v. Sep. 11,2009 / These rules supersede any and all other rules.
1.) Entries:
A.) Regular Tournament Entry Fees are $80.00 per Team/Boat which does include the Big Crappie Pot. You must be a paid member of GA Slab Masters prior to entering your first GA Slab Masters event of the season. Any participant under the age of 16 does not have to pay the membership fee. Membership fees are $40.00 per angler, per season (Oct. 1, 2009 to May 20, 2010).
B.) You may enter tournaments alone or with another member of your choice. No more than 2 adults are allowed in participating boats during tournament hours. A youth under the age of 16 can be the 3rd person in competing boats. No other riders or persons are allowed in competing boats during tournament hours, unless an observer or photographer has been placed in a team's boat by GA Slab Masters. All Team members must sign entry forms to physically enter in tournaments.
C.) All persons entering any GA Slab Masters tournament or event are subject to polygraph tests at any point, at the request of GA Slab Masters Officials. Refusal or failure of a polygraph will result in disqualification in any GA Slab Masters events, revocation of membership, forfeiture of any money and or prizes. No refunds of any kind will be made to persons who refuse or fail a polygraph and all test results and decisions made by GA Slab Masters officials are final.
D.) 2010 Classic Entry Fee is $130.00 per Team/Boat which does include the Big Crappie Pot. Everyone on your team must have physically competed in 2 different tournaments and be paid members in order to enter and compete, except for youths under 16. Classic qualifications are: All team members must physically fish in 2 different regular season tournaments (RST), weigh 1 crappie at each RST and must be members of GA Slab Masters.
E.) In case of extreme weather/water conditions, tournament officials reserve the right to cancel, postpone and/ or to reschedule any tournaments or events. All entry fees will be refunded, in the case of tournament cancellation.
2.) On the Water Rules:
A.) Fishable waters are defined as areas on tournament lakes and reservoirs that can be accessed by boat. Bank fishing is not allowed and all teams must fish from a boat. All ramp, launch and license fees are the responsibility of participants and are not included in any entry fees. All teams must stay a distance of 25 feet from each other while fishing and maintain good sportsman like conduct at all times.
B.) All teams must use hand held rod/pole & reel combos or hand held poles. A maximum of 8 rod/pole & reel combos or hand held poles are allowed for each team and a maximum of 2 baits/hooks are allowed per rod/pole unless prohibited by State regulations. Artificial or live bait may be used. All crappie must be hooked in the mouth or lips. A landing net may be used and no other type nets are allowed.
C.) The use of alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during tournament hours is strictly prohibited and failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification. All teams must practice safe boating practices and be respectful of others.
D.) No one shall be hired or compensated in a professional capacity (guides, etc.) in any way, to fish with or for you, spot for you or physically mark spots for you prior or during any tournament hours. Hole sitting by competitors or non competitors boats will not be allowed and considered unsportsmanlike like.
E.) Binoculars or sight magnifying devices are not allowed, for the purpose of spying on other competitors during tournament hours. No communication devices of any kind shall be used to communicate or receive fishing information to or from anyone during tournament hours.
F.) GA Slab Masters reserves the right to place a spotter boat and/or observer with any team, and/or to board and inspect any and all boats entered in any GA Slab Masters events, at any time from start to finish of any tournament. All live wells will be empty at the start of all tournaments and no live bait of any kind, shall be put in any live well holding crappie to be weighed in at any tournaments. Weight enhancement of any kind is not permitted.
3. Tournament Times:
A.) All references to tournament times by GA Slab Masters are understood to be Eastern Standard Time (EST) no matter what time zone the tournament is in. Pre-fishing cut off time is 7:00 PM the day before any regular tournament. Tournament Registration and sign in will begin at 5:00 AM and end at 7:00 AM. Seminars will start at 5:45AM sharp, one member of each team must be present, unless prior approval has been given by tournament officials or an unanticipated emergency arises.
B.) After the seminar, if your team has finished registration you may leave by land or water with the tournament official's release. Start fishing time for all regular season tournaments will be 6:45 am. This means you can not be fishing or have any type of lines or baits in the water before this time,in any way shape or form. Stop fishing time for all regular season tournaments is 3:30 PM. This means you must stop fishing and have lines and baits out of the water by this time. You must be in the weigh in line by 4:30 PM according to tournament official's time piece to weigh your crappie.
