Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 39, September 26, 2024
(a) Each individual or
organization conducting a weigh-in black bass fishing 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 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.
(8) Only fish that meet the special length limit
for the specific body of water where the weigh-in tournament is being conducted
shall be weighed within the period beginning June 16 and ending August 31.
(b) 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 one-half percent
noniodized salt solution.
(3) If the
tournament is conducted without release tubes, vehicles, or vessels, the fish shall
be dipped, for a period 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.
(c) Each tournament participant shall meet the
following requirements:
(1) Ensure that each well
in the participant's vessel used in the tournament is properly working and contains
an electrolyte chemical-water solution; and
(2) 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 invasive
species.
(d) The provisions
of paragraph (a)(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.
