NORTH EAST BASS ASSOCIATION of NEW HAMPSHIRE TOURNAMENT RULES
1. RULES: These rules will remain unchanged. Interpretation of these rules shall be left to the tournament officials. The
decision of the tournament officials shall be final in all matters.
2. PARTICIPANTS and ELIGIBILITY: Participation in this tournament is open only to members of the North East Bass
Association (NEBA). Any person entering this tournament under the age of 18 must have the signature of his/her parent or legal
guardian. Each participant is required to have a valid fishing license and a current NEBA membership card. NOTE: Applications for
membership into NEBA will be accepted the morning of the tournament.
3. TEAMS: The North East Bass Association of New Hampshire Trail is a Team trail. The teams will consist of the same team
members for the entire season. In the event that a team member changes, the accumulated points from original team will be frozen
and the new team points will start from zero (o). In the event that a team member is not able to attend a trail event ( sick, family or
work emergency), the remaining team member will be allowed to participate in the event ( this assumes that the remaining team
member shall have a boat), ( insurance rules apply). This will be a single occupant event for that team and the points gathered will
be counted towards the teams year end total score. This unusual occurrence shall be limited to one (1) time per year, per team.
4. REGISTRATION: At least one team member must check in and register with the tournament committee 30 minutes before
the start time of the tournament. At least one team member must be present at the pre-tournament meeting.
5. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and
consideration. Violation of this policy shall be reason for automatic disqualification. Drunkenness shall be cause for automatic
disqualification. No alcoholic beverages or drugs shall be allowed in the boats. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times,
especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors. Any extreme violation of the sportsmanship rule will
be grounds for disqualification from all future NEBA of New Hampshire tournament trail tournaments.
6. SAFETY: Safe boating must be observed at all times. Each
contestant is required to wear a chest type personal flotation device (PFD) any time the combustion engine is operating. The PFD
must be fastened securely until the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of these rules shall be reason for disqualification. It is
encouraged that all boats be equipped with an ignition kill switch that is attached to the driver’s person any time the combustion
engine is operating.
7. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used.
No Live or prepared bait will be permitted with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only casting, spin casting or spinning
rods and reels may be used. All other types are prohibited. Only one rod and reel is permitted in use at any given time; however,
other rigs as specified may be in the boats ready for use.
8. BOAT & MOTOR : Horsepower of the outboard motor must
not exceed the US Coast Guard horsepower rating plate installed by the manufacturer. Stick steering will not be allowed on any boat
having more than 50 horsepower. A small motor, gas or electric, may be used for slow maneuvering. Trolling, as a method of
fishing is prohibited. No “barges” or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted.
9. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all the required Coast Guard equipment. In addition, each must have a
functional bilge pump and live-well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain alive a limit of bass. Tournament Officials shall
have sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity are “proper and adequate.
10. BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat must be given, prior to the day’s start, an inspection check by a Tournament
Official and a numbered tag which must remain with the boat until turned in at the check-in point. This numbered tag must be
displayed upon request of Tournament Officials, and turned in to the official at check-in.
11. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Contestants may fish anywhere except within 50 yards of another competitor’s
boat. Any specific areas that may be off limits will be announced by the Tournament Officials. All angling must be done from the
boat. A contestant may not leave the boat to land a fish. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day.
12. EMERGENCIES: Contestants must remain in the boat at all times except in the case of dire emergencies. In such an
emergency, partners may enter another competitor’s boat or a rescue boat. In the case of any emergency (disabled boat), both
partners must return with their catch. Fish must be clearly marked and separated by the anglers. Returning anglers must return by
the official check-in time. In the case of male-female partners sharing a boat, the momentary condition of being out of each others
sight to use the restroom is permitted. If any competitor must violate any of these conditions due to an emergency or any other
reason, their catch for that day shall not be counted in the tournament. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited.
13. OFFICIAL CHECK POINT: There will be only one official point for check-in in the afternoon. This point shall be
designated at the tournament briefing. At the time for check-out, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all
rules set forth by the Tournament Committee; at check-in, all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbered tags and
proceed to the designated weigh-in area. Teams must remain together and tags turned in at weigh-in.
14. SCORING: Tournament scores will be based on the total weight of bass caught by each team. Daily limits and sizes will
be established at each tournament. If more than the legal limit is found in a team’s possession, Tournament Officials will cull down
to the limit beginning with the team’s largest bass. If, in the judgment of Tournament Officials, any bass presented for weigh-in has
been mashed, mauled, or mangled, that bass will not be counted in the team’s score. Bass presented for weigh-in, which fail to
measure the established length, shall accrue penalties at the rate of one pound for each such bass. In order to receive your
tournament points, you must turn in your numbered tag at the weigh-in location.
15. DON’T KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep their bass alive it at all possible. Four ounces will be
deducted from the team score for each dead fish at weigh-in. In addition, if the dead fish qualifies for the lunker award, the four
ounces will be deducted from the weight of the lunker.
16. LATE PENALTY: Any team that is not in the official check-in area at the appointed time shall be penalized at the rate of
one pound per minute late; to be deducted from the total team weight for that day, including any weight to be counted toward the
“lunker award.” Any team more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for the days’ catch. There shall be no excuse for tardiness
and in no case shall a competitor be allowed to make up “lost time.” All fishing must cease upon check-in. After proper recognition
at the check-in point, competitors will have ample time to proceed to the weigh-in site at a slow idle. Remain in your boat until you
boat number is called; then place your fish in the plastic bag provided, ensuring there is sufficient water to cover the fish, and
proceed to the weigh-in table. Once presented to the weighmaster, fish are the property of the tournament officials. Exact starting
and check-in times will be announced prior to the start of the tournament.
17. TIES: In case of a tie for any place, the team with the greatest number of fish, or if still tied, the greatest number of live
fish will be awarded the place in question. In the even the tie is still unbroken, points will be combined and divided equally.
18. PROTESTS: Protests must be made in writing within 30 minutes of the official weigh-in time.
North East Bass Association of New Hampshire Addenda to Rules
A) Any fish containing either jigs,’ lures of any kind and / or plastic in their mouth or throat will receive a dead fish penalty. It is
the anglers responsibility to manage their creel and remove foreign objects from their catch.
B) All tow vehicles / boats / trailers and accessories are required to be free of any foreign substances including any weeds
(especially exotic weed). It is our responsibility as individuals that exercise our rights to utilize the waterways to make every effort to
control the spread of exotic weeds.
C) The NEBA of NH requires all boats to maintain a minimum of $300,000 in boaters liability insurance and a valid copy of this
insurance must be provided upon application for the trail events. In the event that the insurance expires during the tournament year,
the member(s) will be required to provide an updated copy of their insurance renewal to the tournament officials.