RULE 1 - PARTICIPATION
A) Any individual member of good standing of any Club affiliated to SABAA who has qualified either through his/her Province or Division to represent his/her Province or Division must accept these rules and undertake to adhere to same.
RULE 2 - PRE-COMPETITION CUT-OFF
A. No Association member may fish or practice the venue of the National Championship, nor the venue of the National Inter Provincial Championship within 20 (twenty) calendar days prior to the day of registration for the National Inter Provincial Championship.
B. In some cases, this restriction may be shortened (for example to 19 days prior to the Date of registration for the tournament when the shut-off weekend may have a public holiday on the Monday) but only by Specific Written General Notice by the Secretary of the Association’s National Executive.
C. National Championship and Inter-Provincial Championship formats will consist of a Practice Day, a Scanning Day and () three tournament days.
D. Predetermined Flights – The flights start with the ceding obtained by each division from the previous championship finishing position.
E. Practice Day – Anglers are split into their predefined flights (Red, Blue and Green) and must all be released in this flight system in single file without delay through the entry/exit gate. All anglers will return at the same time.
F. Scanning/Scouting Day – The start time of this day may be delayed due to the welcoming evening the night before, but must consist of a minimum of six hours. No rods or reels are permitted on the boat, but terminal tackle and lures, etc may remain on the angler’s boat.
G. Tournament Days – Anglers exit in their respective flight order without any delays and return to the weigh-station in thirty-minute intervals. The three respective flights rotate daily. Day 1 – Red, Blue, Green, Day 2 – Blue, Green, Red and Day – 3 Green, Red, Blue. All end of session times will be the same for each day for each respective flight, ensuring that all anglers fish the same period over the three tournament days Tournament days angling sessions will consist of a minimum of 8 hours.
RULE 3 - COMPETITION BRIEFING
A) At National & Inter Provincial Championship level, a Tournament Committee of (at least) 3 members will be designated (and made known to competitors) to handle complaints and objections.
B) A briefing will be held by the Tournament Committee to inform the competitors of local conditions, arrangements for the competition and these rules where necessary.
C) A copy of these rules must be displayed at registration and where possible copies must be made available to new members. A copy of the rules must also be displayed at the weigh station.
D) Non-attendance at a briefing will not be accepted as an excuse for ignorance of the arrangements and/or rules in the event of a complaint or objection being raised.
E) All rules pertaining to the National Championship Tournament and the Inter Provincial National Championship Tournament become effective at commencement of registration until the end of prize giving.
RULE 4 - USE OF LIVE-WELLS
A) Live-wells of some description, adequate in size to accommodate the boat's limit of fish, will be used on each boat and have an aeration or freshwater supply system.
B) At National Championship Tournament and Inter Provincial National Championship Tournament level, the organizing committee must adjudicate the acceptability of such live-wells.
RULE 5 - LIVE-WELL INSPECTION
A) Prior to commencement of the competition, all live-wells will be empty.
B) Hatches for purposes other than live-wells will be opened for inspection, as will coolers and other watertight containers, no matter their purpose.
C) Inspections will be carried out on the water no more than 30 minutes before the starting time of each of the angling sessions.
D) Competitors so inspected will not leave their boat unless re-inspected before starting off.
E) A system of proving that live-wells having been inspected shall be implemented
RULE 6 - SAFETY
A) All anglers taking part in SABAA sanctioned tournaments are obliged to have their boats fitted with kill-switches.
B) Life jackets shall be worn by each person on the boat while the internal combustion engine is operating.
C) All boats must have the prescribed certificates in accordance with the SAMSA regulations (COF, Skippers Certificate). Any boat not complying with the stipulations of the Marine Safety Act will not be allowed on the water.
D) Standard safety rules pertaining to local waters, including the "rule of the road" (shore on RHS, resulting in counter-clockwise movement) will be observed at all times.
E) In narrow channels, every boat shall keep to their right of the middle of the channel
E) When boats approach ahead, they shall pass with the other boat to the left (port rule) at a distance and speed so that the wake of neither will endanger the other.
G) In the event of mechanical failure, an angler may attract the attention of another angler by utilizing whatever means (no mobile communication) alternatively he may use his mobile phone to contact the Weigh Master to request assistance. Although an angler has notified the Weigh Master of mechanical failure this does not negate his requirement to have his tag on the board prior to the closure of his session.
