LIMIT OUT PERFORMANCE MARINE– HOME OF BIG BASS TOURNAMENT TRAIL|LIMIT OUT TACKLE

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OFFICIAL RULES AND ACCIDENT WAIVER

Official Rules

Participation / Eligibility

Participation in the Limit Out Performance Marine Big Bass, Pro/Am, and Shootout Tournaments constitutes each contestant’s understanding of the full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules. Contestants must obey all State, Federal and local fishing and safety laws. The Tournament Director reserves the right to disqualify any contestants that are determined to be in violation of any term contained in these Official Rules. Interpretation of these rules will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. At the sole discretion of the Tournament Director,  entry may be refused to any individuals for any reason. Protests must be made in writing within 15 minutes of the official check-in time. Participants must provide their own equipment including, without limitation, fishing equipment and boat; all subject to the restrictions contained in these Official Rules.

All contestants must have in their possession a valid Washington State freshwater fishing license and boater’s card. Any angler under the age of 18 must have their parent or guardian signature on a release of liability. *Exception – For the Pro/Am, anglers must be 16 years or older in order to participate with a signed release of liability from the parent.

Registration/Drivers Meeting Information for all tournaments

There are 3 ways to register for all Limit Out Marine tournaments. You can go to www.bigbasstrail.com and register online, come to one of our local stores, or mail your entry to Limit Out Marine PO Box 236, Auburn, WA 98071-0236. If mailing your entry fee please make checks payable to Limit Out Marine. Entry for the Big Bass and Pro/Am events will be accepted until April 21st at midnight. We will not have registration for either event after that time. Entry for the Shootout event will be accepted until May 30th. Each angler must check–in at the tournament trailer in order to receive their boat number, sign the Zebra Mussel form, and/or get partner pairings. A team member must be present during the pre-tournament meeting unless authorized by the Tournament Director. Blast off will be at safe light to be determined at check in for each event. Driver’s meeting will be 30 minutes before blast off on Day 1 of the event. Day 2 blastoff will be in reverse order by boat number. Driver’s meetings for all events to be held at the tournament trailer.

Weigh–ins

Only Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass are the accepted species. “No Puncture Culling Tags to be used. The official minimum length limit for bass will be twelve (12) inches. Bass presented for weigh in which fail to measure the prescribed minimum length, will not be weighed. Please tag your largest fish at the Pro/Am and Shootout events as tournament director will not weigh your largest fish if not tagged.

All bass brought to weigh-in site must be in a bag with water sufficient to cover the bass.

Pre-Fish/Off–Limits – There is no off limits for the Big Bass or the Shootout tournament prior to both events. On the evening before the tournament, anglers must be off the water at 4pm. For the Pro/Am all anglers must be off the water by 4 pm April 24th so they can attend the partner pairing meeting at 5pm.

Two Pole Endorsement not to be used at any Limit Out Performance Marine event.

Late Penalty

For every minute a team is late, a 1 pound penalty will be assessed for each minute late and after 5 minutes late, the entire limit for that day’s catch will be disqualified.

Restrictions

During the official competition days, contestants may not solicit and/or receive fishing information from anyone except other contestants. Non competitors are not allowed to be in the boat with contestants except in the event of an emergency (rescue, mechanical breakdown, etc.). GPS waypoints may not be provided to contestants by anyone except other contestants. Contestants may not follow a non – competitor’s boat or participate in the practice of “hole sitting” or the placing of markers. The purchasing or bartering for information or the hiring of services is not permitted after the start of the official practice period. The use of mobile communication devices, including, but not limited to cellular phones, marine radios, two-way radios, CB’s, etc., for the purpose of sharing information during tournament hours is strictly prohibited. These devices may be used in an emergency (severe weather, health issues etc.).

Intentional snagging of fish is strictly prohibited. Culling is prohibited inside the host marina.

Safety

Safe boating must be observed at all times. Contestants must observe “no wake” areas including posted bridges and other areas identified by the Tournament Director. Each contestant is required to wear a fastened, U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal flotation device at all times when the combustion engine is in operation, during official practice days and during the tournament days. All boats must be equipped with an emergency ignition shut off device that must be securely attached to the driver’s body whenever the combustion engine is in operation. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, tournament days may be shortened, postponed or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions.

