SABAA TEAM SUPER FINAL 2018 RULES

RULE 1: PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY
  1. Participation in this tournament is by invitation only and is only open to current SABAA affiliated trails and its members, who are registered SABAA members.
  2. Teams may consist of either one or two anglers. Team members must fish for the same team for the duration of the tournament.
  3. Team must have competed at least 6 out of 8 events on trial level or 75% of the total number of trail events for year.
  4. No reserve angler may compete in the SABAA Team Super Final.
  5. Both team anglers must be SABAA TTT and Bassmaster Team Championship members in good standing.
  6. A properly completed and signed official entry form, from each team member, as well as an entry fee of R 2 500 per team, must be received by the SABAA Team Super Final committee, on or before the entry deadline date of Friday 29 October 2018.
  7. Anglers under the age of 16 (juniors) participating in the tournament, must be accompanied by an adult / skipper.
RULE 2: COMPETITION AND PRE-COMPETITION CUT-OFF
  1. The Team Super Final will be held at De Hoop Dam on Friday 09 and Saturday 10 November 2018.
  2. A maximum of 50 team entries will be accepted for the Team Super Final.
  3. For the 2018 Super Final, six team slots will be allocated to the two newer participating trails (Western and Eastern Cape Trails).
  4. Irrespective whether the 2 newer trails take up their full allocations of 6 teams each or not, the balance required to achieve a 50 team entry, will be allocated proportionally between the 4 remaining trails (Gauteng, Lowveld, KZN and Mpumalanga).
  5. The pre-competition cut-off for this tournament is set at midnight Sunday 28 October 2018 and includes the following restrictions:
    1. Fishing on the final Team Super Final tournament
    2. Scanning, mapping or drone footage of the tournament waters.
    3. Receiving any fishing information on the venue from a 3rd party, provided the information received was gathered by the 3rd party during the official competition cut-off period.
    4. Any team who violates the pre-competition cut-off period will be disqualified from the tournament.
  6. There will be no official practice days immediately prior to the first day of competition.
  7. The Team Super Final will be managed and controlled by a tournament director, who will be supported by a trails committee consisting of one representative from each participating trail. The tournament director will be responsible for overall running and management of the tournament, but he will be supported by the trails committee on all disciplinary matters.
  8. Each competitor/team agrees to report to the Tournament Director, within 30 minutes of their flight weigh-in cut-off, any violation or infraction of any Tournament Rules. Failure to report such violations will be cause for disqualification.
  9. By his/her signature on the official tournament entry form, each competitor/team agrees to submit to a truth verification test and abide by its conclusion should he/she be accused of any rule violation. The Tournament Director and trails committee shall have the discretion to determine the need for a truth verification test.
  10. Tournament Director or his/her designee shall have sole responsibility selecting the location, date, and time of the test, with respect to all concerned parties schedules and travel cost. The competitor/team shall make themselves available at the location selected by the Tournament Director and shall co-operate in all respects with such test.
  11. Random truth verifications tests may be administered onsite during the course of a Team Super Final.
RULE 3: REGISTRATION
  1. Tournament registration will take place on Thursday 08 November 2018.
  2. Each competitor/team must register in person with the official tournament staff at a time and place designated in the final events program.
  3. Failure to register in person during the prescribed hours may result in a R 100 fine per angler.
  4. Failure to register for the tournament, will lead to automatic disqualification from the tournament.
RULE 4: LIVE-WELL INSPECTION
  1. Prior to the commencement of each tournament day, all live-wells must be empty and checked by the weigh-master.
  2. Hatches for purposes other than live-wells, coolers and other watertight containers regardless of their purpose, may also be opened for inspection.
  3. Inspections may be carried out on and off the water.
  4. It is the responsibility of each team to ensure that their live-wells have been checked by the weigh-master at least 30 minutes before the tournament start on each tournament day, failing which, the transgressing team / boat will have to wait until the last boat of the last flight has departed, before their live-well will be checked.
  5. Failure to have a live well inspected will lead to immediate disqualification of the transgressing team, from the day’s fishing.
