1.) RULES: These rules shall remain unchanged
throughout 2024 season. Interpretation and
enforcement of these rules shall be left
exclusively to the tournament director. Federal,
state, local and lake laws and rules must be
obeyed at all times and shall supersede these
rules when in conflict. Local divisions' rules
may differ from these rules at the discretion of
the tournament director.
2.) PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Membership is
required to participate in all AC tournaments.
One team member must be at least 18 years of
age. No membership required for youths under age
18. AC Tournaments reserves the right to decline
any membership or entry that it feels is not in the best
interest of AC Tournaments and its teams.
3.) ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND DRUGS: During
tournament hours no alcoholic beverages or
narcotic drugs may be consumed or allowed in the
boat while on the water.
4.) SPORTSMANSHIP: Displaying of poor
sportsmanship and bringing unfavorable publicity
to the sport of bass fishing shall be grounds
for team disqualification.
5.) BOATS & MOTORS: There is no horsepower
limit; however, no engine may exceed the
horsepower rating for the boat in use. All boats
must meet US Coast Guard and state regulations.
All boats must have an emergency kill switch.
All boats must have a functioning aerated livewell suitable to sustain a healthy
tournament limit. Standing on seats, or motor or
the use of ladder or raised platform for the
purpose locating or fishing for bedding fish in
not permitted. Boats used must have an insurance
policy in effect with a minimum of $300,000.00
liability coverage.
6.) SAFETY: Boating safety must be observed at
all times during practice and competition. A US
Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver
(PFD) must be worn and properly fastened any
time the combustible engine is operative and the
kill switch must be attached to the driver with
a lanyard no longer than 48 inches.
7.) TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Intentional snagging of
fish will not be allowed. Trolling with the aid
of combustion or electric motors is not
permitted. Only artificial lures may be used. No
live bait or prepared bait permitted with the
exception of pork rinds and liquid fish
attractants. Only one (1) rod may be used at any
one time. Other rods may be in the boat and
ready for use, however, every cast and retrieve
must be completed before another cast is made.
Rods may not exceed ten feet in length. The
use of underwater cameras is not allowed during
competition. Use of a CB, VHF marine band radio,
cellular phone, texting, or any electronic
communication device for the purpose of locating
or catching bass during tournament hours is
prohibited.
8.) PROTESTS: All protests must be submitted in
writing prior to the official closing of the
scales.
9.) POLYGRAPH: All contestants are subject to a
polygraph testing, failure to submit is grounds
for disqualification. Any contestant who has
failed a polygraph test for cheating in a bass
tournament or whose results are found to be
inconclusive shall not be eligible to compete in
AC Tournaments. Polygraph and voice stress
testing are performed at the discretion of the
tournament director and all participants are
bound by the findings and any penalties
resulting from a failed test. Including but not
limited to disqualification and forfeiture of
prizes.
10.) SCORING FISH: Each team may weigh-in
five-5) fish per day, a minimum of 12 inches in
length unless state or lake limits are greater,
measured on a flat board with mouth closed and
tail compressed. Any team weighing-in a fish
shorter than the legal tournament length will be
assessed a one-1) lb. penalty plus the loss of
the short fish. Any team bringing more than
five-5) will have their largest fish removed
down to 5 fish. A penalty of 1 lb. per dead fish
will be deducted from the total weight. Any big
bass brought to the scales deceased, will be
directly subject to the 1 lb. penalty. Any team
returning to the checkpoint late will be
disqualified.
11.) BREAKDOWNS: Contestants must leave and
return to official checkpoint by boat. In the
event of equipment failure, there shall be two
permitted methods of returning to the check-in
and weighing fish. (1) By both partners
remaining in their boat and being towed by
water, or (2) By one partner entering the boat
of another contestant or staff member along with
the days catch. Team's fish must be kept
separate.
12.) CULLING FISH: It is the responsibility of
each team to keep no more than 6 fish
in the live well. Dead fish may not be culled.
No culling is allowed in the host marina.
13.) PERMITTED FISHING WATERS: No fishing is
allowed inside the host marina. No fishing is
allowed within 50 yards of another anchored or
tied tournament boat with trolling motor out of
the water. Having anyone hole-sit for anyone
shall be grounds for disqualification.