Sportsmanship

All contestants are required to follow the high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, their event sponsors, and the sport of fishing. Examples of conduct not complying with those standards include, but are not limited to, the following: Violation of or failure to comply with any of the official rules for the Tournament. Consumption and/or possession of any alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind altering substance during check-in, the pre-tournament meeting or during tournament hours extending through the weigh-in are strictly prohibited. In other words, conduct or actions reflecting unfavorably upon efforts to promote safety, sportsmanship, fair competition and compliance with tournament rules, or which fail to comply with the standards set forth in this paragraph. In case of any conduct not complying with the standards, the Tournament Director shall have the right to refuse any application, or to deny a confirmed application, by returning the registration of a previously accepted application to disqualify a contestant.

Boat and Horsepower Regulations

All boats must be propeller driven, be a minimum of 14 feet in length. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. Boats must contain a functioning aerated live-well capable of maintaining a live limit of bass. Each boat must have a clearly legible U.S. Coast Guard “Maximum Capacities” plate that includes a maximum horsepower rating affixed to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must not exceed the maximum horsepower capacity specified on the boat placard. By registering for the Tournament, each contestant agrees to submit his or her boat and/or motor to an inspection by the Tournament Director. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower numbers on the motor or “Maximum Capacities” plate will be cause for disqualification from the Tournament and may result in ineligibility to compete in future events. Fishing platforms must be factory-installed equipment. No portable platforms may be used in Tournament competition. Fuel may be carried only in factory installed (built-in) fuel tanks. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased from a retail facility open to the public.

Permitted Fishing Methods

All bass must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner. All bass must be hooked inside the mouth. Only artificial lures may be used with the exception of pork rinds. Only one fishing rod per angler may be used at a time. Trolling, defined as moving the bait with the assistance of the combustion engine, as a method of fishing is not allowed.

Permitted Fishing Locations

Contestant’s may fish anywhere on tournament waters within the boundaries of tournament waters available to the public and accessible by boat, except areas designated as “Off-Limits”, “No Fishing”, “No Boats”, “Boats Keep Out”, etc. by local, state or federal officials. Inside Mardon’s Marina is “Off Limits”

Contestants are prohibited from casting into these areas or having their boat in these areas at any time. Contestant’s may not fish within 100 feet of another competitor’s boat that was first anchored. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a line attached to a weight or a Power Pole anchor with the trolling motor in the up position). Never shut down big motor on top of another angler’s vessel. At no time may a contestant leave the boat to land a fish or make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat. The boat must remain in the tournament waters during the tournament day. No tournament boat may be loaded on the trailer before weigh-in except with the permission of the Tournament Director. In the event of equipment failure or emergency, there will be only two permitted methods of returning to the official checkpoint: By both team members remaining in their boat and being towed by water, or by one or both team members are entering the boat of another tournament contestant. Under these two conditions the teams catch may be counted without a penalty (except for late penalties, fish care penalties or other penalties pertaining to other tournament rules). Contestants who elect to return to the official checkpoint by any other means than cited above will forfeit their day’s catch to that point in time in the tournament day. Any contestant returning to the checkpoint will be eligible to restart and resume competition under the supervision of the Tournament Director or his designated Tournament Official. It is the sole responsibility of contestants to locate the Tournament Director to request a restart.

Official Checkpoints

There will be only one official checkpoint for boat check-in in the morning and one official check-in point in the afternoon. That checkpoint is the host marina. Failure to go through boat checkout in the morning or failure to check-in at the official checkpoint in the afternoon will result in losing credit for that day’s catch. All competitors and their boats must be in full compliance with tournament rules before they can depart from the official checkpoint in the morning.

Live Fish

Every effort must be made to keep bass alive through the use of a functioning aerated live-well. The use of live-well additives is encouraged to promote the healthy return of bass to their natural habitat. Bass must be alive to be weighed–in; no dead fish will be accepted at weigh–ins for Big Bass. Dead fish weighed in at the Shootout and Pro/Am events will be penalized by .25 pound (4 oz).

