Southern Souls Benefit Bass Fishing Tournament Rules & Regulations

1. General Rules & Eligibility

1.1 Participation: Open to all anglers. Minors must have a parent/guardian sign a waiver.
1.2 Entry Fees: $100 per boat (2-person max). Sign up in our website store. Morning-of sign-ups will incur a $30 late fee.
1.3 Launch Order: Determined by the order of sign-ups. Boat numbers will be called for launch. Please be prepared and ready for your number.
1.4 Permitted Waters: Must fish outside of the marina. Fishing within restricted areas will result in disqualification.
1.5 Target Species: Only largemouth bass and spotted bass are eligible for weigh-in.
1.6 Boat & Equipment Requirements: All boats must meet state and federal safety regulations. Kill switch, life vests, and open live wells must be in place at takeoff.
1.7 Liability Waiver: All participants must sign a liability waiver before competing.

2. Tournament Format

2.1 Takeoff & Weigh-In:

• Takeoff: At daylight or safe light. Kill switch must be attached, life vests worn, and live wells open for inspection before launch.

• Weigh-In: 2:30 PM sharp. Late arrivals will be penalized ½ lb per minute past weigh-in time.
  2.2 Check-In: All anglers must check in before launch and after weigh-in.

3. Fishing Rules

3.1 Permitted Fishing Methods: Only artificial lures allowed; no live bait.
3.2 Trolling: No trolling with the main engine allowed.
3.3 Fish Limit: 5-fish limit per boat.
3.4 Minimum Length: Any bass under the tournament size limit (e.g., 14 inches) will result in penalties.
3.5 Culling: Must be done immediately once the limit is reached. No dead fish can be culled.

4. Weigh-In & Scoring

4.1 Scoring: Based on total weight of legal fish caught. Heaviest bag wins.
4.2 Tie-Breakers: If weights are tied, the largest fish caught will determine the winner.
4.3 Dead Fish Penalty: ½ lb penalty per dead fish.
4.4 Late Weigh-In Penalty: ½ lb penalty per minute late to weigh-in.
4.5 Short Fish Penalty: Any fish under the legal limit will not count and may result in additional penalties.

5. Conduct & Sportsmanship

5.1 Ethical Conduct: Unsportsmanlike behavior, cheating, or any violations of state/federal fishing laws will result in disqualification.
5.2 No Outside Help: No outside assistance, including receiving fish from another boat.
5.3 Protests: Any disputes must be filed in writing within 15 minutes after weigh-in.

6. Safety & Weather Conditions

6.1 Life Jackets: Must be worn anytime the outboard motor is running.
6.2 Kill Switch: Must be attached whenever the boat is on plane.
6.3 Weather Delays: The tournament director reserves the right to delay or cancel due to hazardous weather conditions.
6.4 Emergency Contacts: Participants must have a working cell phone or radio for emergencies.

7. Payouts & Prizes

• 1st Place – $1,000

• 2nd Place – $750

• 3rd Place – $550

• Wee Fish Prize – $250

8. Tournament Director’s Decisions

8.1 Final Authority: The tournament director’s decisions are final and non-negotiable.
8.2 Rule Changes: Any rule changes will be announced before the tournament begins.