RULES

                                         2024 Shoreline Bass Tour Tournament Rules 

The tournament director will make final interpretation and decisions regarding these rules. 

1- Entries will be received as a team entry or single entry. If you enter as a team, you will be allowed to use one sub per team, for the season, and only one sub may be used per event. If you enter to fish alone, you are not allowed a sub. Your team/individual status is determined by how you sign up for the season. Subs will NOT be allowed for the Classic.

2- We will use a point system based on total number of boats. First place = x points, second place = x-1 points, and so on. Boats that do not weigh fish in a tournament will receive 0 points for that tournament. Total points after the final Classic qualifier will determine the final standings.

3-Registration will begin at the tournament site at 5:00am, with a mandatory pre-tournament meeting taking place at 5:50am. Takeoff for the tournament will begin at 6:30am sharp weather and conditions as considerations. Boats should be in the water and ready for takeoff by 6:20am. If you are late for your flight check-in, you will be disqualified. NO EXCEPTIONS.

4- There will be times when certain stretches of water will be off limits for a particular tournament due to released fish, etc. This will be up to the tournament director and will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting. Additionally, Shoreline tournaments are closed-lake tournaments, meaning you may only fish the body of water on which the tournament is being held. Lake Michigan is off limits for all tournaments and running to other bodies of water is prohibited. Anglers must be off the body of water for the next day’s tournament lake no later than sunset the night prior. Off limits for the Classic will be determined at the end of the final tournament.

5- There is a limit of five (5) fish per boat, and only largemouth or smallmouth bass are accepted. Before starting your big engine, you must cull down to five fish. If you return to the weigh-in with more than five fish in your live well, you will be disqualified. Fish must be a minimum of 14” in length with the mouth closed on our Golden Rule. If you bring in a short fish, it will be culled, along with your biggest fish. There is a .250 lb. penalty for each dead fish. To promote fish care, there is a limit of two dead fish per tournament per boat more than 2 disqualifies your bag.

6- Total weight will determine the winning boat and all places. Big Bass will be the tie-breaker for total weight, and total weight will be the tie-breaker for Big Bass. If two teams tie for both total weight and Big Bass during one tournament, the final result will be a tie and points and winnings will be divided 50/50 between the two boats.

7- In the event of a tie for standings at the end of the year to determine Classic eligibility and/or Angler of the Year, the total weight for the season will be calculated and used as the tie-breaker.
OR if both teams wish they can have the 2 day classic determine the champion. Both teams would need to agree on this.

8- Life vests MUST be worn when the gasoline engine is in gear. Operating a boat in a careless or unsafe manner could result in disqualification. Kill switches are mandatory and must be used whenever your boat is under power of the big motor.

9- You must leave and return to the tournament site by boat, no trailering the disabled boat to the weigh in with the fish. If you break down, one member may return in another boat with the fish to be weighed in BUT the fish have to be weighed at the time of arrival and before the close of the tournament time of your flight. You must otherwise not leave your boat too advance its position and only incase of an emergency, illness, or inclement weather.

10- No live bait. Artificial lures only.

11- Only one rod and reel may be used per person at any one time. Maximum 8’ length rods.

12- No consumption of alcohol or drugs is allowed before or during the tournament. The tournament will be officially considered concluded after all cash and prizes have been handed out.

13- No boat shall fish closer than 100’ from another boat, either fishing or anchored. Proper sportsmanship prevails, give each boat an opportunity to fish their location. NO passing in any “no wake” zone. If a team approaches the first boat at a location please discuss on the water, otherwise you can bring it to the directors attention and it will be addressed at the end of the weigh in.

14- Any violation of Michigan state fishing law or Michigan boating regulations is an automatic disqualification. Drop shot rigs are technically illegal on some of the lakes Shoreline fishes; however, some DNR officers do not enforce this rule for bass fishermen. Use at your own discretion: should you choose to use a drop shot rig and you are ticketed, you will be disqualified. 

15-. The tournament director and a committee of 4 random tournament members selected by the tournament director will decide protests. Protests must be submitted no later than 5 minutes at the close of weigh-in.

16- Each participant will practice a high level of sportsmanship both on and off the water, including at the launch sites both before, during and after tournaments. The tournament director and a committee of 4 tournament members have the right to disqualify a team if this high level of sportsmanship is not met. In the event of extreme circumstances such as threats of violence or any physical altercations the person or team may have their membership revoked  and forfeit the remaining entries at Shore Lines discretion. Also negative social media, or poor conduct at such events may also end in removal from the circuit with no refunds.

17. Staff boats

Staff boat will be position 6 for the 2023 year. They will have to be in at the directors discretion but no later than the first flight set time.

18. All participants must sign the entry form and Release of Liability form prior to the first tournament of the season.

19. Each sub will pay the 35.00 membership fee prior to the event.

20. NO non attached items to the boat may be used to stand on. Example, no tackle boxes, step stools, ladders or anything that can be used to gain a height advantage. Anyone using a non attached item like this will be disqualified. This is a safety precaution and will be strictly enforced.

21. Lake Michigan is closed at all times from pierhead to pierhead regardless of the lake. Should a protest be made you will need to provide trail proof of your graph.