2021 Rules

Please note – Lakes, Date could change due to Covid closures!

The following rules shall apply to all Central California Elite Bass Tournaments also known as Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments and/or Cen Cal Elite Junior Bassmasters, with the following exceptions:

  • Rules for special tournaments may differ from those contained herein and
  • These rules may be changed by Cen Cal Elite Bass immediately upon notice by Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments to its member, which notice may be published on the Cen Cal Elite Internet Site at cencalelitebass.com.

Except for very serious rules violations, as determined by Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments, such as the no-information and off-limits rules and any rules that might lead to disqualification of an angler from participation in the Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournaments or Success Bass Club tournaments, rules violations must be reported to tournament officials within 30 minutes after the last contestant has weighed in.

Participants & Eligibility:

  • Must be a current member of CCEBT in good standing.
  • Contestants must be at least 16 years of age (under 18 with parental consent)
  • Must pay yearly $50.00 member dues prior to fishing.  There will be no points awarded and you will not qualify  for the Bassmaster Challenge.
  • Boat Owner must have current boat insurance with minimum 100,000, note B.A.S.S. req $300,000
  • All tournament contestants must sign waiver of club liability.
  • All Levels of Anglers are welcome to fish in the Travelers Division only.

Entry Fee

  • Entry fee for Travelers and Local regular point tournaments is $150.00 per boat: $100.00 basic entry fee, Big Fish Option $20.00, Closest to 10lbs Option $10.00, 2nd, 3rd place Option $10.00, Winner Take all Option $10.00.
  • Entry Fees, including options must be paid prior to fishing tournament.
  • Payback (1 place for every 5 teams)
  • So-Cal division has Lake Fees that are mandatory and not included in payback.
  • Total Payback including TOC = 100%
  • **Tournament Officials reserve the right to suspend the acceptance of Official Tournament Entry. **

 Options Payout

  • All options are 100% payback, paid at lake after weigh in.
  • Closest to 10lbs is paid back to the team closest to 10lbs without going over.
  • Big Fish Option – A Dead Fish cannot be weighed for Big Fish.

Team Pairing for Cen Cal

  • Anglers will select their team mate prior to the first tournament.
  • This Team mate will be your partner the whole season, unless your choose another, or your partner can no longer fish, NOTE: THE TEAM BOATER/NON-BOATER THAT QUALIFIES FOR TEAM CHALLENGE IS THE SAME TEAM THAT WILL FISH AS A TEAM IN THE BASS.
  • The points will be for each team of anglers, should you fish a different tournament with a different team partner the points will start over for the new team.
    1. The Exception to this rule is the Open Tournament and TOC.

Practice & Competition:

  • QUALIFYING EVENTS: Tournament waters shall be NO off-limits to all contestants prior to all Cen Cal Elite events With the exception of the Championship Tournament, unless otherwise specified.
  • CHAMPIONSHIP – Tournament waters shall be off-limits to all contestants at 12:01 AM local time (7) days prior in all Cen Cal Elite Championship events unless otherwise notified by Cen Cal Elite, unless otherwise specified.
  • No contestants will be allowed on Tournament waters after registration until the first day of competition. Unless otherwise specified, all official times are specific to local host community. The contestant must know and observe these dates. During both the open practice and the tournament, a contestant may not have the assistance or advice of anyone other than another confirmed contestant for the purposes of locating or catching bass, nor enter the tournament waters with anyone who has been on the tournament waters during the off-limits period including, but not limited to, a professional guide, state or federal wildlife agency employee, or any other person deemed an “expert“ on these tournament waters by the Board of Directors, unless they are a contestant in the tournament.
  • No Competitor may buy or barter a fishing location from any other competitor for use during any competition day.
  • During the official competition day(s) of the tournament a competitor may not make cell calls for the purpose of locating or catching fish on tournament waters.  Cell phones may be used for emergency situations.  Competitors are allowed to call lockmasters for locking purposes only.  Competitors are allowed to use smart phones for global maps, weather, power generation, tidal charts, notes, tec., however using smart phones during competition to log into daily tournament blogs or social media is not permitted.
  • Each competitor agrees to report to the Tournament Operations immediately any violation or infraction of any tournament rules.  Failure to report violations, or suggestions to another competitor that they violate these rules, or false verification of weigh-in forms, may be cause for disqualification.  OFFICIAL PROTESTS MUST BE FILLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE1. ALL PARTIES OF INTREST WILL BE PROVIDED A COPY.