(Classic Times will be announced at a later date.)
4. Pay Outs:
A.) Regular Season Tournament (RST) pay outs will be based on 70% of total entry fees, including Big Crappie, plus prizes and bonuses if available.
1st through 5th place will be paid if 25 or more teams/boats enter.
1st through 4th place will be paid if 15 to 24 teams/boats enter.
1st through 3rd place will be paid if 14 or less teams/boats enter.
The Classic pay outs will be based on 75% of total entry fees including Big Crappie, plus prizes and bonuses if available. Pay out schedule will be the same as regular season tournaments as per number of teams/boats entered.
B.) In case of a tie on the seven (7) crappie total weight for any places, a tie breaker is determined by the team with the single heaviest weighing crappie in their 7 crappie limit. It is important for each team to weigh their heaviest crappie in case this occurs. There is no tie breaker in the big crappie pot and a split pot will be awarded to tied teams if this occurs.
C.) Winners of any GA Slab Masters event agree to provide officials with any requested info or verification in writing or verbally at any time. Payouts may be in the form of (or a combination of) cash, prizes or checks. Teams or individuals must be present to claim winnings or prizes of any kind.
5. Weigh - In:
A.) Your team can weigh a maximum of seven (7) crappie and all crappie must be alive. All crappie presented at weigh-in must have been caught during tournament hours by the team weighing them. The only fish accepted for weigh-in are crappie and any references made by GA Slab Masters to "fish or slabs" is understood to be crappie.
B.) Scales will be set up and opened no earlier than 2:00 PM and the weigh-in line will close at 4:30 PM sharp. You must be in line by 4:30 PM and you must be acknowledged by officials in order to weigh your crappie. Tournament officials reserve the right to adjust scale set up and closure times in case of extreme weather conditions and/or any other reasons beyond our control. In the event this should occur, everyone will be notified at the appropriate time.
C.) Upon arrival at the weigh-in line,you will present the weigh-in voucher to tournament official at checking station. Once the number of crappie and whether any crappie are dead, are verified and entered on weigh-in voucher, you will proceed to the weigh-in scales, when the weigh master is ready. At the point your crappie have been verified by officials you can still weigh those crappie even if one or more die while waiting in line to weigh-in. Any crappie brought to scales that are determined dead by officials will be removed and will not be allowed to be weighed. (Determining whether a crappie is dead or alive is the sole responsibility of GA Slab Masters Officials and all decisions are final.)
D.) All teams bare the responsibility to and should weigh their biggest crappie in case of a tie. Any jig heads left in crappie must be declared to tournament official at weigh-in /check in station. All crappie brought to weigh-in scales for weigh-in must meet State length requirements and will be checked if questionable. If crappie are not legal they will not be allowed to be weighed. We do not require catch and release, but please observe State creel and size limits. (Note: DNR are subject to attend tournaments at any time, especially weigh-ins. They have been known to check.)
E.) Pictures, etc. will be taken by GA Slab Masters during the tournaments and weigh-in for miscellaneous purposes and all teams will be expected to be available for them.
F.) Protests must be made in writing to tournament officials within 10 minutes after the official weigh-in has concluded. All protests must cite the number/letter(s) that were allegedly broken. One half of a polygraph fee ($200.00) must accompany the written protest. Who ever is wrong due to the outcome of the polygraph test, whether it be the accuser or the accused, will be responsible for the full polygraph fee ($400.00). Once again, if refusal to take or failure of polygraph, that team's memberships will be terminated with no refund, also the individuals will be banned from any future GA Slab Masters events and forfeit the right to any cash and/or prizes allegedly won. Anyone caught in the wrong may be subject to criminal charges. (Cheating in any event is the same as stealing.) We also reserve the right to make this information available and public. We do not tolerate any type of cheating and are serious about this.
6.) Other:
A.) By your participation in these tournaments or events, you agree to comply with and uphold the rules set forth by GA Slab Masters and any State regulations that apply to fish-able tournament waters and anyone is subject to disqualification for violations. The interpretation of these rules will be solely at the discretion GA Slab Masters officials. Decisions of the tournament officials are final in all matters concerning these tournaments & are not subject to appeal. GA Slab Masters is not liable or responsible in any way, for any injury, death, or damage that might occur to persons or real property that engage in any GA Slab Masters tournaments or events.
