NEVER ON SUNDAY
RULES AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE 1
MEMBERSHIP:
Individuals desiring membership in the Never On Sunday Bass Club shall complete an application which will presented to the club membership for possible approval. Membership approval will be a majority vote of club members. If approved, membership will be awarded upon receipt of annual dues, but the new member will be on probation until completing three tournaments. If for any reason the new member does not successfully complete the probation their dues will be refunded -- dues will not be refunded after fishing three tournaments. Current members will be considered in good standing after receipt of their dues.
All members should pay their dues prior to the first tournament although there are no restrictions as to how many tournaments an individual may fish prior to paying dues. However, to be eligible to fish the free tournament at the end of the year an individual must fish eight (8) tournaments as a member. Non-members will be charged an additional $10.00 tournament fee.
ARTICLE 2
CONDUCT:
Any member whose actions discredit the club or whose actions are not consistent with club policies may be suspended from all club activities until the next club meeting. Club members will decide, by a majority vote, as to retaining or suspending the individual in question.
ARTICLE 3
MEETINGS:
All meetings will be scheduled by the club president, time and location will be announced. All members are encouraged to attend as all matters brought before the club requiring a vote will be determined by the majority vote of those present.
ARTICLE 4
OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT
Provides leadership for the club and presides at club meetings. He has the authority to make decisions regarding the club if time constraint preclude scheduling a club meeting. Votes at the discretion of membership and is member of tournament grievance committee.
VICE-PRESIDENT
Assists the president in club matters when required and presides in his absence. Assists the president with the program for club meetings. Assists tournament Director with tournament weigh-in activities as required. Coordinates special club activities and is a member of tournament grievance committee.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Coordinates club tournaments schedule. Responsible for weigh-in activities, which includes maintaining records as to numbers and weight of fish caught at each tournament. Member of tournament grievance committee.
SECRETARY
Responsible for club correspondence and recording the minutes of each meeting.
TREASURER
Responsible for all financial activities within the club. Collects tournament fees and distributes prize monies for each tournament.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Coordinates all public relation activities for the club. Keeps members informed of club news and tournament results.
ARTICLE 5
STANDING RULES:
1. There will be a three member tournament grievance committee. President, Vice-President, Tournament Director, which will decide the appeals of club members on any rule judgment against them. In the event the grieving member is one of the committee members the Treasurer will sit on the committee in his place.
2. Club dues are $50.00 per year.
3. Only those members who have paid dues (current members) will be permitted to vote on any issue before the club requiring a vote of the membership.
4. No alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs will permitted, consumed, or used during the time frame of the tournament.
5. To be eligible to fish the "Masters Tournament", a member must fish at least 8 Tournaments. Of the 8, 4 Must be on the Eastern Shore and 4 on the Western Shore. NEW: A member that does not fish the 8 ( 4 and 4 ) required tournaments is not eligible. A member that qualifies for the Masters Tournament will reimburse the club for any missed tournaments, at the rate of $3.00 per tournament per member. Tournament site will be determined by a lottery draw the night before the scheduled tournament.
6. A tournament may be cancelled or postponed by the club President, Tournament Director, or by a 75% vote of the members. Cancellations normally are due to weather, lack of participation, or other safety reasons.
7. Any member who sees another member in distress must offer assistance as required.
8. All tournament participants must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest while the boat is on plane.
9. Individuals who have been club members for one (1) year are eligible to serve as club officers
10. Election of club officers will be held during the October meeting.
11. No boats will be permitted to fish the tournaments unless there is a member on board. A new member may join the day of the tournament, but not take a guest that day.
12. It will be a discretionary decision by the officers, for a member that is a tournament short of qualifying for the Masters to allow them to pay for the tournament missed, and proceed to the Masters.
13. No Active or licensed professional guides may participate in any Tournament.
14. All guests that fish 2 tournaments must become a member before they can fish a third tournament.
ARTICLE 6
TOURNAMENT RULES
Participation
in NOS events are completely voluntary by club members and guests. Pursuant to
liability waivers signed on the club membership application, all participants
shall hold club officers, representatives, agents, and other members harmless in
the event of damage, harm, loss of property, or any other liabilities. NOS
tournaments will last 8.5 hours each. All
participants will arrive 30 minutes prior to start time for pre-event briefings
and activities. In the event of a
possible delay, participant(s) must notify a club officer, or fellow member of
potential late arrival. If any
participant arrives after the official tournament kickoff, it is the
responsibility of the late participant(s) to check in with an officer or fellow
club member for a livewell check. Any
fish caught by the late participant(s) prior to the livewell check will be
disqualified from the tournament. Failure
to comply with late arrival rules stated herein may result from disqualification
from the tournament.