 Permitted Fishing Locations

Tournament waters shall be established by the President for each tournament. Any water within these boundaries posted “Off-Limits” or “No Fishing” by state or federal agencies as  well as the live-bass-release area established by the Tournament Director  will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Briefing. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Waters deemed off     limits by authorities or tournament officials should be treated like a wall. No boats behind  that boundary while fishing. All angling must be done from the boat. Competitors  wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or federal regulations. Prior to the tournament registration, any questionable areas must be brought to the attention of tournament officials to be considered tournament waters and may be announced in the briefing for all to hear  unless determined otherwise by tournament officials. Tournament officials reserve the right to restrict or enhance tournament waters based on conversations with  local authorities.

Tournament Check-in Times, Fishing Hours, Starting Procedures

  • Be on the water after Registration, Sign-ups and boat inspection within safety concerns and measures, so blast off will not be delayed.
  • Check-in time and weigh-in shall be determined by the tournament director and announced at the prior blast off meeting.
  • The Official times for both will be announced at the pre-tournament meeting and prior to blast off.
  • The Tournament Hours are safelight to 3:00 pm unless otherwise noted.
  • More than one Flight will be announced depending on 20 to 30 boats at sign-ups, registrations.
  • The order of starting or positioning of the boats within flights shall be determined by the order in which boats are drawn the morning of the tournament.
  • Prior to launching your boat must be inspected by a tournament official.
  • Prior to the start of a Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournament, each boat operator will be assigned a boat/Team number.
  • There is NO fishing at the check-in ramp 30 minutes before end of tournament.
  • After entering the check-in ramp, all fishing must cease and competitors should immediately proceed to the weigh-in area.
  • Tournament Officials may delay or cancel the start of an Cen Cal Elite Bass Team Tournament for inclement weather  or  other  factors  that  would  endanger  the  safety  of  the  Additionally,  tournament  waters may  be  restricted  because  of  inclement  weather  or  other safety reasons during the event.
  • In the event a member of members arrive at the lake late, it will be necessary for the late arrivals to have their live-wells checked by a board member they can locate on the lake. A contacted member shall check the late boat and then the late arrivals may proceed to fish.

Sportsmanship

  • Sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation are expected of each member.
  • Operating the boat in any manner to handicap a partner is strictly forbidden.

Contestant boats must maintain at least a minimum of 30 yards distance from other contestant boats at all times, if fishing, unless all involved contestants agree otherwise.

  • Any violation of any tournament rules or violations of Department of Fish and Game laws shall be cause for disqualification from the tournament and possible dismissal from the club.

Safety

  • Safe boating conduct shall be observed at all times including blast off.
  • All competitors are required to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket anytime the boat’s combustion engine is operating. The life jacket must remain securely fastened until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. A violation of this rule will be immediate disqualification. Each contestant is required to wear a life jacket any time the boat is on plane, and/or when big motor is running.  It shall be up to each member to provide their own life jacket.
  • The use of or possession of Alcoholic beverages or recreational drugs is not permitted at any time during a Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournament.
  • Anchor light will be turned on in night tournaments and/or before safelight, and all navigation lights must be on from blast off to the end of the tournament in night tournaments. A violation of this rule will be immediate grounds for disqualifications.
  • Absolutely no going on plane after dark, this will be immediate ground for disqualification.
  • All boating safety rules, speed zones, buoy makers, etc. shall be observed. Any contestant receiving a citation on the lake during the tournament shall be automatically disqualified.  Parking tickets are not included.  No passing is permitted in the 5 MPH areas at blast off.
  • Tournament Officials may delay or cancel the start of an Cen Cal Elite Bass Team Tournament for inclement weather  or  other  factors  that  would  endanger  the  safety  of  the  Additionally,  tournament  waters may  be  restricted  because  of  inclement  weather  or  other safety reasons during the event.

Tackle & Equipment

  • Only artificial lures shall be used. No live or prepared baits.
  • Only casting, spinning, fly or spin-casting reels may be used. The same limitation applies to rods.  No rod longer than 8-1/2 feet from tip to butt cap may be used.
  • Any number of rigged rods may be ready in the boat, but only one rode may be used at a time.

