Texas Boat World Tournament 

1. RULES: Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director. In the event of a rule violation, protests for any rule infraction must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the official announcement, “the scales are now closed”. The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters.

2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open to Anglers who are 16

years of age or older. Proof of age to the satisfaction of tournament officials is the responsibility of the competitor. Competitors must have a valid fishing license for the body of water that the event is being held on. Any person entering a tournament that is under 18 years of age must have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian on the entry form. Texas Boat World reserves the right to refuse entry into any of these events.
3. POLYGRAPH: By signing the official entry form contestants agree to submit to a polygraph test examination should he/she be accused of any rule violation. Texas Boat World may also conduct random polygraph tests throughout the year. Any person convicted of violating tournament rules or failing to successfully pass a polygraph test in this or any other tournament will not be allowed entry into any Texas Boat World events.
4. PROFESSIONALS: Anyone is welcome to fish.
5. GUIDES: Individuals who are serving as a licensed guide or are paid for guiding on tournament waters within the previous 7-day period are not eligible to compete.
6. PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE/OFF-LIMITS: There will be no official off limits for practice. OFF-LIMITS areas: within 50 yards of a marina gas pump or within 50 yards of another competitor's boat anchored.  Any competitor that allows any other competitor to fish within 50 yards of their boat has suspended the 50-yard rule and opens the water to all competitors. Any water within tournament boundaries posted Off-Limits or No Fishing by state or federal agencies will be OFF-LIMITS.
7. REGISTRATION: It is recommended that contestants pre-register through Texas Boat World. Contestants desiring to register at the ramp must do so in person during the official registration period. Registration period is defined as 1 and ½ hours preceding safe daylight, established by the tournament director. Once the takeoff has begun no tournament entries can be accepted.
8. ENTRY FEE: Entry fee for Texas Boat World Qualifying events will be $100 per boat which includes $10 big bass. Entry Fee for Texas Boat World Championship will be $200.00, which includes big bass for each Championship day. A $20.00 fee for each angler will be collected as a membership fee at the anglers first event. This is a yearly fee to offset the cost of renting pavilions and hosting the tournament.
9. PAYOUT: (See payout Matrix for additional information) 
10. SAFETY:  Contestants understand that participating in fishing tournaments in an open boat is inherently dangerous. Safe boating conduct will be observed at all times. During the competition, each competitor is required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver (PFD). This preserver must be worn any time the combustion engine is running. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is shut off. The boat operator must have a safety-stop switch attached to his/her person when the combustion engine running.  Weather and water turbulence can be extremely hazardous and extreme caution should be exercised at all times. Violation of either the PFD or safety-stop switch portion of this rule will result in disqualification.
11. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. All contestants must adhere to all State, Federal and local laws governing water activities. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or depressants, shall be allowed in the boats during competition days. Enjoy a cold a one after you weigh-in. Each contestant must keep the waters clean and bring trash back to the dock for disposal. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving conduct reflecting unfavorable upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition, and non-compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting applications for membership, participation and for disqualification. Any disqualification or suspension from, or other disciplinary action regarding any tournament or fishing organization, shall be grounds for rejecting any application for membership, participation and for disqualification.
12. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No "live bait" or "prepared bait" will be permitted during competition, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one rod and reel combination may be used at one time. No fly rods or rods over 8 ft. are allowed. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. All angling must be done from the boat and anglers must stay on tournament waters during tournament hours. Anglers are not permitted to leave the boat to land a fish or leave the boat to gain access to secluded waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament day/days. Competitors must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat, unless otherwise stated by Tournament director.
13. HORSEPOWER REGULATION: Horsepower cannot exceed the boat’s limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower-rating numbers on the engine also would be cause for immediate disqualification.
14. BOAT AND MOTOR: ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH SOME TYPE OF IGNITION STOP SWITCH. This ignition-kill device must be attached to the driver's body any time the combustion engine is running. Also, any time the combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must by a driver in the driver's seat in full control of the boat. Each boat must also have a properly aerated or re-circulating livewell to maintain a live limit catch of 5 bass.
15. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There will be only one official point for check-out in the morning and check-in in the afternoon, as designated by the tournament director. Competitors not at the checkpoint at the designated time will be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute, deducted from their total weight for the day. Official start will be Safe light determined by the Tournament Director and weigh-in will be at 2:00pm. Our best effort will be given to allow at least 6-8 hours fishing time. In the case of adverse weather conditions, the tournament director will open weigh-in at 1pm for safety.
16. SCORING: The total weight of a Team’s catch will determine tournament standings and placement. Only largemouth, spotted, red eye or smallmouth bass will be weighed. The creel limit shall be five (5). (The tournament director may impose a creel limit of less than five fish if they deem weather and/or local conditions warrant the reduction.) At no time shall a competitor have in his/her possession more than the tournament limit. Culling must be done immediately upon catching a sixth fish. Minimum length will be 14 inches (measured on a Check It Stick). A penalty of 1 pound will be deducted from the total weight for each short fish and a penalty of 4 ounces (.25 pounds) will be deducted from the total weight for each dead fish. In the event the anglers' big fish is dead a penalty of 4 ounces (.25 pounds) will be deducted from the big fish total weight. A contestant that presents more fish than the tournament limit will be disqualified immediately.
17. TIE: In case of a tie, combining awards and dividing them equally among the tied contestants shall resolve positions, this includes AOY points. 
18. POINT SYSTEM: Tournaments are worth 200 points. Points will be awarded in 1-point decreasing increments depending on place of finish. No contestant weighing a fish in the tournament will receive less than 75 points regardless of place of finish. All contestants not weighing fish will receive 50 show points. The 2-day Championship is worth 400 points. Points will be awarded in 2-point decreasing increments depending on place of finish. Points will be used to determine the AOY.
19. Angler of the Year (AOY):
 
a. The top 3-point leader teams who have fished all events will receive free entry into the Championship.
 
b. The top point team after the Championship will win AOY Team and a $500 cash prize
 
20. CHAMPIONSHIP: To qualify for the Championship all contestants must fish 8 of the qualifying events.