Anglers Quest 2009 Livingston Saturday Series Rules

1. RULES CHANGES: The following rules will remain unchanged throughout the event unless State or Local Laws are in conflict. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Directors. In the event of a rule violation the Tournament Directors may impose such sanctions, as he/she deems appropriate including, without limitation disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent events. The decision of the Tournament Directors will be final in all matters. It is at the DirectorÕs discretion to make a change where safety is a concern. All Federal, State and Local Laws must be obeyed. It is the contestantÕs responsibility to know these laws and to obey these laws.

2. PARTICIPANTS, ELIGIBILITY: Participation in each event is open to all sex and races. A legal guardian must sign a waiver for any contestant under the age of 18. You must have a valid fishing license to enter tournament.

3. ENTRY & CHAMPIONSHIP FEES: The Saturday Series Entry Fee is $155.00 per team-plus a one time yearly $20.00 per angler championship fee. Credit card entry fee is $165.00. All Championship Fees will be paid back at Championship. Enter all 9 events in any 1 Saturday Series and qualify for all 3 Saturday Series Championships. Entry may be made by mail at 18923 Keyturn Ln Humble, Tx 77346 or by phone/credit card or in person anytime or the morning of event at Kickapoo Bait & Tackle. Phone 281-852-8842 or 281-389-4998 for entry/information. No Refunds allowed after entry.

4. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES & DRUGS: At no time during Tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed in boat.

5. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestants are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates any state or local laws or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of bass fishing will be subject to disqualification.

6. BOATS & MOTORS: There is no horsepower limit, however, no engine may exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat on which it is used. All boats must meet U.S. Coast Guard and State regulations. All boats must have an operable emergency kill switch. All boats must have an aerated live well large enough to sustain one tournament limit in live releasable condition. Carrying extra gas tanks or containers of gasoline during event is prohibited.

7. SAFETY: Boating safety must be observed at all times during competition. A US Coast Guard approved chest type life preserver must be on and fastened any time the boat is on plane, and the kill switch must be attached to the driver. Both partners are responsible for this rule.

8. FISHING, TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: Must be done with artificial lures only. Pork is permitted. Contestants may use only one rod and reel at a time. Each cast must be completely retrieved before using another rod and reel. No fishing is allowed within 25 yards of another contestants boat or 50 yards from anchored contestants boat with trolling motor out of water (permission to one is permission to all). No tube, bank or wade fishing is allowed. No trolling with the combustion engine is allowed. All fish must be caught in a legal and sporting manner during tournament hours from tournament waters. Waters fished must be accessible by boat without getting out of boat to gain access. A contestant may not leave boat to retrieve fish, line, or lure from any structure. Only contestants may be in boat during tournament hours. All fishing must be from a previously inspected boat. All Bass at weigh in become property of Anglers Quest to be released at host weigh in site. NO intentional snagging of bass. NO elevated platforms or ladders allowed in boat. Push poles are permitted. Hole sitting by or for entrants will be grounds for disqualification. No fishing inside any state, federal or lake buoys disallowing entrance to area. No communication pertaining to fishing is allowed via cell phone, VHF radio, pager or any electronic device during competition.

9. PROTESTS: Protests must be submitted in writing before scales are turned off. NO Verbal Protests.

10. POLYGRAPH: All contestants are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in disqualification. Any person who has failed a polygraph test in connection with any fishing tournament for cheating must have since that time retaken and passed the polygraph test with regards to the failure in question.

11. SCORING & PENALTIES: Will be determined by the total weight of not more than 5 bass per team. Ties for cash prizes will be settled (1st by number of fish) or, (2nd by combining two cash awards and splitting the total between tied teams). Largemouth Bass and Kentucky Bass will be counted. The minimum length limit will be 14". All fish will be measured on a "CHECK-IT STIK" with mouth closed & tail compressed. A dead fish penalty of .25 lbs. per fish will be deducted from total weight and Big Bass weight. Any team bringing in a short fish in their bag will lose their entire creels weight.

12. OFFICIAL START FISHING & WEIGH-IN TIMES: Will be announced at time of entry and is the responsibility of each team. Lake Livingston events will be trailering events. Any boat ramp may be used however, each entrant will be responsible for their own launch fee and MUST bring boat to Kickapoo Bait & Tackle the morning of event for Live Well Check before fishing. Weigh-In will cease at the end of line at 3:15pm. Weigh bags will be supplied by A/Q at host marina weigh in. At time of take-off, all contestants & their boats must be in full compliance with all rules set forth by Anglers Quest and state and federal laws.

13. CULLING FISH: If more than 5 fish are in boat per team during inspection you will be disqualified. NO CULLING OF DEAD BASS.

14. BREAKDOWNS/EMERGENCIES: In an emergency or major equipment failure, you may hitch a tow from any boat on the water, but may not bring yours or partners fish in except in yours or another tournament contestants boat.

15. AWARDS CEREMONY ATTENDANCE: Those who cannot attend will forfeit any claim to trophies or merchandise earned in competition.

16. INSURANCE & LIABILITY: It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to have adequate public liability insurance covering him/herself and passengers. All team contestants are required to sign release & waiver absolving sponsors, co-sponsors and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury obtained as a result of your participation in the tournament.

17. CHAMPIONSHIP & AOY QUALIFYING: Each team will receive 2 lbs. per entry and positions will be determined by accumulated yearly pound standings. Saturday Series Championship will have a $155.00 per team entry fee. Big Bass pot will be optional at $50.00 per team and will be paid back 100% to (2) bass split 60%-40%. The Top-25 from each lake series in pounds (including alternates) after the 9 events will be eligible for the Saturday Series Championship. Championship will include a Calcutta auction. Each team must be sold in Calcutta Auction ($50 minimum) only Calcutta owners will be paid. All Championships will be 2-day events. Saturday Rayburn Series Championship will be on Sam Rayburn, Saturday Conroe Series will be on Lake Conroe and Livingston Saturday Series will be on Lake Livingston. Enter all events in any 1 Saturday Series and qualify for all 3 Saturday Series Championships. "Anglers of the Year" will be determined by pounds gathered from all events at each series and will be awarded free entries to respective Saturday Team Series for 2010. Ties for any position will be broken by number of bass weighed in during series. In case of a 1st place tie there will be a specially designed fish-off.

18. TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: Top 5 teams from each series and Championship winning teams will qualify for 2009 TOC.