Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 39, September 26, 2024
(a) Each
individual or organization desiring to conduct a registered and permitted
weigh-in black bass fishing tournament that allows the use of the tournament
black bass pass shall apply to the secretary on a form provided by the
department. These tournaments may be held only within the period beginning
September 1 and extending through June 15.
(b) Each application shall contain the
following information:
(1) The name, address,
and phone number of the individual or the contact member of the organization
desiring to conduct the tournament;
(2) the location of the proposed tournament
and a copy of the written permission of the facility manager authorizing the
tournament location and the date or dates;
(3) the date or dates and the times that the
tournament is to be conducted;
(4)
a description of the equipment used to conduct weigh-in and release procedures;
(5) a map containing the proposed
location of the weigh-in and release sites; and
(6) other relevant information as required by
the secretary or the secretary's designee.
(c) Upon approval of the application by the
secretary and before the start of the tournament, the individual or
organization conducting the tournament shall provide the following items to
each registered tournament participant:
(1) A
department-provided, waterproof tournament participant card;
(2) a department-provided catch-reporting
form;
(3) department-provided
tournament guidelines; and
(4) one
or more vessel decals or signs that clearly state that each individual in the
vessel is participating in a registered and permitted tournament.
(d) Each individual or
organization conducting the tournament shall ensure that all of the following
minimum requirements are met when conducting weigh-in procedures:
(1) One individual shall provide work crew
support for each 10 registered anglers.
(2) One weigh-in tank filled with an
electrolyte chemical-water solution and fitted with recirculation and aeration
accessories shall be maintained for each 25 registered anglers.
(3) If the water temperature at the
tournament location is 75 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler, the water contained in
the weigh-in tank shall be maintained at the same temperature as that of the
tournament location water.
(4) If
the water temperature at the tournament location is warmer than 75 degrees
Fahrenheit, the water in the weigh-in tank shall be maintained at a temperature
that is between five and 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the tournament
location water but shall not exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit at any time.
(5) Not more than four anglers
shall be in the weigh-in line at any one time.
(6) Each weigh-in bag containing water from
the well of the vessel shall be reinforced, reusable, and capable of holding up
to 15 pounds of live fish and two gallons of water.
(7) The weigh-in site shall meet the
following requirements:
(A) Be located near
the vessel mooring site and the release site, vehicle, or vessel; and
(B) be located at all times under
a portable awning, in an event tent, or in the shade.
(e) Each individual or
organization conducting the tournament shall ensure that all of the following
minimum requirements are met when conducting the release procedures:
(1) The direct release of fish into the
tournament location water after the weigh-in shall not be permitted.
(2) If the tournament is conducted with
release tubes, vehicles, or vessels, the holding tanks shall contain a onehalf
percent noniodized salt solution.
(3) If the tournament is conducted without
release tubes, vehicles, or vessels, the fish shall be dipped, for a period of
time ranging from 10 seconds to 15 seconds before release, in a three percent
noniodized salt solution having the same temperature as that of the water in
the weigh-in tank.
(4) The release
site shall meet the following conditions:
(A)
Be located in water reaching at least three feet in depth with good circulation
and a hard bottom; and
(B) be
located away from vessel traffic and public-use vessel ramps.
(f) Each registered and
permitted tournament participant shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Provide all data related to the
participant's tournament catch to the tournament organizer, on a form provided
by the department;
(2) place at
least one tournament-authorized decal or sign on the participant's vessel used
in the tournament;
(3) possess a
tournament identification card and tournament black bass pass at all times
while participating in the tournament;
(4) ensure that each well in the
participant's vessel used in the tournament is properly working and contains an
electrolyte chemical-water solution;
(5) be able to cull fish after reaching the
daily creel limit; and
(6) ensure
that the participant's vessel used in the tournament is cleaned before and
after the tournament in compliance with department guidelines regarding the
prevention of aquatic nuisance species.
(g) Each individual or organization
conducting a black bass fishing tournament shall provide all catch and
mortality data for the tournament to the department within 30 days following
the conclusion of the tournament, on a department-provided form.
(h) In addition to any other penalty
prescribed by law, an individual or organization that fails to comply with the
provisions of this regulation shall not be eligible to apply to conduct a
registered and permitted black bass fishing tournament for at least one year
from the date of noncompliance.
(i) The provisions of paragraph (d)(7)(A) may
be waived by the secretary within the period beginning September 1 and
extending through June 15 if the proximity proposed to the release site does
not pose an inordinate risk to the wildlife resource and all other requirements
of this regulation are met.
