INDIAN RIVER B.A.S.S. ANGLERS CLUB
By-Laws – 2011
The INDIAN RIVER B.A.S.S. ANGLERS CLUB, hereinafter referred to as “The Club”, is a non-profit organization formed
to provide a social setting for bass fishermen to meet on a monthly basis and fish together in friendly tournament
competition.
The club is open to all applicants over the age of sixteen (16), regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, or
national origin.
It is the philosophy of the club to promote the enjoyment of bass fishing through reasonable rules and by enlisting
members who want to fish competitively with friends and not suffer the stress of fishing with competitors who have the
“win at all cost” mentality.
The club is a strict catch and release organization and encourages members to take all measures to ensure the safe,
healthy release of all bass caught.
Any boat used during a Club tournament must maintain a minimum of $300,000 liability insurance.
ORGANIZATION
The club officers will consist of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, treasurer, and a tournament director
nominated and elected by the members during the December meeting. The club year is from January through
December of the calendar year.
The duties of the club officers are as follows:
a) President: Presides over all meetings, directs all official business, appoints
and directs committee functions and oversees all club functions.
b) Vice-President: Assists the president in his duties and presides in the absence of the president. Works with the
tournament director helping at weigh-in and assisting as needed.
c) Secretary: Maintains accurate minutes of all club meetings, maintains all club correspondence, and gives monthly
reports to members.
d) Treasurer: Maintains accurate financial records and gives a financial report at each monthly meeting. Must have
records up-to-date and be available for audit at any time. Disburse and collect monies when required.
e) Tournament Director: It will be the tournament director’s responsibility to determine safe light at all club
tournaments, supervise weigh-in procedures, record the weighing-in and measuring of fish and report that information
to the club officer who is disbursing payouts. It is also his responsibility to resolve any question(s) or dispute(s) that
arise during a club tournament by applying club by-laws and tournament rules or in his/her best judgment. The
tournament director has the authority and responsibility to make any changes based on safety considerations or
weather related conditions to change the tournament format if necessary.
The club will maintain a checking account and the treasurer is responsible for the maintenance of the account and will
provide an accounting of the credits and debits at each meeting. The signature of a club officer is required to issue a
check from the account. The club financial records are open to inspection of any member during meetings.
All monies remaining in the club’s operating account at the end of the club year, less the Lunker Fund (i.e. the General
Fund), will be disbursed as specified in the year-end section of these rules.
The club will meet once a month on the first Tuesday of each month. In the event that falls on a holiday, the presiding
club officer will set an alternate date and every effort will be made to notify all members of the new date.
The club will conduct a tournament each month for members and guests. The date has been set for the third Saturday
of each month. The location of each tournament will be decided upon and announced at that month’s meeting.
Any changes or amendments to the club by-laws may only be made once a year with the following exceptions:
A) As required by the National and/or State Federation.
B) Any serious safety concerns.
All amendments or changes must be presented at the November club meeting and any motions for change or
amendment will be voted on at the December meeting.
ORGANIZATION AND MEMBERSHIP
The club is affiliated with the Florida Bass Federation and TBF, Inc. Members of the club will be required to join both
the Florida Federation as well as TBF.
The club shall and will maintain at least six members at all times. In order to become a member of the Indian River B.A.S.
S. Anglers, prospective new members must attend a regular monthly meeting.
A prospective member or guest may fish one (1) tournament per annual calendar year with the club without becoming a
member of the club. Non-members are not eligible to win the Lunker Fund or the Big Bass of the Year fund.
REMOVAL OF MEMBERSHIP
A club member can be removed from membership after a vote for removal by a majority of the members in attendance
at any regularly scheduled meeting. Possible reasons for removal include the following
1. Failure to pay annual membership dues by the December meeting.
2. ANY action that would reflect dishonor and/or disgrace to the club.
3. Two or more warnings from the club officers for any problem-causing incident that would negatively impact the club
or any of its members. Warnings will be handed out and noted during the monthly meetings after approval by a majority
of the officers of the club.
DUES
Yearly club membership dues are $20 in addition to the $65 for the following required memberships: $35 – FLW, $15 –
Bass Federation, and $15 – State Federation. This totals to $85 per year per member. These dues are payable at the
time of joining the club. The dues are not pro-rated if joining during the year, except for FLW. Dues for the following
year are to be paid by the December meeting. The $20 club dues will be deposited in the general fund for normal
expenses of the club. Trophies paid from the General Fund will include a trophy for each member of the top team for
the year, the top big bass for the year, and each member of the winning team for the Classic.
FEES
The entry fee for the monthly tournament for each Team is $60 dollars. This includes the $35 for the tournament
payout, $10 for Big Bass, $2 dollars to the Lunker Fund, $2 to the annual Big Bass fund, $5 to the General Fund, and
$6 to the year-end classic. The entry fee must be paid to the club treasurer or the tournament director prior to the cast-
off of the tournament.
