BASS Electric Series Rules

Updated 18th January 2022

BASS Electric Rules

Entry Fee:     

$80 (GST included)- BASS Electric Qualifier- ($40 per angler will be paid back in prize money on a 1:5 ratio)

Pre Entry Requirements

• All anglers participating in BASS Electric events must be current, financial members of ABT (at Tournament Director’s discretion for first time competitors).
• All BASS Electric rule enquiries can be directed to ABT on 1800 228 244 b/h. Event enquiries can be directed to the Tournament Directors as listed in the calendar.
• BASS Electric events are open to all competitors, but those under 16 years of age must have consent from their parents and be under the control of a Guardian on-site.
• The number of competitors fishing from a boat must not exceed the craft’s safety requirements. During competition hours the craft must be not be propelled with a combustion engine.
• All boats or kayaks must have adequate facilities to keep bass alive. Livewells must be at least 60 litres capacity, have a functioning aeration or recirculation system and be insulated if above deck (no keeper nets).
• All anglers must carry a PFD Level 100 onboard. In NSW anglers fishing in vessels under 4.8m must wear this PFD at all times if they are the lone occupant in the vessel.
• BASS Electric events have no cap on numbers of participants.

Payouts

• Anglers will fish for cash and will be paid out be paid back in prize money on a 1:5 ratio, plus Big Bass prize.
• Trophies awarded to first place.
• Badges awarded to top ten and Big Bass.
• Prize packs will be random drawn amongst non cash winners.

Fishing Times

• On the Tournament day, anglers are only to fish during the start to finish time. Anglers may not “practice fish” on the tournament day.
• Anglers must pre-register by 5pm on the Thursday before the tournament day.
• Competitors start at the allocated time, and after being checked for safety gear (lifejacket) and an empty, functioning live well or fish holding system and receiving their key tag are then fish for bass in the allocated event time. Anglers return their key tag to the key tag board at the conclusion of the event session as outlined during the event briefing.
• The finish area (which was the start area in the morning) is where your bass will be weighed and released. Note: you must return to the allocated Start/Finish location in your vessel and get your key tag on the board by the allocated finish time.
• Results will be posted on the ABT website following the event.
• Final presentations will be as soon as possible after the final angler’s fish are weighed and the final results are posted.

Fishing Rules

• Anglers must fish within the current Freshwater Fisheries guidelines, and be in possession of the permits or licences demanded by the waterway in the state being fished.
• If it is deemed by the waterway that no combustion motors are to be allowed on the impoundment, then you will not be allowed to start if there is one attached to your boat.
• Anglers may fish any line class with spin, baitcast or fly-fishing tackle.
• Long lining is permitted in ABT BASS Electric events, but only when it does not interfere with other angles.  It should only be done so with the aid of electric motor while the reel is disengaged. The reel cannot be engaged and a retrieve started until the momentum of the boat has ceased. Doing so would constitute trolling which is prohibited in all ABT events.
• Lure and fly CASTING only is permitted. Trolling and bait fishing is not permitted.
• Fishing is NOT permitted in any defined non-boating or non-fishing areas (eg. dam wall exclusion zones).
• Only Australian bass are eligible for points.
• Fish must be caught during the designated times and kept alive in a functioning livewell (60L)
• No more than two bass per angler are allowed to be kept at any one time. If you already have two fish and catch another, immediately release a fish.
• Anglers cannot portage their craft (boat or kayak) up through any rapids at any arena.   Craft cannot be dragged over land to take shortcuts during river rounds.
• Fish condition- All fish presented at the weigh-in are expected to be in good healthy condition with no cloudy eyes or red fins (stressed) and are expected to be able to swim away on release. The tournament organiser has the right to refuse any fish in poor condition. If anglers repeatedly present fish in poor condition further action may be taken.  Dead fish, or those unable to swim away from the release point (as deemed by ABT officials) will not score points. At all times, bass are the responsibility of individual anglers.  Anglers observed not displaying best practice fish care may be disqualified
• Sharing weight- if any 2 anglers are fishing out of one boat and decide to combine their catch to favour one or the other angler the catch of both anglers will be disqualified as this is not a teams event.
• In accordance with angling etiquette, boats should remain a cast apart (30metres) while fishing.
• Any complaints regarding a breech of the rules must be addressed to the on-site Tournament Director within 24hrs of specific incidents. Penalties for rule and conduct violations may include the following:

1. Disqualification of catch for the day
2. Disqualification from the tournament

iii. Disqualification from future ABT events

• Any concerns regarding clarification of rules can be discussed with ABT officials BEFORE the start of the tournament.

Code of Conduct

• During fishing sessions, no mobile phones or radios should be used, except in an emergency or to communicate with ABT staff.
• All anglers should bring their own PFD to tournaments.
• Boats should remain a cast apart (30metres) while fishing.
• ABT sportsmanship would dictate that care of fellow competitors is of utmost importance. If an angler or boat is in distress it is expected that other competitors will assist. Remember that safety is more important than your day’s catch.
• ABT will encourage Fisheries and Boating Officers to attend all ABT tournaments to police safety regulations, registration, relevant boating legislation as well as alcohol and drug laws.

Sportsmanship

All competitors are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, to ABT, ABT’s sponsors, the sport of fishing and ABT’s efforts to promote the sport. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the ABT events.
• Consumption and/or possession of alcoholic beverages or any kind of mind-altering substance during registration or tournament hours extending through the weigh-in procedure.
• Abuse of, or addiction to, mind-altering substances.
• Conviction of a felony within the past 36 months.
• Suspension/disqualification, probation or ban from any tournament or fishing organization.
• Any 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 the first sentence of this section. This includes verbal communication and social media.

In case of any conduct not complying with the standards outlined above, ABT shall have the right to refuse an application to compete, to deny a confirmed application to compete by returning the entry fee (minus deposit) or to disqualify a contestant.

Points Scoring

• Each angler may bring in two bass to the weigh-in. Place these in the weigh bag and present to the weighmaster.
• Fish smaller than the 300mm to the fork of the tail are ineligible for weigh-in.
• Dead fish, or those unable to swim away from the release point (as deemed by the Tournament Director) will not be weighed.
• Boats that do not have their key tags on the board by the allotted finish time will be penalised at the rate of 50 grams per minute per angler. If a boat returns later than 15 minutes after weigh in time anglers will be penalized 750 grams and all fish caught will not be weighed.
• Boats can only weigh in during the allocated weigh in time as determined during the event briefing.
• Ties will be settled by countback. The angler with the largest and subsequent largest fish etc will gain the higher place. If anglers cannot be split, they will share the placing.
• The top ten anglers from each event will receive a prize badges and first place will receive a trophy.
• Any late penalties will be deducted from Big Bass prize calculations as well as the overall bag.

Angler of the Year 

• Angler of the Year is calculated on an anglers best three events (Qualifying rounds and Grand Final) for the year. Ties are reconciled based on the angler with highest placing in the final qualifying round. The angler with the higher event placing with receiving the higher AOY placing.

BASS Electric Grand Final

Any angler who fish one qualifying rounds in the 2023 BASS Electric Series will qualify for the BASS Electric Grand Final.