Tournament
Rules
1.
Absolutely no pre-fishing is allowed prior to the tournament by those who
arrive early on the day of the tournament.
2.
All boats must remain in ramp area or launch site until tournament
kickoff.
3.
All boats will leave the ramp or launch area in an orderly manner in
accordance with random numbers drawn by boat captains at the time of entry fee
payment. The launch will be
directed by the last boat in the launch sequence in increments of 30 seconds.
4.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass will be the only species that will qualify
for weigh-in at the tournaments. All
fish must be caught using artificial lures, and trolling is not permitted.
Maryland State Law shall govern minimum size limits of all fish.
5.
There will be a minimum of 100 feet between boats participants of the
tournament. If agreed to by the first boat to arrive at a location, the minimum
distance between boats may be reduced. All
boats passing through an occupied area will proceed with caution and courtesy,
thereby creating as little disturbance as possible. Minimum spacing disputes
must be brought to the attention of the Club Officers prior to weigh-in and
violation of this rule may result in disqualification from the tournament.
6.
All participants must stop fishing and all boats must be in the launch
area at official tournament stop time. The
following penalty will be enforced for those who are in violation:
The following penalties will
be enforced for those who arrive late for weigh-in:
1
to 5 minutes -- 1 pound deduction
6
to 10 minutes – 2 pound deduction
11
to 15 minutes – 3 pound deduction
15
or more minutes – Disqualification from tournament
7.
There will be a five fish limit per boat and no culling will be permitted
at the ramp. No more than five fish
can be kept in the livewell at any time.
a.
All fish will be measured from tip of nose to tail (the tail may be
pinched to obtain minimum length).
b.
Measurements at weigh-in will be on the tournament “Golden Rule” with the
Tournament Director making the final decision on fish minimum lengths and total
weight.
c.
Any member who attempts to weigh-in a fish less than the State minimum
length requirement loses his biggest fish.
8.
Any boat bringing in more than five fish will lose their biggest fish.
9.
Each dead fish brought to weigh-in will result in a 4 oz deduction per
dead fish.
10.
Every effort will be made to minimize the handling time of the fish
during weigh-in. All the fish must
be brought to the scales in an approved weigh-in bag.
Fish cannot be brought to weigh-in scales by hand.
11.
Any member who leaves the tournament early must inform another member or
place a note on the windshield of another member’s vehicle prior to early
departure.
12.
Members will clean boats and equipment after weigh-in is completed.
13. A “Team of the Year” award will be paid out to the team (consisting of a single or twosome) in the amount of $100 for the team with the highest cumulative point total after the calendar year. Points will be awarded to the teams as follows: 25 points for a first place tournament finish, 24 points for a second place finish , and 23 point for a third place finish and so on.
14. To be eligible to fish the "Masters Tournament", a member must fish at least 8 Tournaments. Of the 8, 4 Must be on the Eastern Shore and 4 on the Western Shore. NEW: A member that does not fish the 8 ( 4 and 4 ) required tournaments is not eligible. A member that qualifies for the Masters Tournament will reimburse the club for any missed tournaments, at the rate of $3.00 per tournament per member.
Example: You fish 12 of the 14 scheduled tournaments you will pay $6.00.
Violation of any of
rules 1, 7, and 8 will result in loss of big fish.
The big fish lost will not be eligible for the “Lunker” pool.
TOURNAMENT AND LUNKER FEES
Tournament
entry fee: $30 per boat (single or
twosome) for members; $10 additional per non-member
Lunker
fee- 100% payback (optional): $10
per person; both members of twosome team must participate or decline to
participate collectively.
Tournament
pay-out:
5
or less boats: first and second places only (60% for first place; 30% for second
place; 10% club treasury)
6
or more boats: first, second, and third places
only (40% for first place; 30% for second place; 20% for third place, and 10%
club treasury)
Lunker
Payout:
Over 8 boats, there will be (2) Lunker Payouts.