H) Overtaking in the same direction shall be executed with discretion and the overtaken boat shall maintain its course until well clear of overtaken boat(s).
I) Generally, the overtaking boat should keep to the deep-water side of the other, without endangering boats approaching head-on.
J) Boats approaching at right angles shall apply the port-rule. The boat with the other on the port (left) side has right of way. The other boat shall alter course and/or speed so as to pass astern of the boat with right of way.
K) Power boats shall give way to boats under sail or hand power, irrespective of the right of way.
L) If, in their opinion, a participant appears to be incapable of operating his boat in a safe manner, the organizers may exercise their right to disqualify such person.
RULE 7 - SPORTSMANSHIP
A) Competitors will at all times display a high standard of sportsmanship and courtesy to both fellow competitors and members of the public.
B) The principles of conservation will be promoted at all times.
RULE 8 - INJURED FISH
A) Bass which have been physically damaged, altered, or willfully mutilated will be disqualified at the discretion of the weigh master, whose decision will be final.
B) Presenting damaged, altered, or willfully mutilated fish may be cause for the disqualification of the angler concerned.
C) The introduction of materials or devices that cause an increase in weight/mass of a fish shall be deemed as willful damage and will be just cause for the disqualification of the angler concerned.
D) Old and/or accidental injuries, which do not cause the fish to be heavier than if it were not injured, will be accepted.
E) Fish, whether dead or alive, that have partially ingested their prey, shall not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and not count towards the weight.
RULE 9 - WEIGHING FISH
A) Only the competitor will handle his/her catch to be weighed and presented for scoring. Helpers will provide the means for so doing but not handle the fish.
B) Identification discs or cards will be presented to the weigh-master to ensure correctness of scoring and the score sheet initialed against the entry by the competitor.
C) Once a competitor enters a buoyed off area, as indicated in the briefing as the No Wake zone, the fish in their possession become the property of the weigh-master who may also inspect their live-wells at any time.
RULE 10 - LATE WEIGH-IN
A) A large enough waiting area shall be provided and marshalled.
B) Cut off time is to be indicated by the sounding of a horn or siren and/or flare. Should any competitor's boat not be within the boundaries of the waiting area at such time, his/her catch for that session will be disqualified.
C) Under extenuating circumstances, the disqualification of an angler may be overruled by the Tournament Committee, after process of written appeal. Their decision shall be final and no further discussion will be entered into although accepted norms of fair play to any other competitor(s) in similar circumstances must be applied.
D) Should the Tournament Committee indicate at the briefing that a Disc (Tag) System is in operation then the competitor(s) will only be automatically deemed to have arrived in good time for the weigh-in, if their discs are placed on the board prior to cut-off time which will be indicated by the sounding of a horn.
E) If any Competitor’s Disc is not returned to the board before the end of that competitor’s Fishing Session, said Competitor will be disqualified with the exception of Rules 11.B.
F) If an angler is disqualified for being late but has weighed fish earlier and these have been recorded by the weigh-master these fish will count towards his overall score. Only fish that have yet to be weighed will not count.
RULE 11 -WAITING TIME
A) In the event of the jetty or beaching area being overcrowded by boats, a competitor may claim waiting time if the weigh-in deadline is imminent. This can only be done by attracting the attention of the timing marshal if in the waiting area (no-wake area) in good time before the deadline time is reached. The timing marshal will immediately note the competitor’s name & the time of any such incident in a log book.
B) Any competitor rendering emergency assistance to another competitor which results in his/her late arrival may have his/her catch weighed if he/she provides satisfactory proof of such assistance given. The timing marshal will note the name of the competitors concerned and the time of the incident in a log book.
RULE 12-WEIGH-IN
A) Entry and exits to the weighing-in area must be clearly defined to enable the weigh master to expeditiously weigh fish and eliminate queuing.
B) Anglers will be required to Exit and Enter the Weigh Station Area via a set of buoys, this is a demarcated NO-WAKE ZONE.
C) A minimum of 2 (two) calibrated scales shall be available at National Championship and at National Inter Provincial Championships.
D) The weigh-master and another member of the organizing committee need to have a clear visible view of the scales weight display at any event.
E) An Official Fish measure (300mm) shall be available at National Championship and at National Inter Provincial Championships against which all other measures shall be measured and adjusted, so as to be traceable to a Standard in the event of a dispute.
