IBA(AUSTRALIA) TOURNAMENT RULE

IBA(AUSTRALIA) Tournament Rules

Effective Feb 1, 2004



Official tournament rules for IBA(AUSTRALIA) events, as follow, will govern Pro Circuit events. 
"Lake Specific" revisions, should any be necessary, will be announced at the mandatory 
rules/partner-pairing meeting prior to the first day of competition. IBA(AUSTRALIA) reserves 
the right to refuse entry. 

1.Both anglers must have a personal flotation device of some description, which thay must wear, 
fully fastened, when the boat is planing. Remember that if you choose to wear a PFD type
2 or 3, you must still carry the PFD's that are legally required on the craft.
(Australian boaters will supply PFD for both anglers)

2. COOPERATION WITH MEDIA / PROMOTION - Within the framework of reasonable requests, all 
contestants in IBA(AUSTRALIA) events will cooperate with media representatives covering said 
event. Likewise, participation in the tournament grants IBA(AUSTRALIA) the use of any pictures 
of contestants, accounts, or interviews with contestants it gathers for the lawful promotion 
of IBA(AUSTRALIA) and its tournament operations.

3. SPORTSMANSHIP - The laws of good judgment and sportsmanship as well as courtesy toward others
on and off the water will be adhered to at all times. Specifically the use of obscene language 
or gestures is strictly forbidden at any time prior to, during, or after the event in the area 
of the host marina, lodging or tournament headquarters.

4. TOURNAMENT PROTECTION RULE - Any act or inflammatory statement by any contestant that, 
in the opinion of the Tournament Authority, is detrimental to the operation of the tournament,
damaging to organized bass fishing, to IBA(AUSTRALIA), or any of its sponsors, or to permitting
agencies or their officers (such as rangers, fishery biologists, etc.), during the practice 
round or tournament, may result in temporary or permanent suspension from all future
IBA(AUSTRALIA) tournaments. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH ENTRANT, to know these rules. 
A rules violator compromises the entire field, not just his partner for the day.

5. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES/NARCOTICS - Any contestant under the influence of, or in possession of
alcohol, barbiturates, marijuana or any other controlled substance in his/her boat will result 
in the immediate disqualification of the offending party.

6. EXPENSES - AAA's do not choose fishing locations nor do they operate the trolling motor 
except with the approval of the Pro contestant and are not required to share expenses for the
day's fishing. However, the AAA contestant is encouraged to contribute some financial assistance
to the Pro towards the day's expenses.

7. SAFETY - Each boat entered in a tournament must be equipped with a working ignition "kill"
switch, which must be attached to the driver whenever the outboard motor is running. Likewise,
any time the outboard motor is in operation during the official practice period or during the
prescribed tournament hours, the driver and all passengers must wear and secure their Coast 
Guard approved (type III PFD) life jackets. SOSpender types that are approved are allowed. 
No waist belt type life preservers will be allowed. Unsafe or reckless driving and excessive
speed will not be tolerated. Boat drivers who endanger their passengers and/or other boats 
on the water face the possibility of expulsion from the tournament trail.

8. INSURANCE & LIABILITY - It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have
proof of adequate public liability insurance covering them and passengers. All contestants are
required to sign a waiver absolving the tournament sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees 
from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their
participation in the tournament or related activities. Contestants are required to have in 
their possession and provide proof of insurance on demand by the Tournament Director.

9. LICENSES - Each contestant must have in possession a valid and current fishing license.
Penalty for such an offense is disqualification of the session's catch.


10. SOLICITING INFORMATION - No contestant may solicit or receive information from any
non-contestant from the beginning of the "official practice days" through the final round 
of the tournament. Should the Tournament Authority determine that such an occurrence took 
place; the contestant will be required to withdraw from the tournament.

11. PRACTICE / PRE-FISHING - A practice period of one day will exist before each tournament,
practice hours are officially from sunrise until check in on Friday. All contestants must check
in between 6 and 8 p.m. A contestant may not pre-fish with anyone not in the tournament other
than his immediate family during the official practice rounds. Members of the media or trade
would be an exception, but only with advance permission of the Tournament Authority.


12. FISH TRANSPORT - Transporting live fish taken in one area and releasing them in another area
for the purpose of establishing a population in the new area during the practice period, during
the tournament, or thirty days prior to the tournament is strictly prohibited and grounds for
disqualification.

13. FISHABLE WATERS / OFF LIMITS - Fishable waters in IBA(AUSTRALIA) tournaments include any
water reachable by boat which is open to all contestants and which is not otherwise restricted 
by local, state or federal regulations. All fishing and landing of fish must be done from the
boat. A contestant may not leave the boat to untangle a fishing line or lure from
structure(trees, rocks, etc.) or part of the boat. No contestants are permitted to leave their 
boat in an effort to propel or float their boat to or from fishing waters they could not
otherwise reach; however, the use of push poles is permitted. The host marina including the area
inside the "no wake" buoys is always off limits to fishing. Other marinas or areas may also be
designated off-limits due to specific lake rules or considerations.