  6. Any tournament official must be granted access to the competitor’s boat at any time during the competition days. Failure to grant such access may result in immediate disqualification.
RULE 5: CAPTAIN’S BRIEFING
  1. A captain’s briefing will be held on Thursday 09 November at 19h00 at a venue to be specified in the final tournament program.
RULE 6: STARTING ORDER AND PROCEDURES
  1. For the first tournament day, the starting position of each team, will be determined by a draw, which will take place during the tournament briefing to be held on Thursday 09 Nov 2018 at 19h00, just after the captains briefing.
  2. For the second tournament day, a teams day 1 results will determine its starting position for day 2.
  3. All teams / boats must be launched 30 minutes before the start of each day, after which the slipway will be closed until the last boat of the last team has departed.
RULE 7: SCORING AND ELIGIBLE FISH
  1. Only Bass may be weighed. Bass are classified as Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass.
  2. There will be a 30cm size limit per fish applicable for both days of the tournament.
  3. An eligible fish will be classified as being a live Bass of 30cm or longer.
  4. A fish that is gilling will be deemed to be alive, with the final decision at the weigh- master’s discretion.
  5. A “bag / limit” of maximum five Bass are allowed to be weighed per team/ boat per day. Should more than five fish be presented to the weighmaster, this will result in disqualification.
  6. The points scoring system for each of the tournament days are as follows:
    1. One point per kilogram or part thereof.
    2. Any dead or undersized fish will be excluded from the bag weight and carry a one point score penalty.
  7. No fish may be swopped / traded / replaced / transferred between individual boats/ teams, in order to increase a specific boat / team’s bag weight or to fill a limit. Should this take place at any stage during the tournament, it will result in disqualification of both teams involved in the transgression.
  8. The total points scored for days 1 and 2 by each team, will be added together to determine the overall tournament score of each team and in the event of a tie, the biggest fish caught by any of the team members involved in the tie, will be used as a tie-breaker.
  9. The total points for days 1 and 2 of the top six teams of each respective trail, will be added together to determine the overall tournament score of each participating trail and in the event of a tie, the biggest fish caught by any of the team members of the respective trails involved in the tie, will be used as a tie-breaker.
  10. It remains the responsibility of each individual team to ensure that they weigh and record a big fish separately if deemed necessary. The weight of the big fish must be recorded on the official weigh/ scoring sheet to be eligible as a tie-breaker fish.
  11. Living fish that have partially ingested their prey will not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and not counted towards the weight.
  12. The introduction of materials or devices that increase the fish’s weight/mass will be deemed willful damage and will be just cause for disqualification.
RULE 8: PERMITTED FISHING METHODS AND LOCATIONS
  1. Only one line per angler to be in the water at any given time.
  2. No more than one artificial lure may be attached to a line at one time.
  3. One artificial lure is defined as a single man-made device designed to attract and/or catch one fish at a time.
  4. Adding trailer hooks, plastic trailers, blades, etc., to a single lure is acceptable.
  5. If multiple fish are caught on a single manmade lure, on a single cast, all fish are considered legal and may be added to the daily catch.
  6. No “live bait,” “dead bait,” or “prepared bait” will be permitted during the competition, with the exception of pork strips or rinds.
  7. Any umbrella-type rigging, harness, or other device designed to hold more than one lure at a time – with or without hooks – is not allowed.
  8. Twin arm spinnerbaits, underspins or buzzbaits are allowed.
  9. Trailer hooks and plastic trailers must be on the main hook of the bait; only spinner blades can be affixed to the arms.
  10. Trolling is not allowed. Trolling is defined as having a line in the water, while the main combustion engine is running.
  11. No feeding areas are allowed to be prepared in order to attract any fish species to a specific area on tournament waters.
  12. Tournament Waters shall be established by the Tournament Director. Any water within these boundaries posted “Off-Limits” or “No Fishing” by provisional, conservation or any other authority, as well as areas established by the Tournament Director, will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the tournament briefing.