Ties

Prizes will be split equally in case of a tie. Teams that Tie for the overall big fish award will have the opportunity to decide if the they would like to have a one (1) hour fish-Off or to split the grand prize equally (All Teams involved will have 15 minutes to make that decision. If a decision can’t be made awards will be split equally. If teams are still tied after one (1) hour fish–off awards will be split equally.)

Truth verification test

Each contestant agrees to submit, by signature on the release form, to a polygraph or voice stress analysis examination and to abide by its conclusion. Failure to pass an examination will

result in disqualification. Truth verification tests will be used at the Tournament Director’s sole discretion, and the determination of the meaning of the results will be made solely by the Tournament Director.

Insurance

Watercraft liability insurance, with coverage in reasonable amounts, is required of all contestants in the Tournament.

Pro/Am Format

This is a 2-Day Shared Weight tournament where a Pro – angler and Co-angler are partnered together via a random draw. Entry fee for the Pro angler is $600 and the Co angler is $300. Pro and Co anglers are paired with new partners each day of the event. Both anglers in the same boat work together to catch the best 5 bass limit. Each day, the Pro and Co angler will share the combined weight of those fish regardless of who catches the fish. No more than 5 fish can be brought to the weigh in. The Pro-angler will make all decisions on where to fish and the Pro-angler will run the boat and trolling motor. Only in an emergency or if the Pro-angler agrees a Co-angler may run the boat and trolling motor. In order for a big fish to be weighed anglers must declare if the Pro or Co angler caught it at the bump tank prior to weighing that fish. Both the Pro and Co angler have the opportunity to win big fish awards. The event will pay awards for the top 20 Pro’s and Co’s with a 100 boat field.

Boat Failures Pro/Am

Co‐Anglers, may at registration, declare their boat available as an option in case an extra boat is needed by a Pro whose boat has broken down. If needed, the co‐angler drives the boat at the direction of the Pro, but the Pro may operate the trolling motor and retains the right to select the waters to be fished. Should no other boat be located, both the Pro and Co angler partner shall be retired from the tournament. Any “official catch” weighed in previously will be theirs to keep.

Big Bass Tournament format/rules

This is a two-day Team Big Bass tournament. Entry fee is $250/Team. Prior to weighing your hourly catch a team member is required to bring their boat number to the weigh in stand. Failure to follow these instructions could result in a lost opportunity to weigh that fish in for that hour. Weigh in Times for Big Bass: Day 1 Weigh-ins go as follows: 1st Hour 8:00 am to 8:59 am, 2nd 9:00 to 9:59 am, 3rd 10:00 to 10:59 am, 4th 11:00 to 11:59 am, 5th 12:00 to 12:59 pm, 6th 1:00 to 1:59 pm, and 7th 2:00 to 2:59 pm, 8th 3:00 to 4 pm. Day 2 Weigh-ins go as follows: 1st Hour 8:00 to 8:59 am, 2nd 9:00 to 9:59 am, 3rd 10:00 to 10:59 am, 4th 11:00 to 11:59 am, 5th 12:00 to 12:59 pm, 6th 1:00 to 2 pm. This is an Open Tournament where a team may consist of one or two contestants in the same boat. The only exception this doesn’t apply to is when one or two team contestants brings a child less than 12 years of age in the boat. No team may weigh more than one bass per weigh-in session. Only one bass per weigh-in is allowed. Bass entered into each hourly session do not carry forward. Each team’s biggest bass is entered into the overall standings. Bass may be weighed in by either of the team contestants. No more than three (3) bass in possession at any time during official tournament hours. Biggest bass for each hour wins a cash award and overall biggest bass gets a cash award. With a 100 boat field, the largest bass caught will receive $10K. The Big Bass event is Phoenix First Flight sanctioned.

Special Provisions: At the Big Bass event anglers are able to have one child with them as long as they are accompanied by a parent. That parent must sign a release of liability for the child in order to fish the event. For the Pro/Am event any angler that is 16 to 17 years old must have a parent sign a release of liability for that angler to compete and fish in the event.

