FISHING TOURNAMENT RULES, INTERPRETATION & ENFORCEMENT 

1. LAWS, BOATS, SAFETY AND WEATHER

 

• TRANSOCEAN Team Tournament Anglers must adhere to all federal, state and local laws. Anglers are required to contact the LONE STAR BASS TRAIL tournament director in charge with any questions or concerns.

• Each Angler/Team will be permitted to use their boat for tournament competition and should be fully equipped with all essentials to meet state water safety requirements including proper insurance.

• The Angler/Team must have his boat’s Kill Switch connected any time the combustion engine is in gear. If the Angler/Team does not comply with the Kill Switch rule the boat must be shut down until Angler attaches the Kill Switch.

• Personal floatation device. Each Angler/Team must wear a Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver and must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition any time the combustion engine is in gear. If the Angler does not comply with the above the boat must be shut down until all passengers have met the Flotation Device rule.

• The tournament director or his designee has the right to delay, shorten or cancel the start of an event because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. 

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2. ELIGIBILITY 

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• This tournament is open to all individuals age 16 years old or over with the below exceptions

• Anyone age 18 or under must be accompanied by an adult (over 18 years old) and must complete a Minor Liability Release Form

• This tournament is for the weekend angler and guides/Pros are not permitted to fish. A guide is defined as anyone that has been on tournament waters fishing or locating BASS (defined as largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass or mean mouth) in exchange for a monetary fee in the previous 14 days. Guiding for other species is allowed however it must be public knowledge that you guide for a particular species and do not cross over to any kind of guiding for BASS as defined above.

• Any angler that has competed, within the previous 12 months, in a B.A.S.S. Elite Series Event, MLF Tour Event or Bass Pro Tour Event are not eligible to compete

• One contestant on a team must be an employee of Transocean

• The Tournament Director reserves the right to refuse entry to any angler

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3. OFF LIMITS

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• There is no official off limits for these events, unless designated by state or federal agencies “no fishing”

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4. SPORTSMANSHIP

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• TRANSOCEAN Team Tournament Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any violation of the standards may be deemed cause for disqualification.

• Maximum courtesy must always be practiced, especially regarding boating and angling in the vicinity of competitors and non-competitors who may be on tournament waters.

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5. REGISTRATION

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• Online registration will remain open until 12 am the 10/26/2023

• Onsite registration will be open 10/27/23 from 4-6pm and 10/28/2023 from 5:30 am-7:00 am at the pavilion

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​6. TRAILERING

 

• This will be a trailering event

• Every team should be aware of start and stop times

• Start fishing 7:00 am

• Stop fishing 3:00 pm

• Each team should be in the weigh in line by 4:00 PM or your catch will be disqualified

• First 30 teams registered gets an extra 30 mins to get to weigh in and must be in the weigh-in line by 4:30 PM

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7. LONE STAR TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR’S ROLE

 

• Interpretation and enforcement of rules shall be left exclusively to the tournament director and/or his assigned designees at the competition.

• In the event of a rule violation, the tournament director and/or his designees may impose such sanctions as disqualification and/or prohibition from participation in subsequent LONE STAR BASS TRAIL competitions.

• Subject to appeal, the decision of the tournament directors and/or his designees, or a special rules committee established by the tournament director shall be final in all matters.

• Serves as the on-site liaison between the anglers as required

 

8. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT

 

• Only artificial lures can be used and must follow state guidelines.

• Only one rod/reel combo may be used at a time

• All bass must be caught in a conventional sporting manner.

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9. SCORABLE FISH

 

• A scorable fish must be a minimum of 14”

• The limit is 5 fish and once the 6th fish is caught it must be culled immediately

• No dead fish may be culled

• Any dead fish brought to weigh in will result in a ½ pound penalty. (.50 lb)

• All tournament fish become the property of the LONE STAR BASS TRAIL to be cared for and released back in the tournament waters. ​

 

10. ENTRY FEES AND PAYBACK

 

• Entry fees will be $100 per team

• Online entries can be made at lonestarbasstrail.com

• Onsite entries will be accepted at Cypress Bend Pavilion 10/27 4-6pm and 10/28 5:30-7:00 am