GEORGIA STATE BASS FISHING CHAMPIONSHIP ™

• Polygraph Examination – As a contestant in the Georgia State Bass Fishing Championship™, I do hereby contractually agree to submit to a polygraph examination if asked to by the Tournament Director and that the result of said polygraph examination will be the final decision of the polygraph operators to whether I, as a contestant, will be eliminated as a recipient of any prize or award as a result of my participation in said tournament.  I do agree that said polygraph operator's decision will be accepted by me without further appeal.  In the event of no polygraph examination, I do agree that the Tournament Director's decision will be accepted by me without further appeal.  Both team members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action of every kind whatsoever, against KD Marinas LLC, DBA Highland Marina Resort, its officers, its agents and employees, all sponsors and their agents and employees, in connection with taking such polygraph examinations.
• Participation & Eligibility – The Georgia State Bass Fishing Championship is an INVITATIONAL tournament and is open only to  persons INVITED to fish as a team. You must have qualified to fish by finishing in the top 5 in any tournament of 20 boats or more on a lake in Georgia or lakes bordering Georgia between December of the previous year and November (Individual Tournament Directors must submit or verify qualification).  Teams will consist of either 1 or 2 persons.  Each person operating the combustion engine must be 18 years or older.  An adult choosing a minor as a partner will accept FULL RESPONSIBILITY for the minor. KD Marinas LLC, DBA Highland Marina Resort reserves the right at it's sole discretion to approve or deny entry into this tournament.
• Registration & Alternates – Teams must register by 6:00pm on the Friday before the tournament prior to the mandatory Pre-tournament meeting. Each competitor must register in person at the tournament site and have a rule briefing and boat check prior to take-off.  EACH COMPETITOR MUST COMPLETELY FILL OUT AND SIGN THE REGISTRATION FORM.  A qualified invitee's (captain's) partner may be changed at any time after registering until the beginning of the tournament on the first day.  Any change in partner after the tournament begins will only be permitted in an emergency situation and then only by approval of the Tournament Director whose decision will be final and accepted without appeal.  Any change in partner must be designated during registration at the tournament site.
• Pre-Tournament Meeting - There will be a mandatory meeting at 6:30pm on the Friday before the Tournament which will be held at the official Highland Marina Weigh-in Site next to the main boat ramp.  At least on team member must be present at this meeting to review rules and to draw for day 2 boat numbers.  In the event of an emergency you must notify the Tournament Director before the meeting begins, or you will not be allowed to participate in the Tournament.
• Safety – Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times. Each contestant must wear a Coast Guard approved life vest securely fastened at all times while the combustion engine is in operation.
• Sportsmanship – All competitors are expected to show courtesy to other competitors and non-competitors alike. Drunkenness will not be tolerated. No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants will be allowed in boats. No competitor shall have a non-competitor sit on a hole or hold a spot for him.  At no times will firearms will be allowed in boats or at the weigh-in area. The only exception being those person's affiliated with recognized law enforcement agencies.
• Protest – There are two times during the tournament to register a protest.  The first being after the early morning rules announcement and before the actual beginning of the tournament. The second time to register a protest shall be immediately following the weigh-in of the last boat's catch from that day's fishing only, and BEFORE the awards presentation.  After the awards presentation has taken place, the result of the tournament shall be considered final.  All protests must be registered in person directly to the Tournament Director during the time specified above.  Any competitor found accusing another competitor of a violation or infraction of the tournament rules, who has not registered a protest as described above, can be charged with unsportsmanlike conduct and disqualified from this tournament. In the event of a dispute or protest  by either a contestant or the Tournament Director, both team members agree to submit to polygraph examination. All contestants agree and understand that all prizes and awards cannot be presented until after successfully passing the polygraph examination.  Both team members hereby waive and release any and all claims and causes of action of every kind whatsoever, against KD Marinas LLC, DBA Highland Marina Resort, its officers, its agents and employees, all sponsors and their agents and employees, in connection with taking such polygraph examinations.
• Tackle & Equipment – Only artificial lures may be used. No live baits. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional manner using rod and reel.
• Boat Equipment – Safety equipment adequate to pass Coast Guard regulations must be in the boat at all times. All boats equipped with remote steering are required to have a functional emergency ignition cut-off device.  Both the driver and the passenger who participate in boats that are equipped with motors that exceed BIA horsepower rating accept full liability & responsibility for any and all personal injury or property damage that may occur. Carelessness or unsafe operation of any boat shall not be tolerated and is grounds for disqualification. It is suggested that each boat have a functional bilge pump.  Each boat must be equipped with an aerated live well with space adequate to maintain a tournament limit of bass. A home made device may be used, provided it meets the above standards.
