release of Fish: At all events, after weigh-in, fish must take to the live release boat for release.

54. Dock Patrol Officials: During the weigh-in process, all participants must follow ALL instructions given to them by designated “Dock Patrol” officials. To eliminate confusion and expedite the weigh in process, “Dock Patrol” officials will give instructions regarding which participants can proceed to the scales, boat slip assignments etc. If you are instructed by “Dock Patrol ” to keep your fish in the livewell, or to stay in your boat until called up to the scale, you MUST comply. Any team that does not comply with Dock Patrol instruction will be subject to disqualification.