  13. Any violation of rule 8.1 to 8.7 will be cause for a 2 point score penalty for the transgressing team.
RULE 9: BOAT AND MOTOR
  1. For the safety of all competitors, all boats must be equipped with an approved type of operable ignition kill switch and lanyard.
  2. Fishing boats that are 14 feet or more in length may be used, during the tournament.
  3. Every boat must have all required SAMSA safety equipment and a functional bilge pump.
  4. Every boat must have proper live-well space, properly aerated, to adequately maintain alive, a limit catch of Bass.
  5. Tournament officials shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is proper and adequate.
  6. Any violation of any boat rule will immediately disqualify a team from further tournament participation.
RULE 10: SAFETY
  1. Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by competitors.
  2. Each competitor must wear a chest-type life preserver anytime the combustion engine is in operation. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely, and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is shut off.
  3. All anglers taking part in Team Super Final are obliged to have their boats fitted with a safety ignition kill switch, which must be attached to the skipper’s life jacket any time the combustion engine is in operation.
  4. When boating in low visibility situations i.e. fog, heavy rain, competitors must operate their boats at a safe speed and in a safe manner as determined by tournament director.
  5. Standard safety rules pertaining to local waters, including the “rule of the road” must be observed at all times:
    1. Counter clockwise rotation on the fishing waters – shore on right hand side, resulting in counter clockwise movement of boats, will be observed at all times.
    2. When boats approach ahead, they will pass with the other boat to the left (port) at a distance and speed such that a wake will not endanger other competitors.
    3. Overtaking in the same direction will be executed with discretion and the overtaking boat will maintain its course until well clear of overtaken boat(s). Generally, the overtaking boat should keep to the deep-water side of the other without endangering boats approaching head-on.
    4. Boats approaching at right angles will apply the starboard-rule. The boat with the other on the port (left) side has right of way. The other boat will alter course and/or speed to astern of the boat with right of way.
    5. Powerboats will give way to boats under sail or hand power, irrespective of the right of way.
  6. Any transgression of rules 10.1 to 10.5 will lead to disqualification of the transgressing team, from the day’s fishing.
  7. Tournament director have the right to delay, shorten or cancel the start of an official tournament day, because of bad weather, or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors.
  8. If a participant appears incapable of safely operating his/her boat, the tournament director may exercise their right to disqualify that person for the tournament.
  9. All captains must be in possession of a valid Certificate of Competence and Certificate of Fitness for their Both certificates must be emailed to the organizers with the trail entry form, not later than 29 October 2018. (Failure to produce these documents shall be cause for automatic disqualification from the tournament).
RULE 11: SPORTSMANSHIP
  1. Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification.
  2. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those drugs purchased over the counter or prescribed by a physician) by any competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from the tournament.
  3. Casting distance of 40 meters shall be applied between two competing boats unless mutually agreed to maintain distance less than the prescribed casting distance.
  4. When a boat allows another team’s boat to be within casting distance, all other boats may enter that area without having to adhere to the casting distance rule.
  5. A stationary boat may not block / refuse entry / thoroughfare of another boat in a river or cove section if the entering boat has enough space to fish above / behind the stationary boat outside of the casting distance. The entering boat shall idle (no wake), in a sportsmanlike manner and with no lines in the water, past  the stationary boat, which must afford them the opportunity to move pass.
  6. Any violation of rule 11.3 and 11.5 will result in a 2 point score penalty for the transgressing team.
RULE 12: ANGLERS CONDUCT
  1. Anglers shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a professional manner that demonstrates integrity, honor and respect toward fellow competitors, tournament staff and the general public and does not reflect unfavorably on the Team Super Final event, participating trails, their members, officers or representatives, as well as all sponsors.
  2. Anglers are frequently in the public eye, therefore it is imperative that tournament competitors demonstrate good sportsmanship in fishing. Sportsmanship is defined as fair play, respect for opponents and polite behavior while competing in the sport.
  3. Following are examples of unacceptable behavior by competitors before, during or after the Team Super Final event, which will be cause for penalties as outlined in this document.