F) Anglers must handle their bass correctly to ensure a healthy return the water.
G) The Weigh Station must be open for the duration of any session.
H) A maximum of 5 (five) fish may be presented to the Weigh Master for the duration of a session (No culling at the Weigh Station).
I) Once an angler has presented his 5 (five) fish limit to the weigh master he must return to the slip and remove his boat even if there is still time left in his session.
RULE 13-FISH LIMITS
A) The session or daily fish limit will be 5 (five) fish in all areas at all levels, regardless of the statutory (license) limits stipulated in any particular area.
B) In the event of a competitor having more than the legal limit of live fish in his boat live-well, the angler/boat will be disqualified for that session.
RULE 14 - FISH CULLING
A) Dead fish shall not be returned to the water, or disposed of in any manner during or immediately after a tournament (while weighing of fish is still in progress) under any circumstances except as provided for in these Rules.
B) Competitor(s) having dead fish on board, not wishing to present them for weighing, shall remove them from the live-well, store them in such a manner that they can be separately handed to the weigh master for disposal.
C) In the event that a competitor has separated dead fish from those to be presented for weighing (in accordance with Rule 14B above), such angler shall be permitted to replace dead fish with healthy ones up to the limit of 5 (five) fish.
D) No culling shall take place in the vicinity of the weigh station or in the waiting area(s). As all culling shall have been completed while angling to prevent the fish limit being exceeded at any time. Competitors may not continue fishing whilst culling. Once the process of culling is completed and only 5 fish are on board the boat, then the competitor(s) may continue fishing. Should an angler/boat ONLY have the prescribed 5 (five) fish on board but wish to check the size of a fish prior to presenting his catch to the weigh master, then this may be done within the holding area.
RULE 15-SESSIONS
A) An angling day may be divided into sessions at the discretion of the organizers, a typical days fishing is at least 8 hours eg 7am to 3pm.
B) Each session will be treated as if a new day, with defined start/finish times, live-well inspections, and other applicable provisions as laid down in these Rules.
C) There shall be no more than two sessions in any daylight period.
D) Weighing-in at tournaments may take place throughout the day with each angler being permitted to weigh in the legal limit per session.
RULE 16 - NO-WAKE AREA
A) A no-wake area will be in force for at least 100 (one-hundred) meters to either side of the weigh-in site and 50 (fifty) meters to the front for the duration of the tournament, with the shore extremities being clearly marked, and no angling will be permitted in such areas.
B) All boats within this area will proceed at DEAD SLOW pace so as not to cause a wake.
RULE 17 - COMBINING CATCHES
A) No contestant may allow any fish caught by him/her to be added to the score of any other contestant. In such an event both competitors shall be disqualified and subject to disciplinary procedures.
B) Cutting of fins etc. as a means of identification is damaging to the fish and will be classed as willful mutilation, which will be cause for the angler to be disqualified.
RULE 18 - BOARDING BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
A) An Organizing Committee boat may approach and a member may board a competitor's boat if deemed necessary in the event of an alleged infringement of these or supplementary rules.
RULE 19-PROTESTS
A) Any protest is to be submitted in writing to the organizing committee no later than 60 minutes after the last weigh-in session for that day and duly signed by the individual filing the protest, together with names of witnesses (if any).
B) Where an incident occurs that is deemed to be of such a nature as to require further investigation, full reports shall be submitted and accepted within 7 (seven) days, and the investigation concluded and decision made within 30 days, respectively, of the last day of the event that the protest was raised.
RULE 20 - TIE-BREAKING
A) National Trials
Anglers that have a tie over the National Trials will automatically receive the respective Grand Prix points as per a Single Event as indicated above. In the case of establishing a National Champion (1st Place Tie), both anglers would receive 100 Grand Prix points towards the National Ceding, however to determine the National Champion for the year the following would apply: 1st Tie Break would be the total number of fish over the current National Trials. 2nd Tie Break would be the largest bag obtained at the National Trials. 3rd Tie Break would be the Biggest Fish at the National Trials.
B) National Ceding
In the case of a tie on the ceding lists: 1st Tie Break is based on the total of the current National Grand Prix points plus the previous two Nationals Grand Prix points (all 3 years added together). 2nd Tie Break is based on the angler with the highest Grand Prix points in the current Nationals. 3rd Tie Break would be the Total number of fish over the current plus the previous two Nationals.