Contestants cannot leave the boat to land a fish
or gain access to a fishing area. Restricting
natural movement of fish by any means is
automatic disqualification.
14.) GUIDES: Paid guides are prohibited via
verbal information or on the water information
at the Championship. They may not be used during
the 7 day Championship practice period or the 7
day Championship off limit days. Check with your
director for local trail rules.
15.) OFF LIMITS PERIOD AND FEE DEADLINES: Each
tournament director at their discretion may do
so. Clarify this rule with your local tournament
director. Late Fees may apply. There will be a 7
day off limits period prior to 7 days of
practice at the Championship.
16.) CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS: Qualifying will be
based on a points and pound format beginning
with 100 points for first place and descending
down by one 1) point per place. In each event “
First Place ” will receive 100 points plus their
weight, e.g., 1st Place = 100 points + 20.50
lbs. = 120.50 points. This procedure will be
followed for all teams weighing fish. The lowest
team having weight will be the last points given
based on the point's structure. All remaining
teams that fished but did not weigh fish will
receive one-half (˝) of the next possible points
based off the point structure. Example: The last
team weighing fish in a 45-boat field ended at
40th place with 2.0 lbs. They would receive 60
points + 2.0 lbs = 62 points. The remaining 5
teams without weight would receive 29.5 points
each (59/2 = 29.5). No points shall be awarded
to contestants that pay but do not fish.
17.) CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: You must fish a
minimum of 5 regularly scheduled team
tournaments during the year to qualify for a
championship berth based on the 7 event point
system. In a regular division the top 40% of
the division average will qualify for the Championship.
(Wild Cards): An additional 10% of the trail
average can gain a classic berth via the Wild
Card Tournament providing they have fished 7
events in the division. The Wild Card tournament
will be the final tournament of each division
and qualifiers will be selected by how they
finish in that event after regular qualifiers
are removed from the standings. The Choice Division
will qualify the top 30% of the division after
regular division qualifiers have been removed. AC Tournaments
reserves the right to allow additional teams to
participate to ensure full fields.
18.) PARTNERS: A team member may fish one event
alone per division and accrue team points. Any
team may use a substitute if one member cannot
fish a given tournament. Two substituted events
will be allowed per team, per 7 event average. In the
event a partner is unable to make the TOC for
some unforeseen reason, two qualifying members
can join up to fish the Championship. This can
only take place if both teams have qualified for
the championship based on the qualifying rules
laid out above and is approved by the home
office.
19.) CHOICE DIVISION: Teams may fish an
unlimited number of tournaments across multiple
divisions in order to qualify for the
Championship in the “Choice Division“ but only
their best 7 point events will be calculated. A
team that fishes in 2 or more divisions
automatically accumulates points in the “Choice
Division”. A team can qualify for a championship
via more than one-1 division. However the
division in which a team accumulates the highest
ranking will be the division they represent at
the championship. A Team may also win more than
one division. To win the Choice Division
Championship you must fish a minimum of two
events outside a single division. Two events
outside the division must be included in your
best seven and each trail
applied must have a yearend minimum average of
15 boats. Points in the Choice Division are only
for place finished. Weight is not calculated in
the Choice Division Standings.
20.) PRACTICE PERIOD FOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Begins 7
days prior to the event. During Championship
practice only your team member, another
competitor or a member of your immediate family
is allowed in the boat. Failure to follow these
rules during the pre-fish period will result in
disqualification from the event.
21.) DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM: At the
conclusion of each division's tournament year
the team with the most points shall be deemed
the division champions. This shall also include
the Choice division. As division champions,
those teams will then advance to the
Championship and fish against all other
divisional champions. The top 5 divisional
champions at the event shall be awarded the
following prizes.
1st Place $1,000.00 in Cash and, or Prizes plus
7 Entries for the following team season
2nd Place $750.00 in Cash and, or Prizes plus 7
Entries for the following team season
3rd Place $500.00 in Cash and, or Prizes plus 7
Entries for the following team season
4th Place $250.00 in Cash and, or Prizes plus 7
Entries for the following team season
5th Place 7 Entries for the following team
season
These prizes shall be independent of the regular
Championship prizes and the divisional champions
shall be fishing for both prize pools.
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