    1. Heated public disagreements with tournament officials, other competitors and fans and volunteers during an event.
    2. Public attacks through media, including social media, upon the integrity of tournament rules or officials.
    3. Public comments that an angler knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation of SABAA, tournament officials, or trail sponsors.
    4. Displays of anger and displeasure for reasons related to fishing competition where members of the public, including other anglers, spectators and the media, are present.
    5. Publicly questioning or criticizing a tournament official or official decision, ruling or penalty except through the proper channels.
    6. Abuse (physical, verbal, threatening or slanderous) of tournament officials, volunteers, fellow competitors or others connected with a Team Super Final event.
    7. Offensive or slanderous comments with racial, cultural or sexual overtones regarding event officials, event personnel or fellow anglers.
    8. Intentionally interfering with a fellow angler’s ability to compete.
  4. Any angler who violates any of the provisions of the Sportsmanship Rules or the Angler Code of Conduct may be subject to fines, reduction of points, forfeiture of tournament winnings, suspension from competing in individual SABAA sanctioned tournament trail event, permanent ban from competition, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by the tournament committee.
RULE 13: COMPETITORS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT
  1. Both competitors must remain in boat at all times, except when their boat is beached in the weigh station area.
  2. During the competition days, competitors may not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters.
  3. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat to retrieve a lure. All fishing by that competitor must cease until the competitor is back in the boat.
  4. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather where danger may be imminent. All fishing by that competitor must cease until both competitors are back in the boat.
  5. Any transgression of rules 13.1 to 13.3 will result in a 1 point score penalty.
RULE 14: WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES
  1. The weigh station will be open the entire day during tournament hours.
  2. Should a team be required to weigh a fish during the day or at tournament closing time, they shall enter the weigh station area through the starting gate ONLY and adhere to a no wake zone rule.
  3. All fish to be weighed must be presented to the weigh master in a weigh bag with water. No fish are allowed to be transported by hand / physical contact between the team’s boat and weigh station.
  4. No culling is allowed within the weigh station area.
  5. All overinflated or ailing fish must be presented at the recovery tank for treatment
  6. Any violation of a weigh-in rule will result in a 2 point score penalty for the transgressing team.
RULE 15: LATE WEIGH-IN
  1. Competitors are responsible for synchronizing their watches to the weighmaster clock.
  2. A tag board system will be utilized for the tournament and if a competitor’s numbered tag is not on the weigh station’s tag board by cut-off time, the team will be disqualified from the day’s fishing.
  3. The cut-off time will be indicated visually or audibly at the weigh station. Any team rendering emergency assistance to another team, which results in its late arrival, may have its catch weighed if the team provides satisfactory proof  of such assistance given.
  4. In case of a lost tag the team must identify itself to the weighmaster and inform him of a lost tag before the dedicated cut-off time, to avoid disqualification.
  5. Emergency assistance does not allow for the following:
    1. Flat battery
    2. Running out of fuel
  6. The tournament director’s cell number will be displayed or given to all anglers at the weigh station in cases of emergency.
  7. Failure to weigh-in on time will lead to an automatic disqualification from the day’s fishing.
RULE 16: FISH CULLING
  1. No dead fish will be allowed on any boats. Dead fish are to be returned to the water as soon as it becomes evident.
  2. No culling will take place near the weigh station.
  3. Violation of rules 16.1 and 16.2 will result in a 1 point score penalty.
RULE 17: PROTESTS
  1. Protest forms will be available during the tournament at the weigh station.
  2. A protesting team need to fill in a protesting form and witnessed by witnesses not later than 30 minutes after the tag board closed, for its flight,
  3. The protest form needs to be given to the tournament director and he must be made aware of the intended protest, it is the team’s responsibility to make sure he is aware of its protest.
  4. All parties of interest must be made aware of the pending protest by the tournament director or appointed designate.
  5. Once received all the parties must attend a hearing at the water’s edge and present their cases to the tournament committee in an orderly fashion.
  6. The outcome will be decided and penalties / disqualifications will be given before the prize giving by the tournament committee.