Firefighter Bass Fishing Tour

Firefighter Games Bass Fishing and the Firefighter Bass Tour Events

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The Firefighter Games and Firefighter Bass Tour Tournament rules are included herein with special notations. It is each participant’s responsibility to read all items before entering. Firefighter Bass Tour (FBT) rules will apply in all events unless superseded by federal, state or local laws. Firefighter Bass Tour reserves the rite to refuse any membership or tournament entry fees or entry forms for any reason. Firefighter Bass Tour is an event that is regulated by the United States Firefighter Games Inc. The Officials and Directors designated by the US Firefighter Games Inc. will have final decisions in all matters.

The event are Unisex Open. TWO (2) contestants per boat. These contestants may be from different fire departments.

AWARDS for the Firefighter Games Events:

• Individual: "Big Bass" medals to individuals with the heaviest bass (1st - 3rd). i.e. Big Bass
• Team: 2 Person Team medals will be awarded for "heaviest bag". (1st - 3rd)
• Also see pay sheets for  event.

AWARDS for the Firefighter Bass Tour:·       

• See event pay sheets for each event
• SEASON BIG BASS POT: This cash side pot is for the largest bass caught in all of the Firefighter Bass Tour events for the full tour. The side pot is $5.00 per event per boat, which is deducted from the entry fee.  All teams that enter at least 5 events are eligible to win this prize.
• SEASON LARGEST SINGLE BAG LIMIT POT: This cash side pot is for the largest single five fish limit weighed in for all of the Firefighter Bass Tour events for the full tour. The side pot is $5.00 per event per boat, which is deducted from the entry fee.  All teams that enter at least 5 events are eligible to win this prize.
• Overall season champion is decided by a points system with 100 points being awarded to the highest placing team and incrementally reducing the points by one for each place. i.e. 100 points for first place, 99 for 2nd place, 98 for 3rd place etc etc..  All teams that enter at least 5 events are eligible to win this prize.  If teams enter more than 5 events they are eligible to drop up to 2 scores.  The final season score is dependant on each teams top 5 scores.

OFFICIALS

Event Coordinator:  The Event Coordinator will supervise all facets of this event.

Weight Master:   All weigh-ins will be done in the presence of the anglers.

A Protest Committee consisting of the event coordinator, the weigh master, and a member of the executive staff shall be assembled on matters regarding protests.  The decision rendered by this committee is final. The Officials and Directors designated by the US Firefighter Games Inc. will have final decisions in all matters

FACILITY

The USFFG will strive to secure the best locations for this event one where anyone from anywhere can fish successfully without local knowledge. The facility may be a freshwater lake/reservoir, river or delta available for boating .

Competition for the Florida and National Firefighter Games will be held over 2 days.

Firefighter Bass Tour Events will be single day events unless noted - i.e Florida or National Games

A briefing will be held the evening before at a participants meeting to explain, the rules and regulations,

the fishing area, the weigh-in area and the weigh-in time.

If bad weather occurs, consideration will be given to rescheduling with phone and email, and website

notification given.

 Scoring:

Each teams weight will be measured in pounds and hundreths of ounces.  The highest weight will be 1st place and the remaining weights in order will be 2nd, 3rd etc... 

If a team is disqualified for any reason they will receive (0) points for that tournament,

BUT WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR FISHING THE TOURNAMENT.

In the Firefighter Games competition each competitor may only enter one fish in the Big Bass event. i.e. a competitor may medal only once in the Big Bass event even if he/she caught the three heaviest fish. All legal fish will score towards the Big Bass.

In the event of a tie, multiple winners will be declared.

ELIGIBILITY & EVENT QUALIFICATION:

• Participation is open to paid or retired professional firefighters. A firefighter may fish alone but is required to pay full tournament entry fees and must fish at least two tournaments in the season with a partner. Teams must fish 5 (five) tournaments to be eligible for the Big Bass or Big Bag award that is given out at the end of the tour.
• Partner Substitution : A team may have as many partners as needed, but the team captain will be the person of record for the Big Bass and Big Bag awards.

TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES: 

 $100.00 for each event with $5.00 going to the season Big Bass pot, $5.00 to the season Big Bag pot, and $10.00 for the event Big Bass Pot. The payout sheets will be posted at the time of registration for each event.  All events will payback a minimum of 3 (three) places.

REGISTRATION & SIGN UP:  

Teams will take off in the order in which entry fees are received. Teams may sign up and pay at any Firefighter Bass Tour event, online at www.usffg.com, by phone 1-866-233-4263, or by mailing entry with check or money order to:

Entry deadline  is 7 days prior to event date. If registering at the  ramp – RSVP 7 days prior to event. 1-866-233-4263.  If a captain does RSVP and is then is a “no-show”, a $25.00 penalty will be imposed and must be paid prior to participating in any other Firefighter Bass Tour Events. 

Please – no on site registration without prior RSVP contact. 

FISH LIMITS & PENALTY:  

All contestants must use care in handling and keeping fish alive for release after weigh-in. All fish will be brought to the weigh master in plastic bags with enough water to keep the fish covered until weigh-in. A tournament limit will be (5) fish measured with mouth closed and tail compressed (pinched)in accordance with state law. No culling of dead fish. No culling at ramp or in host marina. No retaining bass in live well and not weighing those fish, this is the same as culling at the ramp. Dead fish penalty will be .50 pounds per dead fish.  If too many fish are brought to weigh-in, the largest fishes will be lost until the limit is brought into compliance.  If a short fish is brought to the scales, the participants biggest fish will be lost.  Teams may ask the tournament director for a courtesy check, if desired prior to presenting fish for weigh-in. Teams must not have more than (5) fish in the live well at any time. ALL TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN WEIGH BAGS FOR TRANSPORTING FISH TO WEIGH-IN. 

GENERAL INFORMATION

No live bait to be used.

All boats must have working Live Wells, and may be checked by the host or his designee prior to departure.

No airboats allowed.

State laws require all participants to have a valid fresh water fishing license in the state of the event.

No trolling permitted.

Fish must be caught live and in a conventional method, using a rod and reel. Only one rod and reel may be used at any given time by each angler. No rod may be left unattended with line or lure in water.

Only Largemouth Bass can be weighed in.

It is mandatory to use a LIFE VEST AND HAVE THE KILL SWITCH ACTIVATED while the boats main engine is running. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

No boat may begin fishing prior to being instructed to do so by the check-out boat.

You must fish water that is available to all competitors. No fishing within 50 yards of any boat anchored, with trolling motor up. No fishing in areas designated off limits by governmental agencies. No fishing within 50 yards of Launch Site. No fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump.

EMERGENCY OR BREAK DOWN: One or both anglers must identify their fish with some sort of marker or separation system before entering the rescue boat with fish, to return to launch site. (No fishing from rescue boat)