Care & Disposition of Fish

  • All contestants shall use reasonable care in the handling, keeping and transporting of fish to the weigh-in site.
  • All live fish shall be returned to the lake in accordance with the tournament director’s instructions. Dead fish shall be disposed of in accordance with the state fish and game laws.
  • A contestant shall be granted the right the keep any trophy fish for mounting purposes.
  • Culling of fish must be done outside of buoys of weigh-in area
  • Landing Fish: When landing or attempting to land a fish, both team members must have both feet in the boat at all times.

Weigh-In

  • The weigh-master is responsible for weigh-in with the assistance of team partner and any other member willing to offer assistance.
  • One person will record the data and one person handles the scale.
  • Every effort will be made to keep this fair to all members/anglers.
  • If a contestant wishes to challenge the weight they are given, they must speak up at time of weigh-in.
  • If a contestant wishes to weigh a fish for BIG FISH, that contestant must choose only one fish from his bag to weigh for BIG FISH. This one fish only will be weighed separately for this purpose. NO DEAD FISH can be weighed for Big Fish.
  • After the weigh-in all fish must be released away from the weigh-in site.
  • Culling of fish must be done outside of buoys of weigh-in area.

 Scoring of Fish

  • Tournament winners will be determined by total weight accumulated during the tournament. A total of five (5) fish may be weighed in by each team.  At no time shall any team have more than their legal limit (5) in their possession.
  • Legal tournament fish shall be: Largemouth (Black) bass and smallmouth bass, Spotted Bass.
  • Minimum length of any fish shall be 13 inches. The fish shall be measured with the mouth open, hanging on a “wil-e-go” belly board.  The tournament director shall have an official board for measurement of any questionable fish.  All fish less than 13 inches weighed in will not be counted.  A one (1) pound penalty will be deducted from the team’s remaining legal fish total weight. Should 2 Small fish tried to be weighed in any 1 tournament it is an automatic DQ
  • No culling of fish within the immediate weigh-in area will be allowed.
  • If all Fish are dead possible disqualification.
  • Any fish that appears injured or mangled in any way will be counted only at the discretion of the tournament director. The tournament director shall also determine whether or not any fish is to be considered as live for the purposed of awarding bonus points.
  • Once a competitor’s catch is measured, counted and verified by the tournament official, the contestant will either receive/told of his/her official weights. Should a competitor believe an error was made where scale weight and the written weight do not agree, he/she must call it to the attention of the weigh master immediately before fish are returned to the water.
  • Bass must not be stringered at any time during the tournament. It has been determined that stringing decreases the chance of a bass” survival, and bass thus handled in this manner may be disqualified.
  • In cases of ties on total weight, the tie will be settled by the big fish (excluding Dead Big Fish) in each team’s catch.
  • In the case of a tie on the weight of the big fish excluding dead big fish, the money will be divided equally.

Penalties

  • Dead Fish Penalty
  • For each legal dead bass presented to weigh-in officials, the competitor shall be penalized as follows 1-4 FISH = .50 EACH,  All 5 Fish Disqualification. The Tournament Director and his designated appointees shall have sole authority for assessing penalty points. If all Fish are dead possible disqualification.
  • Small Fish
  • There will be no excuse for attempting to weigh-in a short fish. The short fish will not be weighed and a penalty of one pound (1 Ib.) will be deducted from the day’s catch. 2 small fish in any one tournament bag automatic DQ.

100 POINT SYSTEM FOR ALL CEN CAL ELITE BASS:

  • One Point System per Place – Points for each event will be based on a 100 point scale.
  • All contestants will receive 5 “show up” points.Example:

Winner receives 100 points + 5 Show up = 105 points

2nd place receives 99 points + 5 Show up = 104 points

3rd place receives 98 points + 5 Show up= 103 points etc.

Balance of field, one point each until end of field or points run out

  • Must weigh a legal fish per tournament to receive points for that event.
  • 5 Show up points will be awarded to all contestants except disqualified angler/team.
  • NO points for Big Fish in point’s tournaments – The Big Fish are the Tie Breaker.
  • NO points are awarded should you be disqualified in any point’s events.