There will be an additional fee of three dollars for a non-member to fish as a guest. That money is not part of the
tournament payout and will be deposited into the club’s checking account and will be used to augment the yearly
Classic Tournament payout. The total fee for a guest is $33 dollars.
Payouts will be made at the first club meeting after the tournament by the club treasurer or other club officer.
GUESTS
Guest can only fish as a guest one time with a club member.
TOURNAMENTS
All tournaments conducted by the club will be Team competitions, with a boater and non-boater partner combining their
catch for total weight results. The limit for fish for the team will be 5, unless specific rules require a lower number. If
any team during a tournament has only one member fishing and no guest, then the creel limit for all teams will be the
maximum allowed for an individual per state regulation for that lake, not to exceed five. A member can fish alone, but
the entire $60 entry fee is required.
The club will sponsor a tournament each month for the first ten (10) months, with the Classic to be held in late October,
November or early December. The tournament director will pick the location for the Classic. The site of each month’s
tournament will be chosen by drawing one selection from a list of six lakes (for the first half of the year) or four lakes (for
the second half of the year) chosen by the members to be fished during a half-season. The same lake sites will be
used each month of that half-season. Once drawn, a lake is removed from consideration for the duration of that half-
season’s drawings.
The monthly tournaments will be held on the third Saturday of every month. A change of the date will happen only if the
majority of the members present at the monthly meeting vote to change the date.
Payouts will be made at the first club meeting after the tournament by the secretary-treasurer or another officer of the
club.
The number of boats participating determines the number of places paid. Five or fewer boats pay only ONE place. Six
boats through 10 boats pay first (60%) and second (40%). Over 10 boats will pay first (60%), second (30%), and third
(10%), In the event of a tie in total weight between boats, the shares of the positions that would be awarded will be
combined and divided equally among the teams.
In the event that only one participating boat in a tournament catches an eligible fish, that boat will be paid for the first
place (100%) and Big Bass. The remaining payout money will be maintained in the operating account. If only two
participating boats weigh eligible fish in a tournament that would pay three places, they will be awarded first and second
place and the Big Bass prize based upon their weights. The third place payout (10%) will be maintained in the
operating account.
Big Bass is a fund to be paid to the boat weighing in the largest bass for that tournament. In the event that there is a tie
for big bass, the big bass fund will be divided equally among them.
The Lunker Fund is a cumulative fund to be paid to the first member who weighs a bass eight pounds or over at a
tournament. The Lunker Fund payout will be paid by check at the next meeting. Guests will not be eligible for the
Lunker Fund. If no Lunker Fund payout occurs during a club year, the Fund is rolled over to the next year.
TOURNAMENT RULES
No one is permitted to cast-off before being directed to do so by the tournament director.
If, for any reason, any angler(s) is late for the launch time on the tournament date they may still fish that tournament
providing he/she:
a) If a boat is late the member(s) must find another boat fishing the club tournament BEFORE they start fishing. (I.
e. there must NOT be any fish in the live well(s)). Find a club member fishing that tournament pay their entry fee to that
member. It will then be the club member’s responsibility to collect the entry fee; to check the live well(s), and give all
collected monies to the treasurer or club officer at the weigh - in.
Or
b) If the tournament is pre - paid then the late member must find a club member to report he is present and fishing
in the tournament. The reporting boat must check the live well(s).
Weigh-in time will be called by the tournament director and will be strictly adhered to. Members must be at the weigh-in
site either beached or at the dock at the designated weigh-in time to be eligible to weigh in without penalty. There will
be a one-pound per minute late penalty assessed for up to five minutes. Any tournament boat over five minutes late
will be disqualified.
There will be a penalty of eight ounces assessed for each dead fish weighed in. Any bass that appears to have been
mangled, mashed, mauled or otherwise altered will not be weighed.
If a fish is brought to the weigh-in and is less than fourteen (14") inches in length, the boat presenting the fish will be
assessed a penalty of disqualification of the short fish AND the largest fish, by weight, in their creel. The disqualified
largest fish will also not be eligible for Big Bass or Lunker Fund consideration. The length is measured by laying the fish
flat, mouth closed, pinching the tail and measured on a standard Golden Rule.
The tournament director will determine the weights and measurements and his/her decision is final. The tournament
director may enlist the help of other members to assist in the recording of weights and the releasing of fish in order to
facilitate the weigh-in procedure. The weigh-in order will be in the same order of the boat launch. The tournament
director will provide a fish bag to the participants to bring the fish to the scales. Three fish bags will be maintained by
and distributed by the tournament director and all bags will be returned to him/her at the conclusion of the tournament.
