CATCH Ministry

2008 Tournament Rules

Rules: These rules will remain in effect for the entire year without being changed.  It is up to each fisherman to become familiar with these rules and abide by them while participating in any CATCH function.

1. FISH: All bass must be caught in a sporting manner. After being caught fish must be kept in an aerated live well. All fish brought to the weigh-in site become the sole property of CATCH. Trolling as a means of catching fish is prohibited.
2. Boat Weight: All CATCH tournaments are based on a five fish limit. Once the sixth fish is caught you must cull down immediately to five fish. Fish must be brought to the scales in a bag of water. If a trophy is caught that fish will be returned upon the fisherman’s request.
3. Legal Fish: Bass will be measured with the mouth closed.
    a. Largemouth Bass: Must be no less than 15 inches.
    b. Smallmouth Bass: Must be no less than 18 inches.
    c. Kentucky/Spotted Bass: Must be no less than 15 inches.
    d. Meanmouth: If the fish has a tooth patch it is considered to be a spotted bass which complies with the 2008 TWRA Rules and Regulations.
    e. Trash Fish: You will be allowed to weigh in one (1) non bass fish at each tournament. The largest trash fish will be rewarded with a Dairy Queen (DQ) gift card. The largest trash fish of the year will also be rewarded.
4. Short Fish: If a short fish is brought to the scales it will result in immediate disqualification. Fish will be measured using a Golden Rule. A courtesy measure may be requested prior to weigh in if requested.
5. Dead Fish: No more than two (2) dead fish can be weighed. A ½ pound penalty will be assessed for each dead fish. If more than two (2) dead fish are brought to the scales the two largest dead fish will be weighed with the remaining live fish. If your largest fish is dead the ½ penalty applies to the “big fish” pot as well.
6. Entry Fees: Entry Fees into each tournament will $40.00 per boat regardless of whether or not the boat contains one or two fishermen. There is an optional $10.00 Big Fish pot. No side wagering will be allowed. Entry Fees are nonrefundable for all tournaments.
7. Dual Entries: If you plan on fishing another tournament at the same time our tournament is scheduled you must abide by CATCH’s Rules or you will be disqualified. For example, if Tournament A allows each fishermen to have five (5) fish per person and CATCH only allows you to have five (5) fish for the entire boat you must abide by CATCH’s Rules. Another example is blast off times. You must be at blast off and weigh in for CATCH regardless of the blast off and weigh in time for Tournament A.
8. Participates: One person in the boat must be at least 18 years old. CATCH officials retain the right to refuse entry to anyone into the tournaments.
9. Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial lures may be used. NO live bait. Only one (1) rod may be in use at anytime. Pork trailers are allowed.
10. Sportsmanship: At no time during any CATCH event will a competitor act to give themselves an unfair advantage over other CATCH competitors. Any participant causing dissension in any tournament could be disqualified for the rest of the tournament season. Boats may be boarded by any official of CATCH during the tournament. A buffer zone of 50 feet should be maintained between you and other fisherman during the tournament.
11. Blast Off & Weigh In: Participants live well must be checked by a CATCH official fifteen (15) minutes before the tournament begins. Participants must be in the ramp area at the end of the tournament. If you arrive late to weigh in you will be disqualified. If you load your boat early you must remain in the parking lot. If you leave you will be considered a no show and will receive no points regardless of the placement of the other fisherman.
12. Drugs: No drugs or alcohol will be allowed during tournament. Likewise no participation in tournaments will be allowed while under the influence of any type of mind altering drug.
13. Decisions and Instructions: All decisions made by, and instructions given by CATCH tournament officials are final and binding in all matters.
14. Polygraph: CATCH reserves the right to require a polygraph test be taken and passed, in the opinion of CATCH officials and the polygraph operator, before any prizes or points are rewarded.
15. Protest: All protests must be made in writing within fifteen (15) minutes after the last fish is weighed. Any protest will be turned over to CATCH officials for evaluation. All decisions will be final.
16. State/Federal Laws: State and federal laws must be obeyed pertinent to safety and fishing in off limit areas in all tournaments.
17. Safety: Each person must wear a PFD (personal flotation device) while the combustion engine is running. Boats must have working running lights. Safe boating must be observed at all times by each competitor.
18. Points and Places: Point standings point totals will be based on seven (7) tournaments. The 1st place team will receive 100 points, 2nd place team will receive 99 points, etc… If a participant misses a tournament they will receive the same points as their partner if that partner fishes alone, as long as that team has fished every tournament together. A participant will receive points for a missed tournament a maximum of two (2) times during the season. Five (5) points will be given for the largest bass of the tournament which includes largemouth bass, Kentucky (spotted), and smallmouth bass.
19. Ties: A tie will be decided by the flip of a coin or decision to split the pot. If one participant of either team does not like the idea of splitting the pot a coin will be flipped in order to determine the winner regardless of what the other participants wish to happen. In the case of a tie for the points championship, from separate boats, the winner will be determined by the most total weight for the seven (7) points tournaments of the year.
20. Classic Participation: Any participant attempting to participate in the classic must have fished five (5) points tournaments to qualify for the classic.
21. Prizes/Awards: Before any prizes or awards are given out at each tournament the Word of God will be shared for a short time. If a participant has won any prize they must stay until the end of the event in order to receive that prize. If the participant leaves the prize will be either given to the runner up or drawn for again.
22. Use of Likeness: By participating in CATCH tournaments and attending CATCH events you give your permission to CATCH Ministry to be able to take pictures of you for use in our ministry.

MATT WILEY, TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR 423-339-0757
KEVIN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT 423-472-8636
KEITH GOMBASH, VICE-PRESIDENT 423-774-8324

**OFF LIMITS AREA, END OF DAY CHECK-IN AND FLIGHTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THE PRE-TOURNAMENT MEETING AND WILL BE BASED ON PARTICIPATION.**