14. EQUIPMENT / TACKLE / TECHNIQUE RESTRICTIONS - Each Pro tournament entered boat would
desirably be a minimum of 14'. Engines may not exceed the stamped horsepower rating for the boat,
and no outboard engines over 250 horsepower will be permitted.  Each boat must be equipped with 
a functioning, aerated livewell. Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait, cut, 
or prepared baits may be used. Fish "attractants or scents" may be utilized. All fishing must be
accomplished with one rod and reel combination used at one time, meaning each cast must be made
and the line retrieved before another cast may be made. A contestant may have an unlimited 
number of reels and rods rigged and ready to fish, but no rod shall exceed eight (8) feet in
length. Trolling (the act of manipulating the lure solely by maneuvering the boat under any type
of power) is prohibited. The intentional snagging of fish is strictly prohibited. Landing nets
are permitted.
 
15. ENCROACHMENT - 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 not "tie up," "claim," or
"protect" more than a single dock or location at one time regardless of the distance involved 
(no one can "tie up" even a single dock for more than 25 yards distance from their boat).

16. SIZE LIMITS/BAG LIMITS - Qualifying fish (Australian bass) must be a minimum of 30cm in
length to the fork of the tail, measured laying flat with the mouth open on a flat board. 
The session tournament limit will be four (4) bass per boat. Never shall there be more than a
legal fish and game limit in a tournament boat. Tournament boats inside the check-in area must
not possess more than the tournament limit, anglers in violation will be disqualified for that
day. 

17. CULLING (replacing a live caught bass with a larger live caught bass) is permitted during 
the fishing day. At no time during tournament hours may contestants continue to fish while
possessing more than the legal fish and game limit. Both anglers must stop fishing until no more
than a legal limit is in the boat. No measuring, releasing, or culling of any bass is permitted
by contestants inside the designated host boundaries at any time.

18. WEIGH-IN - When presenting fish to be measured, the contestant cannot touch the fish while
the official takes the measurement. Once fish are presented to the Weighmaster, they immediately
become the "official catch" of the contestant and become the possession of the Weighmaster to
measure, weigh, and record as such.

19. DEAD FISH PENALTY - dead fish do not count towards tournament points

20. BREAKDOWNS / EMERGENCIES - Anglers are not permitted to leave their boat or touch another 
boat, with the exception of an emergency or major equipment failure. In the case of a breakdown
on the water, the fishing partners may accept assistance in the form of a tow from or a return
ride with any other boat on the waters. While in tow or riding, those contestants accepting
assistance are not permitted to continue fishing. However, other contestants, if rendering
assistance, may continue fishing. Anglers with fish to be taken to the weigh-in may only be
transported via another tournament contestant's boat or a method approved by the Tournament authority.

21. CELLULAR TELEPHONES or other communication devices are allowed in boats as an emergency tool
only; boat-to-boat communication is prohibited except for emergency purposes.

22. LATE RULE - There is no excuse for being late to the weigh-in. Any contestant's catch
returning to the check-in point after the official tournament deadline will recieve a penalty.

23. CITATIONS - A contestant cited by officers for violation of State fishing or boating
regulations jeopardizes his daily catch and may be subject to disqualification by the Tournament
Authority.

24. STANDINGS / TIES - In the even of a tie, final standings in any event will be determined by
the heaviest bass. 

25. PROTESTS - Protests regarding violation of these rules must be declared immediately to the
Tournament Director and then submitted in writing within 10 minutes of the end of weigh-in. The
Tournament Authority will hear protests and the decision of the Director will be final. TO AVOID
PROTESTS, if you suspect a possible infraction is about to take place - ALERT THE WOULD-BE
OFFENDER and check the rules!

26. TOURNAMENT CHECK-IN - All pro tour contestants are required to check-in with the tournament
registration staff between the hours of 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday. 

27. AWARDS CEREMONIES ATTENDANCE - While it is generally recognized that attendance at
presentation of awards ceremonies is an act of respect for others, it is not always possible for
all to attend. Those not attending the awards ceremonies will forfeit any claim to trophies or
merchandise earned in competition. The Tournament Authority will mail the purse share. Another
party may not pick up purse checks.

28. DECISIONS of the Director and/or Tournament Director shall be final.

IBA(AUSTRALIA) TOURNAMENT ETHICS

Conduct at Meetings: All contestants should do their best to see that those receiving awards are
afforded the courtesy of their attention during the announcement and introduction of winners and
trade representatives.

It is the responsibility of all contestants to understand and be constantly aware that their
actions and words speak for all of organized bass fishing in the eyes of the observing public.

Contestants who establish a reputation of ignoring the "code of ethics" and/or the laws of good
judgment are subject to review by the Tournament Advisory Committee and are subject to suspension
from all IBA(AUSTRALIA) activities.