2011 FALL TEAM SERIES RULES

2011 FALL SERIES 1 DAY TEAM TOURNAMENTS

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. PREFACE-RULES: These rules will remain unchanged during Central Pro-Am’s 2011 Fall Series 1 Day Team Tournaments. Interpretation and enforcement of the following rules and regulations will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. Decisions of the Tournament Director and Tournament Officials shall be final in all matters. PROTESTS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING WITHIN 15 MINUTES OF THE OFFICIAL CLOSE OF WEIGH-IN SCALES. Rules are in effect during practice and competition days of each 2011 Fall Series 1 Day Team Tournament.

2. ELIGIBILITY: In order to maintain the highest standards associated with the sport of professional bass fishing, participation in this tournament will be by invitation only. The boater must be 18 years of age or older, both team members must be current members of CPAA (except youth team members that are age 15 or under) and pay the appropriate entry fee by the deadline date to be eligible. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone under the age of 18 or the parent or legal guardian can also sign a release to allow a minor to fish. Please call the CPAA office to clarify any questions on youth participation. Central Pro-Am Association reserves the right to discontinue acceptance of the applications prior to the deadline date and also reserves the right to extend the deadline date. Proof of age is the responsibility of the potential competitor. No competitor that has been convicted of a felony within the last 36 months is allowed to fish any Central Pro Am tournament. For specific requirements concerning team member eligibility, entrants must contact CPAA Tournament Offices.

3. ENTRY FEE AND DEADLINE: The entry fee for each 2011 Fall Series 1 Day Team Tournament is $150.00 per team plus an optional $20.00 Big Bass pot. Entries that are mailed must be received at CPAA’s Tournament Office by Wednesday during the week of the tournament. Entries will be accepted at the ramp on tournament days, until 30 minutes prior to take off. Boat numbers will only be assigned when deposit or entry is paid.

4. DEPOSITS: Deposits of $75.00 per team will be accepted. Balance of entry fee must be received by Central Pro-Am Association no later than the deadline date. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable regardless of date of cancellation. Any balance of the entry fee paid in excess of the deposit, will only be refunded or transferred if proper notification is made to CPAA’s Tournament Office on or before the entry deadline date. ALL MONIES HELD ON ACCOUNT MUST BE USED BY THE END OF THE CURRENT SEASON OR IT IS FORFEITED.

5. OFF LIMITS/PRACTICE/COMPETITION PERIODS: THEREWILL BE NO OFF LIMITS PERIOD. Tournament Hours on competition days will begin at safe light for each 2011 Fall Series 1 Day Team Tournament. Competitors must know and observe the official times and dates. During competition, tournament anglers may not procure the service of guides or local experts, participate in the practice of “hole sitting”, follow a non-competitor’s boat to fishing locations, use pre-set markers or buoys for determining fishing areas. Violations of these rules will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament. Proof of boater’s liability insurance in the amount of $100,000.00 must be received by CPAA prior to the first day of competition. No entrant may operate a boat on tournament waters during practice or during tournament days unless boater’s liability insurance ($100,000.00) has been verified by CPAA Tournament Officials.

6. DEPARTURE/FLIGHTS: Will be sequenced in order in which entry fees are received. Earliest postmark and time entered will determine starting position.

7. SAFETY: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by CPAA tournament competitors. Each contestant is required to wear a coast-guard approved life preserver, fully strapped, snapped or zipped securely anytime the combustion engine is operated above an idle speed while practicing for or while fishing any Central Pro-Am Association tournaments. Violation of this rule will be grounds for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to cancel or delay the start of an official tournament day, or alter previously scheduled tournament day return times because of bad weather or any other factor that would endanger the safety of the competitors.

8. SPORTSMANSHIP: The professional bass fisherman and the tournament they are associated with are under extreme scrutiny from the general public, conservation groups, local fishermen, and state and federal agencies. Therefore all contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, fisherman courtesy, safety and conservation. Examples of conduct to include but not be limited to the following: Conservation, care and fisherman courtesy must be observed at all times by all contestants. No alcoholic beverages may be allowed in the boat or used by the competitors during practice, during tournament hours or until a competitors fish have been weighed in. No stimulants, depressants or other drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a physician) shall be used by any competitor during practice, tournament hours, and the weigh-in. Any competitor not practicing the highest standards of care, courtesy, and conservation may be subject to disqualification. Any competitor violating any of the rules will be disqualified.

9. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No “live bait” or “prepared bait” will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc… 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. All other types prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in boat ready for use, however, only ONE is permitted in use at any given time. Each cast must be completed before another rod and reel may be used. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Gaffs may not be used nor be permitted in the boat at any time. Landing nets may be used during CPAA Tournaments. Contestants may not use electronic “bugging” devices or chemicals during practice, tournament days or 30 days prior to official competition days on the tournament waters. CONTESTANTS MAY NOT USE UNDERWATER CAMERAS DURING PRACTICE OR TOURNAMENT DAYS. Snagging or snatching bass on spawning beds is prohibited.

10. BOAT, MOTOR, AND HORSEPOWER: Each boat must have all the required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. All boats must be equipped with an ignition “kill switch” device which must be attached to the driver anytime the combustion engine is above idle speed while practicing for or while fishing any Central Pro-Am Association tournament. Each boat is required to have an operational bilge pump and a properly aerated livewell adequate to maintain a limit of bass. No boat may exceed the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard in their ruling of November 1, 1972. Each boat must display a maximum horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. Changing, altering or falsifying information on rating plates, motor cowling or rating numbers on motor is strictly prohibited. All bladder tanks and any other type of auxiliary gas tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturers are prohibited. By his signature on the entry form, each boater agrees to submit the boat and motor used in the tournament to a complete inspection by the tournament committee, factory trained personnel, and/or U. S. Coast Guard personnel. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited unless approved by Tournament Officials. Anglers’ tournament hours are complete when their fish have been weighed in. Electric trolling motors may be used for maneuvering but, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Houseboats, barges, or other cumbersome crafts will not be allowed. Boats with stick steering present greater than normal safety hazards and may not be used in CPAA Tournaments. The boater may bring his own boat, rent a boat at the tournament site, or borrow a boat provided any boat being used meets the rules and requirements specified for the tournament. (Refusal to submit to an inspection or a violation on any of the rules in this section will be cause for disqualification.)

11. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except: within 50 yards of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or secured in a fixed position (with the trolling motor out of the water), unless that competitor specifically allows any and all tournament boats the right to fish within 50-yard radius claimed by him or within any area designated by state or federal agencies as a “no fishing” area or within the buoyed areas of the take-off cove. Other specific off limits shall be addressed prior to take-off.

12. SPECIAL SITUATIONS: Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must land all fish from inside the boat. Contestants must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat. Neither competitor may depart form the boat except in the case of a dire emergency or a restroom break. In such an emergency, one or both competitors may be removed from their boat to another boat operated by other competitors or a rescue boat. Competitors must call the tournament director prior to switching boats. It is the responsibility of the anglers to keep their fish separated and in water during transport to the tournament weigh-in site. Anglers involved in any special situation must notify an official tournament staff member upon their arrival to weigh-in.

13. SCORING/POSSESSION: Largemouth bass, Kentucky (spotted) bass, Meanmouth Bass and Smallmouth bass will be counted. Only five (5) fish per team may be weighed in at each 2011 Central Pro Am Fall Series 1 Day Team Tournament. The official length limit for bass will be 15”. Normally, the length limit will be the longest state or Lake Limit covering the tournament waters. Bass shall be measured on a flat board with mouth closed. Bass presented for weigh-in which fail to measure the official length will not be counted and will cause a 1.00 lb. penalty deduction for each such bass presented to be deducted from the contestant’s score. At no time during tournament hours shall a team possess more than a 5-fish limit. Both contestants must stop fishing and cull down to a tournament limit before continuing to fish.

14. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official check point for check-out in the morning, and check-in in the afternoon, and this check point shall be designated at the tournament briefing. At the time of check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all rules set forth by Tournament Officials. At check-in, all boats shall proceed immediately to the designated weigh-in area. Failure to turn in boat numbers at the official checkpoint will result in late penalties being imposed (See Rule15). Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited unless approved by Tournament Officials. Angler’s tournament hours are complete when their fish have been weighed in.

15. PENALTY POINTS: For each legal dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized 0.50 pounds which will be deducted from the total weight, including any weight to be counted toward the big bass award. The Tournament Director and his designated appointees shall have sole authority for accessing penalty points.

16. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not in the official checkpoint area at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute which will be deducted from the total weight, including any weight to be counted toward the big bass award. Any competitor more than 10 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”. After competitors have been properly recognized and have turned in their boat number to CPAA Tournament Officials, they will be allowed ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site; however, all fishing must cease upon check-in. Exact starting and check-in times will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.

17. TIES: All ties will be broken 1st by biggest bass, 2nd by most fish weighed in, 3rd by earliest angler entry.

18. CULLING: No culling of dead fish is allowed in a Central Pro-Am event.

19. QUALITY ASSURANCE TEST: By his or her signature on this entry form and/or participation in this tournament, contestants agree to submit to quality assurance tests if required by the Tournament Director. These may include all or part of the following; polygraph test, urinalysis, blood test, and observer, in or out of the boat. Refusal to submit by anglers will result in immediate disqualification and subsequent disqualification from any future CPAA Tournaments. If the angler is unsuccessful with any or all of the above tests, that angler’s weight shall be 0.00 pounds. None of the above rules shall prohibit a CPAA Tournament Official from observing, approaching or boarding any competitor’s boat during official practice periods, or during tournament competition days.

20. CENTRAL PRO-AM FALL SERIES 1 DAY TEAM TOURNAMNENT CHAMPIONSHIP AND POINT SYSTEM: There will be 4 qualifying tournaments. Each team’s weight will be the points earned for that tournament. Final points total will be determined by a maximum of 4 tournaments. A $200.00 fee Championship Tournament will be held for forty Teams. Those qualifying will be determined by the top 40 in point standings. Based on 40 Boats at Championship we will pay 8 places. 1st place $1800.00, 2nd place $1060.00, 3rd place $900.00, 4th place $740.00, 5th place $675.00, 6th place $550.00, 7th place $375.00 and 8th place $300.00.

21. ALTERNATES: Teams may use two alternates during the season. An alternate can only be used 2 times during the season in a qualifying event. After a team uses its alternates, team members may fish alone if their regular partner is unavailable. ALTERNATES ARE NOT PERMITED IN THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP.

22. COMMUNICATION DEVICES. The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular phones, marine radios, walkie-talkies, C.B.’s, etc., to communicate fishing locations or fishing information during tournament hours is strictly prohibited.

23. BONUS AWARD ELIGIBILITY: BONUS AWARDS ARE BASED ON AVAILABILITY AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS DISCRETION. VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND LOOK UNDER TOURNAMENT INCENTIVES FOR DETAILS ON BONUS AWARDS AND ELIGIBILITY. IT IS THE ANGLERS RESPONSIBILITY TO FILL OUT AND SUBMIT ALL PAPERWORK FOR REWARD BONUS PROGRAMS. ANGLERS SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR BOAT MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THESE EVENTS ARE SANTIONED.

24. Any announcement made by CPAA directors or officials at tournament sight may take precedence over written rules.

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