Fishing Tournament

• Article I —Authority & Acceptance of Rules 

1.01 These Rules and Regulations (“Rules”) constitute the official governing rules of the Annual American Legion Auxiliary Unit 25 Bass Tournament (“Event”). 

1.02 By registering, participants acknowledge they have read, understand, and agree to abide by these Rules as published on the Event Organizer’s official website. 

1.03 All applicable to local, state, and federal laws—including boating, safety, and fishing laws—apply at all times during the event. 

1.04 All local, state, U.S. Coast Guard, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) regulations must be followed. Any area designated as off-limits by SCDNR or tournament officials is strictly prohibited. 

1.05 In the event of discrepancies between printed, verbal, or digital versions of rules, the Official Rules posted on the Event website at the time of the Event shall prevail. 

1.06 All rule interpretations and enforcement decisions are at the sole discretion of the Event Director. All rulings are final. 

• Article II —Eligibility & Participation 

2.01 Each person in a boat must be a paid contestant.
Maximum: Two (2) anglers per boat. 

2.02 All anglers age 16 or older must possess a valid South Carolina fishing license. 

2.03 Participants under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legally responsible adult. 

2.04 The Event Organizer reserves the right to refuse entry, disqualify, or remove any participant at any time for rule violations, misconduct, or safety concerns. 

• Article III —Registration & Entry Policies 

3.01 Entry Fees & Transfers 

• Entry fees are non-refundable unless the Event is permanently cancelled with no rescheduled date. 
• If rescheduled due to weather, natural events, or circumstances beyond control, entries transfer automatically to the new date. 
• Participants unable to attend a rescheduled event may transfer their entry to a future tournament. 
• Each entry may be transferred to another angler one time only, with prior approval. A written request must include the substitute angler’s name and contact information. 

3.02 Blast-Off Order 

• Launch position is determined by order of paid registration. 
• First offense for blasting off out of position = warning. 
• Second offense = disqualification. 

3.03 Check-In Requirement
All anglers must check in onsite prior to launch to: 

• Verify registration 
• Receive materials (shirts, swag, etc.) 
• Allow live well inspection 

Online registration does not waive check-in. 

3.04 Registration Availability 

• Online registration is available prior to the event. 
• On-site registration is available during official check-in before launch. 
• Walk-up entries at the ramp are permitted before starting time. 
• Article IV —Tournament Hours 
• Start: Safe daylight  
• End: 3:00 PM (unless adjusted for weather or safety) 

Late arrivals due to breakdown or emergency may be allowed to fish at the director's discretion. 

• Article V — Catch Limits & Weigh-In Rules 

5.01 Limits 

• Five (5) bass limit per team. 
• Length limits follow SCDNR regulations for the tournament lake. 

5.02 Fish Care 

• A 4-ounce penalty is deducted for each dead fish. 
• Dead fish penalties apply to total weight only, not Big Fish weight. 
• A working livewell is required. 

5.03 Violations 

• Short fish = fish disqualified and loss of Big Fish entry. 
• More than five fish presented = loss of Big Fish entry. 

5.04 Weigh-In Finality
Once a team’s fish has been weighed, no re-weighs are permitted. 

• Article VI — Off-Limits Areas 

Any area: 

• Marked off-limits by officials 
• Designated restricted by authorities 
• Not accessible by boat 

…is strictly prohibited. 

Article VII — Scoring & Ties 

• Highest total weight wins. 
• Tie for total weight → Big Fish weight breaks tie. 
• Tie for Big Fish → total weight breaks tie. 
• Championship events may split prize money for ties. 

Article VIII — Late Penalties 

• 1 pound per minute deducted for late arrival. 
• More than 15 minutes late = disqualification. 

• Article IX — Weather Policy 

The Event Director may delay, shorten, postpone, or cancel the tournament due to: 

• Lightning 
• Heavy fog 
• Severe rain 
• Unsafe water conditions 
• Any safety concern 

All decisions are final. 

• Article X —Payouts 
• One (1) place paid for every five (5) boats entered 
• One Big Fish prize paid 
• $10 per boat is allocated to the Big Fish pot. 

✅ Participant Responsibility Statement
Participation constitutes agreement to all rules, safety requirements, and decisions made by tournament officials. Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in immediate disqualification.