• Permitted Fishing Locations – Fishing on tournament waters is permitted anywhere on West Point Lake, except in the Highland Marina Resort Cove (boundary line runs from the McGee Access fishing pie across the mouth of the cove to the Highland Marina Resort sign), 50 yards from any other marina gas pump, and 50 yards from another contestant's boat which is first anchored with their trolling motor up.
• Big Bass Pot - There shall be a Big Bass Pot distributed equally between each of the 2 tournament days.
• Scoring - Largemouth, Shoal & Spotted bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 fish per boat. All largemouth bass must be 14 inches in length or larger and all spotted & shoal bass (must have tooth patch on the tip of the tongue) must be 12 inches in length or larger measured on a golden rule with the mouth closed and by moving the tail from side to side. There will be an 8-ounce (or 1/2 pound) penalty for each dead fish weighed in. Culling of dead fish is not allowed. At no time shall a team have more than 5 fish in it's possession. Upon catching the 6th fish you must cull. If a short fish is brought to the scales, the penalty will be the loss of that fish and your big fish or a minimum of 3 pounds, whichever is greater.
• Ties - Two day "total weight" ties will be broken by the team which had the largest weight either day taking the higher place.  In the event of a first place tie (both teams having the exact same total weight and the exact same highest weight), the two teams will have a 1 hour "fish off".  The team with the highest weight is deemed winner.  In the event no fish are caught or another tie, first and second place monies will be combined and divided between the two teams. Prize monies for ties other than first place (both teams having the exact same total weight and the exact same highest weight) will be combined and divided between the two teams.  A big fish tie on any day will be divided in half and that amount awarded to each team.
• Late Penalty - Competitors who are not at the official weigh-in/check-in point (to be announced at the pre-tournament meeting) at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute which will be deducted from the total weight counted that day including any weight towards big fish. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall loose credit for that days catch. Tournament officials will not be held responsible for teams that do not remember their flights weigh-in/check-in time, so check your flights weigh-in/check-in time when having your live wells checked in the morning.
• Emergencies – Competitors shall remain in their boats and with their partners at all times during the tournament, except in the event of sickness or severe storm. If for any reason a team decides to leave the tournament waters early, both team members shall bear the full responsibility of notifying, in person, a tournament official that they wish to weigh-in fish.  If you do not intend on weighing in any fish, you do not need to contact Tournament Officials. Partners may be momentarily out of sight of each other for the sole purpose of performing nature calls.
• Fishing Method - Highland Marina Resort recognizes only the following methods to catch bass: casting & retrieving a lure, and any form of flipping such as "dipping", "doodle socking", and/or "pitching".  You may also use any artificial bait, including pork type lures or add-ons. Drifting is allowed only when it is "wind aided".   You may use your trolling motor to adjust your "wind aided" drift pattern.  No trolling is allowed during tournament hours.  Highland Marina Resort interprets trolling as anytime a contestant uses their combustion engine or their trolling motor to move or present their lure at a "controlled speed and/or depth" without the contestant or team making the lure move as described previously.
• Tournament Hours – Tournament hours shall at safe light, as determined by the Tournament Director until 3:30 p.m. on Saturday for the first flight with 15 minute intervals between following flights. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  for the first flight with 15 minute intervals between following flights.  All contestants should be at the tournament  location at least one hour and thirty minutes before safe light to ensure a timely launch. Fog and other factors may delay safelight blast-off indefinitely. Any changes in weigh-in times will be announced before blast-off on each day.
• Boat Blast-off & Weigh-in Flights - the number of boats per flight will be announced at the Pre-tournament meeting the Friday night before the tournament.  There will be 15 minute intervals between fights for blast-off & weigh-in.  Blast-off times may very due to weather conditions, but individual flight weigh-in times will be announced at the Pre-tournament meeting.  Any changes in flight weigh-in times will be announced prior to blast-off on each day.  Teams are responsible for listening to the Tournament official's pre-flight blast-off instructions for any changes.  Tournament Officials will not be responsible for teams who do not remember their flight's weigh-in time. If a team is not sure, check with the Tournament officials prior to blast-off.
• Rule Changes – Interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament officials. The decision of the tournament director shall be final in all matters. Infraction of these rules could be grounds for disqualification for this and future tournaments.
• Pre-fish off limits – There are no "off limit" days for this tournament.  You may fish up until the pre-tournament meeting on the Friday Before the tournament, but may only fish during the official tournament hours after that.  No fishing on Saturday night after official check-in time until blast-off on Sunday.
• Tournament Cancellation/Re-schedule - The Tournament Director reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule the Tournament at any time.  This will only be done in extreme & unforeseen situations and as much notification as possible will be given to registered contestants. The Tournament Directors decision will be final and releases any & all claims against KD Marinas LLC, DBA Highland Marina Resort for said cancellations or re-schedules.