Miracle Makers Bass Tournament Rules
Boating
1. All boats used for the tournament must comply with all U.S. Coast Guard
regulations and requirements for that size vessel and must also comply with the
laws required by the state in which it is registered.
2. Any vessel used during this tournament must have an active kill switch that can
be attached by a lanyard to the driver of the boat.
3. There is not a length, size, or horsepower minimum or maximum required. It is
completely up to each angler, however, Rule # 1 still applies.
4. Livewells are not a requirement for a fishing boat, however, all fish must be
keep in a fashion (cages, stringers, that will keep them alive at weigh in and not
harm the fish in any way for a successful release.
5. Each angler in the boat will be required to wear a PFD at all times while the
main gas powered motor is running.
6. No fishing is allowed to be done in any way while the main gas motor is in
operation.
7. Boats are allowed to go anywhere by water, including going through the locks.
At no time can a boat be out of the water without it resulting in immediate
disqualification. No land jumping. No trailering.
regulations and requirements for that size vessel and must also comply with the
laws required by the state in which it is registered.
2. Any vessel used during this tournament must have an active kill switch that can
be attached by a lanyard to the driver of the boat.
3. There is not a length, size, or horsepower minimum or maximum required. It is
completely up to each angler, however, Rule # 1 still applies.
4. Livewells are not a requirement for a fishing boat, however, all fish must be
keep in a fashion (cages, stringers, that will keep them alive at weigh in and not
harm the fish in any way for a successful release.
5. Each angler in the boat will be required to wear a PFD at all times while the
main gas powered motor is running.
6. No fishing is allowed to be done in any way while the main gas motor is in
operation.
7. Boats are allowed to go anywhere by water, including going through the locks.
At no time can a boat be out of the water without it resulting in immediate
disqualification. No land jumping. No trailering.
Fishing
8. All legal will be largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass and they must be 15”
in length or longer (regardless of species) according to the “Golden Rule” ruler
used by the tournament director at weigh in.
9. All fish will be measured with the mouth closed and against the stop plate. The
tail will be pinched together to the longest possible measurement. If the line is
touched at all, it will be considered a legal fish and weighed. If the fish does not
touch the line, it will not be weighed.
10. All fish must be caught in a sporting manner while using only one rod at a time
per person. Fish must be caught in the mouth. No snagging! Any evidence of a
snagged fish will be subject to questioning and it will be at the tournament
directors’ discretion whether or not that fish will be weighed and if that angler
will be disqualified.
11.Only artificial bait/lures will be allowed to be used while fishing.
12.All fishing methods must comply with the state laws and fishing regulations
where the fish are being caught.
13.All anglers are required to be 100% in compliance with ALL state and federal
laws while competing in this tournament. That includes but is not limited to
fishing regulations, boating laws, criminal laws, and any directives issued by
governing authorities.
14.Only 3 fish total per boat will be weighed in. However, fish may be weighed in
early to prevent a “questionable” fish from dying. Anglers will need to contact a
tournament director to let them know that they intend to weigh in 1, 2, or 3 fish
early so that a TD can meet them at the weigh scales.
15.Every effort is to be made to prevent fish loss. All anglers will take steps to
ensure that their fish receive sufficient oxygen, fizzing, fin weighting, and proper
functioning livewell components whenever possible.
16.Fishing inside the Pickwick State Park marina from the first dock closest to the
river all the way to back by the road bridge is off limits.
17.No anglers are allowed to fish within 50 yards (150 feet) of another angler
without both anglers agreeing to “share” the water. However, narrow openings
such as creek mouths and bridges cannot be blocked to prevent other fishermen
from entering/exiting if they are not fishing when trying to gain passage.
in length or longer (regardless of species) according to the “Golden Rule” ruler
used by the tournament director at weigh in.
9. All fish will be measured with the mouth closed and against the stop plate. The
tail will be pinched together to the longest possible measurement. If the line is
touched at all, it will be considered a legal fish and weighed. If the fish does not
touch the line, it will not be weighed.