Safety: Safe boat conduct must be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the official practice and the
tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver, which must be worn
anytime the combustion engine is operating. This preserver must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely and
maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off.
Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification.
Sportsmanship: Competitors in the Indian River B.A.S.S. Angler club sponsored tournaments and are expected to follow
high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting
principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased over the
counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall
be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future Indian River B.A.S.S. Angler tournaments.
Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-
competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the club’s effort
to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.
No alcoholic beverages or other stimulants or otherwise, shall be allowed in the boats during the official competition day
(s) and mini-tournament competition days(s) or until completion of weigh-in by all tournament participants when in the
weigh-in area. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude
or other conduct reflecting unfavorably upon the club’s efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship and compliance with
tournament rules shall be grounds for disqualification from the tournament and removal from the club. The first time
offense will result in the removal for the period of one year. Second offense will result in at least a two-year
suspension. The third offense will result in permanent removal from the club.
Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial lures may be used. No “live bait” will be permitted, with the exception of pork
strips, rinds, etc. Only ONE casting, spin-casting or spinning rod and reel may be used at any one time. All other types
are prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat and ready for use, however, only ONE is permitted in
use at any given time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching
or snagging fish on spawning beds will have their day’s catch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, all
bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be verified by your partner before unhooked to be counted as a legal
fish. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.
Boat and Motor: For the safety of all contestants, all boats must be equipped with some type of operable ignition kill
switch that must be securely attached to the driver at any time the combustion engine is in operation. Anytime the
combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat. An
electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering. However, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited with the
combustion engine. The only vessel type restriction is that no airboats will be allowed to participate in a club
tournament.
Basic Boat Equipment: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, it must have a
functional bilge pump and LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE, A LIMIT
CATCH OF BASS BY BOTH FISHERMEN USING THE BOAT. The Tournament Director shall have the sole
responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is “proper and adequate.”
Permitted Fishing Locations: Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament.
Fishing on the tournament waters is permitted anywhere except: Within 50 yards of any marina gas pump or with 50
yards (150 feet) of another competitor’s boat which was first anchored or secured in a fixed position and trolling motor
is out of the water and stowed. No such boat shall permit selected competitors to fish within the 50-yard circle claimed
by him to the exclusion of any other competitor. Any water within these boundaries posted Off-Limits or NO fishing by
state or federal agencies will be OFF LIMITS. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament
waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to this tournament’s contestants. 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.
Other Rules Contestants Must Remain in Boat: Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish. Boats must remain in
tournament waters during tournament days. In an emergency, a competitor or competitors may be removed from their
boat, to a boat operated by another competitor, for immediate return to the weigh-in site, along with his own catch,
under the scrutiny of the rescue boat occupants. The competitor, who remains with his/her boat for rescue, waives his
right to protest his weight should this election be made. All competitors involved in the rescue must cease fishing at this
point, and a club member must verify their catch in order to be counted in the tournament. If after the emergency
situation is resolved by and enough time is left for the competitors to resume fishing, the competitors will continue and
their catch will be counted. This applies only to dire emergency situations. Failure to render assistance, when
requested in an emergency situation is cause for immediate disqualification.
All contestants are expected to obey all applicable Florida Boating or Fishing and Wildlife Statutes or Rules. Violation
of such rules may result in your disqualification from the tournament. Repeated or flagrant violations will result in said
contestants being banned from future participation in tournaments.
Year-End Payouts:
Each tournament’s weights shall be added throughout the year to determine year-end standings. Winning teams,
based upon total weight, will be paid from funds remaining in the General Fund. Payouts will be made for first through
fifth, at 35%, 25%, 20%, 10% and 10%, respectively. Year-end big bass will be paid based upon the largest bass
weighed during the year.
The Classic Tournament:
The qualifications to be able to fish in the annual club sponsored “Classic” are as follows:
a) Team Captains must fish at least five tournaments during the year.
b) At least one member of the Team must attend at least five monthly meetings during the year.
c) In the event that only three tournaments and/or meetings are attended, the fourth and fifth tournament and/or fourth
and fifth meeting may be purchased for the cost of $60 apiece. This money will be placed into the Classic Fund.
The Classic Tournament is to be held in late October, November, or early December. The exact weekend will be voted
on by club members as to when most members are available. The location and date is to be determined by the
Tournament Director. Entry fee will be $100 per boat, with an additional $10 per day required by each boat for a daily
Big Bass. The entry fees plus the amount in the Classic Fund at the end of the year will be paid out in the same
manner as a regular tournament, based upon number of boats participating.
In a “Classic” tournament, the designated lake will be off-limits for two weeks prior to the tournament. Club members
can pre-fish the Friday before on the “Classic” designated lake. As a matter of safety, members are encouraged to pre-
fish a lake, especially if the member has never boated that lake before.