**AOY will be determined by the overall highest points for the season including throw-outs for each division. The AOY will receive a trophy to each member of the AOY Team.  The AOY basic entry fee for 1 division will be paid for the next season. **

  • Ties – Refer below. Standings will reflect ties starting at place closest to first.
  • End of year point tiebreakers shall be total weights from full field days for season.

Ties

In the event of a tie pertaining to total weight, it will be broken by the “Big Fish”. If  they tie a second time in the “Big Fish”, the person who had the earlier draw for blast-off will be accorded first place standing. In the event of a tie for the “Big Fish”, first and second place money will be combined and split evenly  between the two contestants. In the event of a tie for “Second Big Fish”, second and third place monies will be split evenly between the two contestants.

Tournament Champions

  • The top 33% Anglers and Co-Anglers based on the points system in 1 division will qualify for the Tournament of Champions.
  • Fish any 7 tournaments with the same partner, paid member dues, (Excluding the May Open) you can qualify for Tournament of Champions.
  • At the end of the season:  Local Division has (1) Throw-out, Travelers has (2) throw-outs.
  • Only the tournament attendance (show) points will be totaled.
  • The TOC is a non-point’s tournament.

Overall BIG FISH award

Each year at the beginning of the season, before our first tournament, each member may    pay an entry of $20.00 for the Overall BIG FISH pot.  This Option will take affect from the date you sign and submit your money, there is no retro action, so understand that  if you catch the “biggest” fish of the year before you have signed up, it will default  to the next team. The TOC does not count in this Option and NO DEAD FISH can be  used. This Option is  a 100% payback at the TOC, to the Team with overall BIG FISH of the season.  The Team that wins this pot of money will also receive a BIG FISH Trophy.

Angler of the Year

  • At the end of the season, to qualify for AOY Team: You must be in 1st place in points in 1 division. Each division is as follows:  Local Division has (1) Throw-out, Travelers has (2) throw-outs. The winners of the Angler of the Year will receive a Trophy to each member of team.
  • NO 1 Team can qualify for more than 1 division.
  • The Team that wins Angler of the Year Basic Entry fees for 1 division will be paid for the next season excluding benefit tournaments.
  • The Angler of the year award will be awarded Trophies/Plaques.

Bassmaster Team Challenge:

  • Be an active Cen Cal Elite Bass Team Trail member, I.e. paid member dues
  • Be an active B.A.S.S. Member, i.e. Paid member dues included in CCEBT dues.
  • Qualify for CCEBTTT TOC per Cen Cal Elite Bass Team Trail points system and tournaments fished. i.e 1st place team does not mean TOC winner.
  • The Team that qualifies must remain as a team, no Single man/woman teams, no substitution of team for BASS.
  • The first 25 teams in each division that are paid members, the CCEBT/BASS will send 1 qualifying Team. The Team that qualifies- will be promoted to the Team Challenge, if one member of team cannot fish the Team Challenge then it goes to the next team in line in that division, there is no substitution of team member for the BASS.
  • For every additional 25 teams in each division (50 individuals) that CCEBT signs up as B.A.S.S. Team members, B.A.S.S., in its discretion, may offer CCEBT an opportunity to qualify one (1) or more additional team to the Bassmaster Team Championship.

Damage, Theft, and/or Injury

  • If any of these occur, they are the sole responsibilities of the individual. Cen Cal Elite Bass and its Officials” will not be held responsible for any damage to property, theft of property or personal injury that might occur during a club tournament.
  • All members will carry the minimum insurance requirement.
  • All members are expected to act safely.
  • Accidents can happen when fishing, and it is expected all members understand this and enter tournaments with this knowledge.

Mechanical Breakdowns

  • In the event a contestant experiences mechanical failure on a boat it is that teams responsibility to be at the weigh-in on time. Common procedure is to fish your way back to the weigh-in site, and then remain in that area until weigh-in.
  • Call the tournament director or another board member if you are unable to make it safely back to weigh-in site and help will be sent to your after weigh-in, Unless your situation is emergent in nature.
  • If another team contestant chooses to assist you during the tournament, this is a courtesy and not a tournament requirement.
  • If for any reason a contestant must leave the fishing waters before the weigh-in time, it is required of them to call the Tournament director or another board member to notify them you are leaving the tournament. In the spirit of good club sportsmanship you should still try to come to the weigh-in even if you did not catch any fish.

