1.  Open to all dues paying members of the Maryland Deaf Bassmasters.
2.  Members must be Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Must be over 18 years old.

1.  Tournament fees are 25 dollars per member. Five dollars extra for lunker prize is an option.
2. In the event of a tournament ends with no Bass caught, all monies paid, will put into club account. Same goes for the cancellation due to the inclement weather and other unexpected conditions. This will be determined by the Tournament Master. However lunker monies will be returned to the members.
3.  In each tournament, the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) will get 80% of the monies and the rest (20%) will go to the club. In case of one winner, he/she will get the 1st place monies plus 25% from 2nd and 3rd place winners' payout combined and then the rest will go to the club.

1. All tournaments are from 7:00am to 3:00pm and 6:00am to 2:00pm. Usually start by the sunrise or by the weather condition permitted to be determined by the Tournament Master.
2. All tournament members must meet at tournament site 15 minutes in before the time begins, in order to pay tournament fees, draw partners, boat inspection, etc.
3. All boats will be in a water and be ready to blast off at 6am or 7am (according
   to tournament schedule). If a member arrives late after blast off, then he/she will not participate in the tournament.
4. All members must be prepared to arrive at the boat launch before the tournament ends, depending on the tournament schedule. Then the weigh in will be proceed accordingly.

 D. Boat Inspections:

1. Boat inspection by state laws will be applied to all boats. They will be supplied with as following:

   a. Kill switch
   b. Life jacket for each person on board.
   c. One throw cushion
   d. Fire extinguisher
   e. Horn or whistle
   f.  Emergency flares
   g. Live well, workable and aerated
   h. Maryland State fishing license / Bay Sport license          

If a boater fails to meet these criteria, he/she will not able to use his/her boat. However he/she will be able to participate with a license as a non boater.

1. Artificial lures only will be used.
   
2. Trolling is permitted only with electric trolling motor on front or back of the
   boat.
   
3. Respect your fellow members. Keep 20 yards away; don’t get too close to another boat or pass too close while fishing when anchored.
   

  F. Disposition of Bass:

1. Must keep all Bass alive.
2. Only Black Bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth and Spotted Bass) will be scored in the official weights.
3. State law will determine the size of Bass.
4. All Bass caught, will be return in the water known as “Catch and Release”. It will be effective at all tournaments.
5. If dead Bass brought to weigh-in, will be penalized by 4 ounces from the actual weight.
6. Scoring will be done with the total weights only.
7. Fish will be measured with mouth closed to the end part of tail (tail may be slightly pinched).  

  G. Weigh-In:

1. Weigh-in will start at designated area of parking lot, to be announced at the start of tournament.
2. Weigh-in will begin when all boats are presented and account for.
3. A member may avoid disqualification for unknown causes such as breakdown
   of outboard engine, injury, illness to a boater or partner, sudden bad weather
   which strikes rapidly, and other unexpected causes. Tournament Master,
   Assistant Tournament Master and if necessary, the President will make a
   decision.

  H. Safety:

1. All members must wear approved life jackets while gas motors are running during tournament time.             
2. A boater must wear a kill switch at all times.  

  I. Sportsmanship:

1. All members are expected to display a good sportsmanship at all times and be willing to help the other fellow members when needed such as launching and hauling the boat. Accept the results of the weigh-in and treat this tournament as a fun and memorable moment.

  J. Pairing of Boaters and Non Boaters:

1. Tournament Master is responsible for drawing non boater's name to pair with the boater.
2. No favoritism is allowed.
3. No member can go with the same boater, more than once in a year, unless the      scheduled non boater does not show up. If that is the case, then he may ride with the same boater. This will be determined by the Tournament Master.
4. For those boats without livewell, fish must be kept with a stringer.
5. Sitting preference is negotiated between a boater and non boater.
6. Only two members per boat during the tournament.

   If there are more nonboaters than boaters, then the Tournament Master will ask for a boater's approval to add a third person on his/her boat, depending on the size of a boat.

   If there are more boaters than non boaters, then he/she can fish alone, to be determined by the Tournament Master.

7. Non boaters are expected to pay 25 dollars for gas and oil for the boat plus half             ramp fee to a boater. If a boater has two non boaters on his/her boat, then he/she will decide how much each of them will pay him/her.           

  K. Code of Conduct:

1. In the event of any unsportsmanship, a member will be disqualified on the day of the tournament immediately. Unacceptable behaviors are as followed:
         a. Angry or violent toward any other members or officers of Maryland                  Deaf Bassmasters.
         b. Cheats with weights.
         c. Speeding in no wake zones.
         d. Running too close to swimmers or wading fisherman.
         e. Breaking local laws and receiving a citiation from the marine or local                   police.
          f.  Not respecting 20 yards space from a member's boat.
          g. Not wearing a life jacket while the boat motor running.
                           
2. Special Attention: Drinking alcohol beverages will not be tolerated at all times during the tournaments including weigh-in. If caught, will be disqualified with no points earned and no fish weights certified on the day of tournament. There is no appeal on violations of alcoholic beverage consumption.