RULE 21 - SCORING SYSTEM
A) Scoring will be one point for each live fish, plus one point per kilogram of mass and equivalent part point per part kilogram. In the event of a dead fish the one point per fish will not be awarded, e.g. a live healthy fish weighing 0.750 kilogram is equal to 1.750 points.
B) A fish that "gills" at least once within a period of 60 seconds from being presented to the weigh-master shall be deemed to be alive, and the final decision is at the discretion of the weigh-master.
RULE 22 - LURE TYPE TACKLE
A) Angling will be with artificial lures only.
B) No "live bait" or prepared (organic) bait shall be permitted.
C) Only one wet line, attached to a rod and reel, per angler may be used at any one time.
D) Anglers are not permitted to use double soft jerkbait rigs, drop shot rigs with jigs used as weights, double topwater set-ups and other multi-lure rigs such as “umbrella rigs”.
E) No trolling will be permitted, i.e. no lure attached to a line may be overboard while an Outboard Engine is running.
F) No tethered or hand-line of any description may be used under any circumstances.
RULE 23 - ELIGIBLE FISH
A) Only bass weighing 300 grams and over will be acceptable for weighing.
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B) Any undersize fish presented to the weigh-master will encounter a penalty of ½ (one-half) a point off the angler’s score and that fish will be rejected, but WILL count as portion of the session (daily) limit.
C) The Official SABAA Guideline for the Measurement of Fish Prescribes.
D) Fish shall not be transferred to another host for any reason whatsoever other than in the event of a complete mechanical failure. In which case the angler from the immobilized boat shall proceed directly to the Weigh Station without angling, accompany his catch in a separate weigh bag with his tag to be presented to the weigh master.
E) There shall be an arrangement which shall prevent catches from being confused.
RULE 24-WET LINES
A) No boat may approach to within casting distance of another boat. Casting distance is considered to be 30 meters.
Any boat will therefore have a “protected/private” fishing space of a 30 meter radius into which no other boat may enter or be casted into, unless the angler on that boat specifically authorizes another boat to enter and/or fish into that boat’s 30m space. In such an event rule 24B will become applicable. Where a bay with backwater or river systems apply, a boat may pass through the anglers protected area/radius on electric trolling motor to fish beyond and outside of the protected area/radius
The following diagram refers:
B) If another boat is allowed to fish within a boat’s casting distance, then any other boat may enter and fish that boat’s wet line area as well.
C) When two boats are fishing towards each other, then the boat that is closest to the bank will stay against the bank and the other shall give a reasonable berth around the boat on the bank.
RULE 25 - NO CASUAL ANGLING
A) At National Championships only the team members and the official reserve shall be permitted on the water on practice day, the reserve will leave after the official sequence of the flights has concluded and will automatically have the same session time as that of the third flight out.
B) At National Championships ONLY the official anglers may be on the water during the 3 (three) tournament days. Should any of the official anglers not be able to continue angling for whatever reason, the reserve may continue to fish for the balance of the sessions.
C) At National Championships, there may not be more than one angler per boat for the duration of the event.
D) At National Inter-Provincial Championships, the entire team. Reserve and manager may be on the water during practice (maximum of 5 (five) boats per Provincial team, with the reserve/manager boats departing after the official starting sequence is completed). During the tournament days, the manager/reserve may be on the water but may not fish. A Reserve may be rotated onto any of the Provincial team’s 4 (four) boats during the session, on condition that this is witnessed by the weigh master.
RULE 26 - METHODS OF ANGLING
A) A landing net may be used to land fish.
B) An angler must catch, fight and then land the fish, and must stay in contact with the gunnel of their boats at all times.
RULE 27 - PROHIBITED AREAS
A) Anglers shall be disqualified if encroachment is made on out-of-bounds areas, which have been declared off-limits by water affairs/nature conservation or the darn authorities e.g. dam wall areas, weirs or private property etc.
B) Anglers shall be disqualified if excessive speed is applied in a no-wake area such as a sanctuary, breeding area and/or private property (where this stipulation is a condition of entry to such an area).
RULE 28 - ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
A) No member may be under the Influence of alcohol whilst participating in a tournament or an Association function and/or in control of a boat or motor vehicle. The stipulations of National Road Safety rules will apply.
