CLUB FLORIDA

   MISSION:

 

Club Florida is a boater’s only bass fishing club. Participants/Members may fish as non-boater’s, but those arrangements must be made between the boater and the non-boater. Tournament rules are included herein with special notations. It is each participant’s responsibility to read all items before entering. Rules will apply in all events unless superseded by federal, state or local laws. The club reserves the right to refuse any membership or tournament entry fees for any reason.

 

   MEMBERSHIP:

 

The non-refundable membership fee is $60.00 per person per year. Memberships are from January through December. All events are open to members, in good standing with the club. A guest is allowed to fish with a member. The Guest must pay the full entry fee for event. Each Guest is only allowed to fish two events per year. Membership fee structure:

$30 Club Championship Fund

$20 Big Fish of the Year Fund

$10 Admin Fee (website, paper, etc)

For members that join AFTER the June event, Membership dues will be $30 for the remainder of the year. This will cover Big Fish for the Year and Admin Fee. Since the participant will not be able to qualify for the Club Championship, that portion of the dues will be waived.

 

  NEW MEMBERS:

 

Potential members are allowed to fish their first event without being a member. If potential members are Sponsored by a current member, the potential member can fish by themselves, in their own boat during the event. If the potential member isn’t Sponsored by a current member, they must fish with a current member. Any potential member must receive a Majority vote from current members to obtain membership.

 

    SPORTSMANSHIP:

 

Each participant is expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, safety, courtesy and conservation. Any participant found in violation of these rules or any federal, state, or local laws may be disqualified. The use, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages during tournament hours, which conclude upon the completion of payout, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from current and future club events. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those drugs 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 club tournaments. No alcoholic beverages or prohibited drugs shall be allowed in the boat during competition

 

   Club Florida Rules Bylaws 10122025

 

 Hours or when in the weigh-in area. Any ticketed violation of State law will result in participant’s DQ (i.e. No Wake violation, Bag Limit violation).

 

     ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATION:

 

Participation is open to Members, Potential Members and Guest who are legally allowed to fish in Florida. Must be 18 years of age or older to operate vessel.

 

   SAFETY:

 

Safety is of the utmost importance, and anglers must recognize that; fishing from an open boat is inherently dangerous, and as a result the club seeks to limit those hazards with reasonable safety rules

1. Safe boat conduct and speed limits, where applicable, must always be observed by competitors. Anglers must realize that riding in an open boat is inherently dangerous, and all safety precautions must be adhered to.

2. The club may delay, shorten, restrict tournament waters, or cancel the start of an event due to bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the participants.

3. In the event of an emergency, participants should call 911 immediately and then notify a club member. Participants may leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather conditions when danger may be imminent, at which time all fishing must cease.

  

   BOAT & HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS:

 

Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. All boats must contain a properly aerated livewell space to maintain a live limit catch of bass for each participant onboard. All boats must have an operating kill switch that must be attached to the operator at all times when the outboard motor is in gear. Violation of any of the above rules may be cause for disqualification. If running lights are not working you will be held at take off. The club reserve the right to refuse entry to any boats that does not meet tournament standards. No airboats, canoes, pontoon boats, or deck boats are permitted. No mud drive style motors are permitted in any club event. All boats used in club events must be in compliance with insurance requirements.

 

   INSURANCE:

 

All boats used in club events must have a mandatory minimum of $300,000.00 liability insurance. This is the user/owners responsibility. Proof of the required insurance must be provided before membership is obtained. Participants should have a copy of insurance readily available for random checks. Failure to supply necessary liability insurance coverage will result in disqualification from the event.

Club Florida Rules Bylaws 10122025

 

   FISH LIMITS & PENALTIES:

 

All participants 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. Tournament permits will be pulled for all events, where applicable. There is no minimum length requirement. A tournament limit will be (5) fish. The club reserves the right to adjust fish limit due to extreme conditions (i.e., heat), or other sanctions/changes from the State, in order to promote better fish care. Participants must not have more than a tournament limit in the live well at any time. It is the participants responsibility to ask about bag limit at each event.

In the event that permits are not available, state and/or local rules will apply

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 a quarter pound (.25 pounds) per dead fish.

Unless otherwise stated, ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN WEIGH BAGS FOR TRANSPORTING FISH TO WEIGH-IN.

 

   TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: 

 

You may not fish on or from any structure above the deck. All fishing must be done from boat deck. Only artificial lures may be used. No wading or trolling is allowed. All fish must be caught from the boat. All traditional rods & reels are allowed including fly rods and flipping poles. Only one rod and reel may be used at any given time. No rod may be left unattended with line or lure in water.

 

   LIFE JACKETS & KILL SWITCH:

 

Life Jackets or Vest must be worn any time the outboard motor is in gear. Kill switch will be connected to boat operator any time the outboard motor is running and in gear. “Fanny pack” life jackets are not allowed.