Shootout Tournament Format/Rules

This is a 5 Fish, 2 Day Team Tournament. Entry Fee is $300. Teams will consist of 1 or 2 people. The Top 10 teams with the largest 5 fish weights from Saturday will advance to Sunday for a 10 team Shootout. Big fish from each day will win a cash award. There is no-off limits other than after Saturday’s tournament time. Biggest Bass from each day will be awarded a cash prize. The Shootout tournament is Phoenix First Flight sanctioned.

ACCIDENT WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM

ALL 2024 LIMIT OUT PERFORMANCE MARINE INC EVENTS

 

I HEREBY ASSUME ALL OF THE RISKS OF PARTICIPATING AND/OR VOLUNTEERING IN THE 2024 LIMIT OUT PERFORMANCE MARINE INC EVENTS, including by way of example and not limitation, any risks that may arise from negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons or entities being released, from dangerous or defective equipment or property owned, maintained, or controlled by them, or because of their possible liability without fault.

 

I certify that I am physically fit, have sufficiently prepared or trained for participation in these events, and have not been advised to not participate by a qualified medical professional. I certify that there are no health-related reasons or problems which preclude my participation in these events.

 

I acknowledge that this Accident Waiver and Release of Liability From will be used by the event holders, sponsors, and organizers of the activity or event(s) in which I any participate, and that it will govern my actions and responsibilities at said events.

 

In consideration of my application and permitting me to participate in this these events, I hereby take action for myself, my executors, administrators, heirs, next of kin, successors, and assigns as follows:

  1. I WAIVE, RELEASE, AND DISCHARGE from any and all liability, including but not limited to, liability arising from the negligence or fault of the entities or persons released, for my death, disability, personal injury, property damage, property theft, or actions of any kind which may hereafter occur to me including my traveling to and from these events, THE FOLLOWING ENTITIES OR PERSONS: Limit Out Performance Marine, Inc, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives, and agents, the activity or event holders, activity or event sponsors, activity or event volunteers;
  2. I INDEMNIFY, HOLD HARMLESS, AND PROMISE NOT TO SUE the entities or persons mention in this paragraph from any and all liabilities or claims made as a result of participation in these events, whether caused by the negligence of release or otherwise.

I acknowledge that Limit Out Performance Marine, Inc, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, representatives, and agents are NOT responsible for the errors, omissions, acts, or failures to act of any party or entity conduction as specific events or activities on behalf of Limit Out Performance Marine, Inc.

I acknowledge that these activities or events may involve a test of a person’s physical and mental limits and may carry with it the potential for death, serious injury, and property loss. The risks may include, but are not limited to, those caused by terrain, facilities, temperature, weather, condition of participants, equipment, vehicular traffic, actions of other people including, but not limited to, participants, volunteers, spectators, coaches, event officials, and event monitors, and/or producers of the event, and lack of hydration. These risks are not only inherent to participants, but are also present for volunteers.

I hereby consent to receive medical treatment which may be deemed advisable in the event of injury, accident, and/or illness during these activities or events.

I understand that at these events or related activities, I may be photographed. I agree to allow my photo, video, or film likeness to be used for any legitimate purpose by the event holders, producers, sponsors, organizers, and assigns.

The Accident Waiver and Release of Liability shall be construed broadly to provide a release and waiver to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law.

I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE READ THIS DOCUMENT, AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENT. I AM AWARE THE THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY FORM LIMIT OUT PERFORMANCE MARINE, INC AND ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND I SIGN IT OF MY OWN FREE WILL.

 

 

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Print Participant’s Name                               Age        Signature (if under 18 years old                                  Date

Parent or guardian must also sign)

 

 

PARENT / GUARDIAN WAIVER FOR MINORS (Under 18 years old)

 

The undersigned parent and natural guardian does hereby represent that he/she is, in fact, acting in such capacity, has consented to his/her child or ward’s participation in the activity or event, and has agreed individually and on behalf of the child or ward, to the terms of the accident waiver and release of liability set forth above. The undersigned parent or guardian further agrees to save and hold harmless and indemnify each and all of the parties referred to above from all liability, loss, cost, claim, or damage whatsoever which may be imposed upon said parties because of any defect in or lack of such capacity to so act and release said parties on behalf of the minor and the parents or legal guardian.

 

 

 

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Print Participant’s Name                               Age        Signature of Parent or Guardian                                Date