10. All fish must be caught in a sporting manner while using only one rod at a time
per person. Fish must be caught in the mouth. No snagging! Any evidence of a
snagged fish will be subject to questioning and it will be at the tournament
directors’ discretion whether or not that fish will be weighed and if that angler
will be disqualified.
11.Only artificial bait/lures will be allowed to be used while fishing.
12.All fishing methods must comply with the state laws and fishing regulations
where the fish are being caught.
13.All anglers are required to be 100% in compliance with ALL state and federal
laws while competing in this tournament. That includes but is not limited to
fishing regulations, boating laws, criminal laws, and any directives issued by
governing authorities.
14.Only 3 fish total per boat will be weighed in. However, fish may be weighed in
early to prevent a “questionable” fish from dying. Anglers will need to contact a
tournament director to let them know that they intend to weigh in 1, 2, or 3 fish
early so that a TD can meet them at the weigh scales.
15.Every effort is to be made to prevent fish loss. All anglers will take steps to
ensure that their fish receive sufficient oxygen, fizzing, fin weighting, and proper
functioning livewell components whenever possible.
16.Fishing inside the Pickwick State Park marina from the first dock closest to the
river all the way to back by the road bridge is off limits.
17.No anglers are allowed to fish within 50 yards (150 feet) of another angler
without both anglers agreeing to “share” the water. However, narrow openings
such as creek mouths and bridges cannot be blocked to prevent other fishermen
from entering/exiting if they are not fishing when trying to gain passage.
Misc. Rules
18.Any violation(s) witnessed by other anglers need to brought to the tournament
directors immediately and a written statement describing what was witnessed
needs to be signed and turned into the TD within 30 mins of the scales closing.
19.The (TD) tournament director will have the final say so when any rule violation
or question is brought to their attention. This includes but is not limited to
outcomes, interpretations, punishments, disqualifications, and /or penalties.
20. In the event that an angler has a question or an emergency while the
tournament is going on, the tournament director must be notified by phone.
Directions will be given by the TD as to what should be done from there.
21.Should a team find themselves with a problem that prevents them from making
it back in time for weigh in (mechanical problems) and another competitor is
needed to assist them with their problem, the TD needs to be made aware of the
situation. The boat assisting the anglers in trouble will be granted extended time
to make it to check in, provided they did talk with a TD.
22.Two (2) dead fish will be allowed to be weighed in with a 1 pound penalty added
from each fish to the final weight. Three dead fish is an automatic
disqualification.
23.The official weigh in time will be determined when the angler’s number card is
placed into the net on the launch dock. Any angler that is within one minute of
their “Due In” time will have a cell phone photo snapped as they are placing the
number card in the net. The time on the photo will be considered the official
weigh in time and penalties for a late weigh in will be based on the photo time.
directors immediately and a written statement describing what was witnessed
needs to be signed and turned into the TD within 30 mins of the scales closing.
19.The (TD) tournament director will have the final say so when any rule violation
or question is brought to their attention. This includes but is not limited to
outcomes, interpretations, punishments, disqualifications, and /or penalties.
20. In the event that an angler has a question or an emergency while the
tournament is going on, the tournament director must be notified by phone.
Directions will be given by the TD as to what should be done from there.
21.Should a team find themselves with a problem that prevents them from making
it back in time for weigh in (mechanical problems) and another competitor is
needed to assist them with their problem, the TD needs to be made aware of the
situation. The boat assisting the anglers in trouble will be granted extended time
to make it to check in, provided they did talk with a TD.
22.Two (2) dead fish will be allowed to be weighed in with a 1 pound penalty added
from each fish to the final weight. Three dead fish is an automatic
disqualification.
23.The official weigh in time will be determined when the angler’s number card is
placed into the net on the launch dock. Any angler that is within one minute of
their “Due In” time will have a cell phone photo snapped as they are placing the
number card in the net. The time on the photo will be considered the official
weigh in time and penalties for a late weigh in will be based on the photo time.