 

  TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES:

 

Monthly entry fees are $60. $10 of the entry will go towards the event Big Fish pot, $10.00 to the ANGLER OF THE YEAR FUND and $40 to the event payout. Participants that pay for events and do not fish the event will receive the same amount of points as the participant that receives the least and will receive credit for that tournament towards the championship (these situations must be approved prior to the event and no member shall pay for an entire season and not fish just to qualify for the Club Championship under any circumstances. To receive credit, entry must be paid for prior to the event. There will be no retro-paying after an event has passed to receive credit). Tournament payouts will be 1 in 5 places. CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP entry fee will be $60; $40 to event payout and $20.00 will go to big fish pot ($10 each day). The payout structure will be the same as monthly events, but Club Championship Fund will be added to the normal payout.

Club Florida Rules Bylaws 10122025

 

   SCORING SYSTEM:

 

Each participants weight will be measured in pounds and hundredths of ounces. The highest weight will be 1st Place and receive 300 Points for the event. Each descending weight will receive (5) points less than the previous weight. All participants that do not weigh fish will receive (5) points less than the last participant that weighs fish. In the case of a tie, the participant’s biggest fish will be used to break the tie. If the participant’s biggest fish doesn’t break the tie, the money will be added together and split evenly between the participants.

 

   EVENT BIG FISH:

 

Big Fish must be weighed and released alive in order to count towards Event Big Fish pot. A dead big fish is not eligible to win. Standard dead fish penalty of .25 pounds will be assessed to total weight of bag as outlined above. Only one fish from a participants bag will count towards big fish, however, a participant can weigh multiple fish to establish big bass for their bag if needed. In the case there is a tie for Big Fish, the participants overall weight will determine the winner. If the overall weight doesn’t break the tie, the money will be split evenly between the participants.

 

    CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FUND:

 

This fund is added to the payout at the Club Championship. Payback is 100% and will be added to the normal payout structure for the tournament. To qualify for the Club Championship, members must participate in 60% of the events. Points will not be awarded for the Club Championship, so it does not count toward Angler or the Year.

 

   BIG FISH OF THE YEAR FUND:

 

This fund is paid to the angler that weighs in the biggest bass (heaviest) for the 11 regular season events. The one time fee is assessed in each Membership Fee. Payback is 100%. Big Fish must be alive to count. A dead fish will not count towards any Big Fish prizes. There will not be a tie breaker for this pot, in the event there is a tie for the Big Fish of the Year, the pot will be split evenly amongst the participants.

 

   ANGLER OF THE YEAR FUND:

 

The Angler of the Year Fund is funded from monthly event entry fees. Payback is 100% and is paid to the Top 3 finishers in AOY points. Payout structure will be 60/30/10. The Angler of the Year points is accumulative from ten (10) monthly events throughout the year. In the event an angler participates in all eleven (11) monthly events, the 10 highest points will be counted. Any ties will be decided by the participants overall weight for the year. The Club Championship does not count toward Angler of the Year standings.

Club Florida Rules Bylaws 10122025

 

   PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:

 

During the competition days, participants must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Participants are allowed to leave the boat to retrieve a lure. All fishing by that participant must cease until the participant is back in the boat. Only then may another cast be made. You must fish water that is available to all competitors. In the event of a needed restroom break or a refueling situation at a marina gas pump, contestants are allowed to leave the boat, at which time all fishing must cease. No fishing within 50 yards of any boat anchored, with trolling motor up unless permission has been received from that boats captain. No fishing in areas designated off limits by governmental agencies or tournament officials. Waters deemed off limits by authorities or tournament officials should be treated like a wall. No boats or casting behind that boundary while fishing. There are NO off limit days for practice.

All officially marked “No Fishing” and “No Trespassing” signage must be followed.

 

    EVENT HOURS:

 

Events will begin at safe light. Weigh-in will typically be 3:00 pm, but may be adjusted. It is the participant’s responsibility to ask about weigh-in time at each event. Safe light will be determined by tournament director. There will be one designated ramp for check in. All participants must be at the designated ramp by the stated check in time. Fishing is prohibited after the weigh-in time. It is encouraged to arrive early for weigh-in. Break down, acts of God, weather, lock malfunction, blockage of waterways by natural or unnatural causes, etc. that prevent participants from making it to the weigh-in area on time will not be granted an extension for weigh-in time.

 

    EMERGENCY OR BREAK DOWN:

 

In the event of an emergency, competitors should call 911 immediately and then notify a club member. In the event of a mechanical failure (boat is inoperable) anglers may have their catch counted by one of the following methods ONLY: 1) Boat is towed to the weigh-in site by another boat; 2) Participate may take their fish (clearly marked) and board another competitors’ boat only for a ride to weigh-in. Under no circumstances should any participant submit their catch to any other person. Participants must always be in the possession of their catch. Participants must not allow any bass caught by them to be counted on the score of another competitor. Mechanical failures do not extend established weigh-in times.