Code of Maine Rules
09 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE
137 - DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE - GENERAL
Chapter 2 - Rules Pertaining to Commercial Fishing, Fish Culture and Fishing Derbies and Tournaments
Section 137-2-05 - Regulations Pertaining to Bass Fishing Tournaments

Universal Citation: 09 ME Code Rules ยง 137-2-05

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. Scope

These rules shall be applicable only to one-day bass fishing tournaments as authorized by Title 12, M.R.S.A., Section 12505.

B. Definition of a Bass Club

For purposes of determining eligibility to apply for a permit to conduct a one-day bass tournament, a "bass club" is defined as any organized group of five or more bass anglers which is able to satisfy one of the following criteria.,

1. Provide current documentation of being a member club in Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society (BASS), Northeast Bass Association (NEBA) or other nationally recognized bass fishing organization; or

2. Provide a current listing of club officers and members along with a signed affidavit affirming that the group, although not affiliated with any nationally recognized bass fishing organization, is a bona-fide independent fishing club.

NOTE: It is a Class E crime to obtain a permit through fraud, misstatement or misrepresentation - Title 12 M.R.S.A., Section 10757.

C. Requirements (General)

1. Any bass club which sponsors a one-day bass tournament must submit a completed bass tournament questionnaire, when requested to do so by an agent of the Commissioner, provided that such request must be made in writing to the sponsoring club prior to the day of the tournament.

2. All anglers in the tournament must possess a valid Maine fishing license unless of an age where a license is not required.

3. Bass tournament boats must be specifically identified in a plainly visible manner and a roster of participants must be available at the location of the weigh-in.

4. Only one permit will be issued on a waterbody for a specific date.

5. All fishing will be restricted to artificial lures.

6. No weigh-in bass tournaments will be permitted on a body of water less than 500 surface acres.

7. A copy of the tournament permit and a copy of the rules affecting one-day tournaments shall be conspicuously displayed during each tournament at a location accessible to all tournament contestants.

8. There shall be a separate permit for Open and Club tournaments. Club tournaments are limited to a maximum participation of 15 boats; however, on waters exceeding 1,000 acres where trailered rig parking for all participants does NOT occur at a public boat launch facility, a maximm participation of 20 boats is allowed. Open tournaments are limited to 35 acres per boat with a maximum of 100 boats. Youth tournaments will be scheduled in cooperation with IF&W and no permit will be required.

9. Tournaments may be Catch/Measure/Release or Weigh-In.
a) In Catch/Measure/Release tournaments, all bass caught must be immediately released to the location from which caught.

b) All bass retained shall be kept in a livewell being operated with the pump(s) in a mode that constantly exchanges livewell water with fresh lake or river water as a flow-through system, except when boats are being operated under power of the main outboard while changing locations, or while motoring to shore immediately prior to weigh-in, at which time the pump(s) may be operated in a manner than aerates a fixed volume of water in the livewell. All bass taken shall be returned to the water from which it was caught, unharmed as far as possible, at the conclusion of the tournament day. The daily limit shall be 5 bass per participant with no weight limit.

10. The total cash value of prizes for single-day tournaments shall not exceed $25,000.

11. The Commissioner has the authority to put any condition necessary on any tournament to assure that appropriate measures are taken to protect biological resources and address social concerns.

12. Weigh-In tournaments are not permitted in Aroostook, Hancock, Piscataquis & Washington Counties from May 20 to June 30 (dates inclusive). In all other counties weigh-in tournaments are not permitted from May 8 to June 14 (dates inclusive).

13. Weigh-in tournaments are not permitted in Maine and New Hampshire Border waters from May 15 to June 30 (dates inclusive).

14. There will be no more than seven weigh-in tournaments on any water greater than 500 acres, only four of which may be open tournaments.

D. Multi-Day-Tournaments

For purposes of determining eligibility to apply for a permit to conduct a multi-day bass tournament, the organization must provide current documentation of being a nationally recognized bass fishing organization such as Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) or Northeast Bass Association (NEBA).

1. Multi-day permits will be available 24 months prior to planned date of the tournament.

2. Multi-day permits will be allowed for a statewide, multi-state or national championship tournament of a nationally recognized fishing organization such as Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS) or Northeast Bass Association (NEBA).

3. Multi-day tournaments prior to Labor Day will be deducted from the number of one-day weigh-in open tournaments but these one-day tournaments may be replaced after Labor Day. Multi-day tournaments may be held after Labor Day without displacing one-day weigh-in open tournaments.

4. No more than one multi-day tournament may be permitted on any individual water per calendar year.

5. Multi-day tournaments are permitted on bodies of water greater than 2000 acres.

6. The maximum number of multi-days/year shall be six statewide no more than one per water.

7. A copy of the tournament permit and a copy of the rules affecting multi-day tournaments shall be conspicuously displayed during each tournament at a location accessible to all contestants.

8. All anglers in the tournament must possess a valid Maine fishing license unless of an age where a license is not required.

9. Number of boats permitted will be based on 35 acres per boat, maximum of up to 300 boats.

10. Bass tournament boats must be specifically identified in a plainly visible manner and roster of participants must be available at the location of the weigh-in.

11. The maximum daily possession limit shall be 5 bass per participant with no weight limit.

12. All bass retained shall be kept in a livewell being operated with the pump(s) in a mode that constantly exchanges livewell water with fresh lake water as a flow-through system, except when boats are being operated under power of the main outboard while changing locations, or while motoring to shore immediately prior to weigh-in, at which time the pump(s) shall be operated in a manner that aerates a fixed volume of water in the livewell.

13. All bass taken shall be returned to the water from which it was caught, unharmed as far as possible, at the conclusion of the tournament day.

14. The total cash value of prizes shall not exceed $300,000.

15. Any bass organization which sponsors a multi-day bass tournament must submit a completed bass tournament questionnaire, when requested to do so by an agent of the Commissioner, provided that such request must be made in writing to the sponsoring organization prior to the tournament.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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