Big Bass Battle – Toledo Bend

Big Bass Battle – Sunday September 25th

  • $150 entry fee per team
  • Start Fishing at 6:30am – Stop Fishing at 2pm
  • If scales are needed earlier call 409-728-1637
  • Must be at boat launch by 2:30pm to weigh fish.
  • Weigh in will be at the public boat ramp on Hwy. 255 next to Sam Forse Collins Recreational Park (A.K.A. as site 7 on the south end of Toledo Bend)
Price: $ 156.00
Includes a $6 credit card processing fee.

Tournament Rules

REGISTRATION AND ENTRY FEE:
$150. entry fee per team must be received before fishing.
Payout is $25 to big bass then 80/20
Once tournament entry fee has been submitted and received, there will be no refunds.

OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS:
All TPWD rules apply. Violation of any rules regarding the following items will be cause for immediate disqualification: Fishing License – Kill Switch – Alcoholic Beverages – Boat Registration – Horsepower Rating – Life Jackets Tournament will be held regardless of weather. Should conditions threaten safety, please use caution.

DECISIONS:
All decisions of the Tournament Director are FINAL.
All protests must be submitted to the Tournament Director in writing within 15 minutes of the designated weigh

ELIGIBILITY:
This is an Open tournament.
All State & Federal penal code laws shall always apply.
All State, Coast Guard, Federal Parks & Wildlife regulations shall always apply.
Contestants must present their valid fishing license or official email confirmation with expiration date or screenshot of valid fishing license at time of weigh in and it must be on their person during tournament hours.
Each person in boat must be a paid contestant of official tournament and abide by all tournament rules and regulations.
No one other than paid contestants or tournament officials are permitted in a competitor’s boat during tournament hours.
Any contestant found to be in violation of any tournament rules and regulations will be subject to disqualification from this tournament and all future tournaments.
All bass caught by contestants fishing together will be disqualified if any of the said contestants are found to be in violation of any tournament rules and regulations.
Any person who has been disqualified from any prior tournament may be subject to being refused entry into tournament.
Tournament officials have the right to refuse ANY ENTRY.
Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or adult with written parental permission.

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:
No alcoholic beverages are to be consumed by tournament contestant nor are alcoholic beverages allowed in contestants’ boat during official tournament hours unless tournament contestant is finished fishing/has had their boat inspection.

SAFETY (THE FOLLOWING IS MANDATORY):
All boats must be equipped with some type of emergency ignition cut-off device (kill switch) on any remote steered outboard while main engine is in use. Ignition cut-off device (kill switch) must be attached to boat operator at all times while main engine is in use. Kill switch must operate properly. When the kill switch is activated; the outboard main engine must stop running immediately.
Boat operator must show proof of valid registration.
US Coast Guard approved life jackets are required for each person in boat. Life jackets must be worn and fastened while main engine is in use.
No boat shall have a motor of higher horsepower than the approved Coast Guard maximum

TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:
All bass must be caught on artificial bait by casting. No trolling with big motor. Contestant may use only one rod at any one time. Other rods may be in the boat for substitute purposes.
No electronic tracking devices (implanted microchips) may be used to locate fish for tournament purposes (Depth finders and graph charts are the only exception).

WEIGH IN SPORTSMANSHIP AND CONSERVATION:
Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are expected from every participant.
All contestants shall be required to bring their boat and respective partner(s) with them to the weigh-in site when weighing in bass.
Trailering is permissible.
BIG BASS must be alive.
All bass brought to weigh in station must be in weigh in bag with water.
Bass must be weighed in by the contestant who originally caught the bass, and it must be in said contestant’s physical possession in the weigh-in line.
Any artificially weighed or preserved bass will be disqualified, and that contestant will be subject to prosecution under federal laws.
Any questionable entry will be subject to inspection by a marine biologist or similarly qualified expert of the applicable State’s Parks & Wildlife Dept.
Only Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Kentucky Spotted Bass (Black Bass) will be weighed.
Minimum length of bass to be weighed in is 14 inches.

POLYGRAPH:
Each contestant, registering to participation in the tournament, agrees to submit to a polygraph examination.
Polygraph test could be given on a random basis and must be passed.
Any contestant determined by the polygraph examination or other Tournament officials to be intoxicated or on any type of illegal drugs at the time said contestant is required to take the polygraph examination, or in violation of Tournament rules, will be disqualified from this and all future Tournaments.
Any contestant found to be in possession of any illegal substance will be subject to disqualification and prosecution.

BOAT INSPECTION:
All contestants, by entering this Tournament, hereby agree to allow their boats to be boarded and inspected by Tournament officials at any time during said Tournament, and checked for items to include, but not limited to, their boat registration, Coast Guard horsepower rating plate, and boat contents to include live well, rod boxes, closed storage compartments, tackle boxes, life jackets, PFD’s and safety equipment. Refer to checklist above.