B) The use of illegal drugs or substances (as defined in common law) by contestants during tournaments and Association functions is prohibited.
C) Contravention of Rule 28 A. & B. above will constitute a serious offence against the Constitution and will be summarily dealt with under its provisions by (at least and immediately) preventing further participation, removing (by force if necessary) the capability to operate a boat or motor vehicle until deemed safe to return such control.
RULE 29 - COMMUNICATIONS
A) Senior National Championship Tournaments, the use of cellular phones, is allowed for safety purposes only. No angler may contact another angler, whilst on the water, unless in the case of an emergency.
B) At National Championships, arrangements must be made with the organizing committee for emergency messages to be intercepted and conveyed to the participants.
C) National Inter-Provincial Championships allow for any form of communication between team members.
RULE 30 –QUALIFYING TEAMS
A) A Province in good standing, after having conducted a qualifying tournament in accordance with By-Law L SABAA National Qualifying Tournament, may select a team in terms of By-Law B of the SABAA Constitution – Team Selection Policy for participation in the Senior National Trials tournament.
C) The reigning Junior National Champion may participate in the Senior National Trials.
D) A Province in good standing, after having conducted a qualifying tournament in accordance with By-Law L SABAA National Qualifying Tournament, may select a team in terms of their own Team Selection Policy for participation in the Inter – Provincial Championship tournament
E) The SABAA Tournament Trials executive may nominate a team according to their own selection policy to participate in the Inter-Provincial Championship tournament.
RULE 31 – NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND INTER PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A) The National Championships event will be concluded with an award ceremony where the SA Champion Individual Angler will be presented with the SA Individual Championship Floating Trophy.
B) Only the top anglers and the teams will be announced. All other anglers to obtain their result from the ceding ladder.
C) The National Inter – Provincial Championships event will be concluded with an award ceremony where the SA Champion Provincial Team will be presented with the SA Inter Provincial Championship Floating Trophy.
RULE 32 - POWER OF DISQUALIFICATION
A) Under ANY of the above rules, the organizing committee at each level is empowered to disqualify any competitor, after due consideration of the facts, deemed to have broken these rules at their level and/or apply disciplinary measures as defined in the Constitution.
RULE 33 - ABSENCE DUE TO CONFLICTING SABAA EVENT
A) Should an angler be representing SABAA at another higher event, e.g. an international event, and not be able to attend a National/Provincial Trials as a result, the angler may qualify for a point allocation due to his/her absence subject to the following:
a. If attending an International/Overseas event, an application for points may be submitted if the angler is required to be away either 14 calendar days prior or 14 calendar days after an event.
b. If attending a local SABAA event, an application may be submitted if the angler is required to be away either 5 calendar days prior or 5 calendar days after the event.
c. The date of tournament registration shall be deemed as the start date and the final day of fishing shall be deemed to be the end date of the tournament. In the event of no registration taking place the first official practice day or first day of angling, whichever comes first, shall be deemed to be the start date. The counting of days will exclude the start date and the end date.
d. If representing a SABAA team event the team manager in question must submit a request in writing to the National Executive, who shall rule on the matter.
e. If attending an individual event, the angler in question must submit a request in writing, via their provincial structures, to the National Executive, who shall rule on the matter.
f. Request for the allocation of points must be submitted a week before the closing date of the cut-off for National/Provincial Trials and include the full details of higher event, including the schedule of events specifying registration dates and fishing dates.
g. Team manager/anglers should attempt to schedule practice sessions so as not to clash with National Trials. In exceptional cases team managers, in the case of team events, and the individual angler, in the case of individual events, may apply for allocation of points on the basis of attending an official practice session. The onus is on the applicant to provide motivation for why the practise cannot be scheduled so as not to clash with National/Provincial event. The Nationals Executive shall rule on the matter taking factors such as, but not limited to, proximity to official cut-off and reasonable logistical considerations.
B) For the purpose of the National Trials in question, the angler’s ceding prior to the Trials, rounded down, shall be applied as his grand prix point for that specific National Trials.
C) For clarification purposes the grand prix point allocated in terms of B above, shall apply as the grand prix point for that particular year and continue to be used in ceding calculations for the following two years.
D) In the event of an angler being allocated points and not attending the Nationals as result, they shall be replaced by the next qualifying angler from the same province.