ACA

Rev. 06-17-08

 RULES AND REGULATIONS - 2008

1.  This association is a “rod and reel” “catch & release” “alive and well” for regular members.  No trotlines, limb-lines, jugs etc. No bank fishing allowed. Association membership dues are $20.00 per person for the year as set by the Bylaws. Any species of catfish may be weighed.  Deviation from the association’s motto is allowed for our annual required 501c(7) charitable tournament such as the August weekend/day tournaments at Lakes Millwood and Earling.

2. Tournament entry fee will be $50.00.

3. Association tournaments will payback 80% as follows; paying up to (4) places with 13 or more boats.

4.  Optional “Big Catfish” tournament entry fee will be $20.00. 100% payback.

5.  You may fish one person per boat as an individual, or two or more if a team and all are regular members, but teams are still considered as a single entity (one).

6.  Registration will begin one hour prior to starting time and run for 45 minutes. Pre-registration is encouraged. If you pre-register, then send the check or M.O. payable to:  Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA), PO Box 872, Pocahontas AR 72455 in sufficient time to ensure receipt several days before the tournament. 

7.  You must have your boat and live-well or container checked by an ACA Steering Committee member at the time that you register for your first tournament. A steering committee member will be at the launch ramp an hour before registration.  Thereafter, your honesty is assumed for that boat, or until you acquire or use another boat.  Aerated live-well with adequate volume is recommended.  However, if you use a large container such as a tub, you may and should, check-in your first fish immediately after being caught, and then return fishing. A maximum of five (5) fish per boat can be weighed regardless of the number of members fishing as a team.  However, each regular entry fee-paid member fishing in a boat individually may weigh-in five (5) each. No weighed fish can be culled.

8.  After registration is complete we will draw numbered chips to determine launching order.  This will also determine your weigh-in order if using an aerated live-well and check-in at the regular time rather than checking-in earlier with two fish.

9. The team with the highest numbered chip or a steering committee member will flight boats out in 10 second intervals.

10. Before tournament times expires, you must place your numbered chip on the scoreboard beside your name. If you fail to do so, you will be disqualified. There will be no grace period for being late to weigh-in.

11.  No fish may be kept on stringers. Any fish with obvious stringer marks will be disqualified and count as zero, the same as a dead fish.

12.  No fish is to be gaffed or similarly injured. Any fish with obvious gaff marks will be disqualified and count as zero, the same as a dead fish.

13. Do not carry fish to the weigh-in table by their gills or in a landing net. Use a tub to transport fish from boat to scales.  (The club will purchase tubs when sufficient funds become available.)

14. No dead fish will be weighed. If a fish is presented for weigh-in and it is determined that the fish is dead or is in unacceptable condition it will be disqualified. Said fish will count as one of your two fish with a weight of zero.  This decision must be made by at least two members of the steering committee at time of weigh-in or by the weigh-in park supervisor such as the case at Lake Dardanelle for example. There will be no grace period to try to revive the fish in question so that it can be weighed as a live fish. Any weighed fish failing to swim away 15 minutes after the close of weigh-in will be disqualified and handled the same as a dead fish.

15. All weighed fish become property of the ACA and will be immediately released alive by the host, sponsor, steering committee or a disinterested person such as at Lake Dardanelle.

16. Normal weigh-in will begin 15 minutes after the end of the tournament.

17. Each person on the boat will get the total weight/points for that tournament. Points will be added to each person year-to- date standings.

18. In the event of a tie in any tournament, the deciding factor will be the heaviest fish.

19. The Steering Committee has the final decision involving any disputes or rulings not addressed in the Rules and Regulations.

20. Protests may be filed with the Steering Committee for a $50.00 fee. If the protest is upheld, the fee is returned. If the protest is denied, the fee becomes association funds.  

21. A Steering Committee member can issue a “guest pass” to allow a member to have a guest or a potential member to accompany a member in his/her boat but the guest is not allowed to participate in the tournament except as an observer.

22. Associate members may join their sponsor but cannot fish or assist the paid tournament member in his/her fishing.

23. A point system will be utilized in our year-to-date standings. Sample:

24. Plaques will be awarded to 1^st through 4^th places (sponsored or unsponsored) at all association tournaments.

25. The ACA will abide by all state and local fishing regulations, including any new law allowing only a certain number and weight.

26. Breakdown Rule. (This rule was added to help members that may find themselves in a situation and stranded on the river.)

    a. Safety first. The stranded boat should contact another member if possible and explain their situation. If it is an emergency, whatever measures deemed necessary should be taken to insure their safety first.

    b. If a boat is just stranded and can contact another member that can render help, they should do one of the following:

      (1)  Bring one member and their fish to weigh-in, if it is possible to transport both safely, before the tournament time expires.

      (2)  Bring one member back to weigh-in before tournament time expires, if transporting their fish cannot be done safely.

      (3)  If any member of the stranded boat makes it back to weigh-in before the tournament time expires their fish will be weighed upon their safe return.  If time is a factor, it may be necessary to mail checks to the winning anglers.

27. No pre-catfishing the tournament river or body of water forty eight hours (48 hours) prior to a tournament, however other activities such as boating, and bait catching (if legal), is encouraged and permissible.