 Alcohol or Drugs:

Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any contestant during the open practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Cen Cal Elite tournaments. No alcoholic beverages, other stimulants or depressants, prescription or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the open practice or competition days or when in the weigh-in area. Any contestant(s) deemed under the influence by the tournament director may be disqualified. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or crimes involving moral turpitude or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and/or for disqualification after circumstances are reviewed by the Tournament Director.

Rule Decisions

  • The interpretation of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Board members.
  • All protests or complaints must be filed in writing with/a board member present at the tournament no later than 30 minutes after the last contestant has weighed in.
  • A properly filed protest or complaint must be acted upon by the board.
  • If the member filing a protest or complaint is a board member, the contestant must file the protest or complaint with another board member who is present.
  • If the above procedure is not followed, the protest or complaint shall be invalid and no action will be taken.

Rule Violations

  • Rule violations are grounds for disqualification from any club tournament. Rule violations Include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Addition of weight to any fish.
  • Accepting fish from another competitor or any other person to bring to the weigh-in to use as your weight and any other act a competitor may engage in to unfairly enhance the weight of fish weighed in at any club event.
  • Such violations will be grounds for disqualification from any tournament if the violation is discovered prior to weigh-in, the rule violator will not be allowed to weigh any fish. Should the violation be uncovered after weigh-in and award presentation completed, a violator’s catch will be disqualified and no points given. Should the rule violator have placed and received any cash award for their catch, all monies will be returned to club officials who will then adjust the standings and allocate the awards based on the new tournament rankings.
  • Further actions may be taken against any competitor who violates club rules for tournaments. Knowingly violating club tournament rules are grounds for removal of the violators from the club’s membership roster. The board of directors shall review any case of rule violation brought to the attention of the tournament director. The seven member board shall then decide on the severity of measures to be taken against the violator and/or violators. All decisions and actions by the board of directors are final.
  • In addition, any competitor who has received a cash award and is found to have knowingly Violated rules in an effort to receive such an award, will be turned into the proper authorities for prosecution should he/she not immediately return such cash award to the club.

Licenses

Each contestant must have in possession a valid and current fishing license with appropriate stamps governing the fishable waters of the event. Penalty for such an offense is disqualification of the day’s catch.

Citations

A contestant cited by officers for violation of local, State or Federal fishing or boating regulations on the water jeopardizes his daily catch and may be subject to disqualification by the Tournament officials.

Waiver & Release Agreement

The undersigned understands and agrees that as consideration for being allowed to participate in any Cen Cal Elite Bass event, whether prior to commencement, during the actual event and/or during any post-event festivities, he or she is doing so at his or her own risk. Cen Cal Elite Bass and its owners, managers, employees, agents and sponsors (collectively “Cen Cal Elite Bass”), shall not be liable for any damages, claims or causes of action arising from personal injuries or property damage sustained in, on or about the premises or waterways used for any Cen Cal Elite Bass event, specifically including, but not limited to, all boat launches, bodies of water, parking lots or other public or private areas used for any Cen Cal Elite Bass event. The undersigned assumes full responsibility for any injuries or damages which may occur during any Cen Cal Elite Bass event, however caused, regardless of whether such injuries or damages are caused by the negligence of Cen Cal Elite Bass or any of its employees or agents.

Entry Form

The participant expressly acknowledges that by signing the entry form at each event that he or she is relinquishing all rights he or she may have to file a lawsuit against Cen Cal Elite Bass for injuries arising out of his or her participation in any Cen Cal Elite Bass events or activities. This release is intended to be interpreted as broadly as allowed under California law.

Complaints/challenges

  • Any complaints/challenges about the results or other contestant’s behaviors during the tournament must be filed in writing within 30 minutes of the end of the weigh-in. This must be given to the tournament director or another board member.
  • The tournament director and two other board members will rule on the complaint in a timely fashion and their decision will be final. If it is agreed that the contestant or team has violated the tournament rules of the club, or is in violation of State of California Fishing Regulations or DFG regulations, the TEAM will be disqualified for the tournament.

 Contingency Programs/Angler Incentives

Please note these programs and/or incentives are outside of Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournament rules, in order to qualify for them you must meet the Companies qualifications.  Cen Cal Elite Bass Tournament does not guarantee that you or anyone will qualify for the products(s) they are offering. The Companies programs are outside of our payouts and determinations.