West Alabama Crappie Association                                               Tournament  Rules     Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. It is at the Tournament Committee's discretion to make a change where safety of the contestants is a concern. In the event of a rule violation, they may impose such sanctions, as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee, and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. All Federal, State, and local laws must be obeyed and it is the contestant's responsibility to know these laws.   1. Participation in each tournament is open to all members.   2. You may enter alone or with a partner of your choice.   3. Permitted fishing waters shall be defined as areas open to all participants of the event and accessible by normal navigational means only. Fishing within 50 feet of a marina gas pump or within 50 feet of a competitor's boat, which was first anchored, is prohibited. (Trolling motor must be in the up position to be considered anchored.) A safe and courteous distance should be maintained when trolling motors are in use. Any violation of off limit water will result in disqualification.   4. Practice is allowed at the events until 10:00 PM the day before the tournament.   5. In the case of extreme weather and/or water conditions, West Alabama Crappie Association reserves the right to postpone or cancel the event with the return of entry fees.   6. Teams will leave from designated boat ramp by boat number at tournament start time. Teams must be back at ramp by designated end time for that tournament. Penalties for being late are as follows: 1-5 minutes—1lb   6-10minutes—2lb After 10 minutes--disqualification   7. Two person team* (one boat per team) must remain in boat while fishing. *A team may consist of three people if the third person is a youth under the age of 16.  No more than three under any circumstances.   8. Teams may use rod and reel combos, hand held pole and reel combos, or hand held poles. Eight pole limit, per team, applies except where state limits are set at a lesser number.   9. Live and artificial bait may be used.   10. Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by team member (s). Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth.   11. All boats should meet US Coast Guard and State regulations.   12. Teams must comply with all state fishing and boating regulations, including the use of P.F.D.'s. Fishing and boating licenses are the responsibility of team members.   13. Crappie must be weighed at the official West Alabama Crappie Association weigh-in site.   14. A team can weigh-in not more than 10 crappie and those 10 crappie must be at least 10 inches in length. A team entering more than 10 crappie or any crappie less than 10 inches will be disqualified. Once you enter the weigh-in line your fish will be checked. The Tournament Committee has sole responsibility for verification.   15. All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must have been caught during the tournament hours from tournament waters by the team bringing them to the scales.   16. Entry fee payouts from the payout portion of entry fee:  1st place—40% 2nd place—30%    3rd place—20%   4th--10%   17. In case of a tie, both teams will equally divide the earnings for the position tied for and the position under it. Both teams will be awarded equal points for the position tied for.   18. Protests must be made in writing and given to a member of the Tournament Committee within 30 minutes following the end of the official weigh-in. All protests must site the rule number (s) allegedly broken.   19. Alcoholic beverages and drugs, other than prescription drugs, are not allowed in the boat or to be consumed during the tournament hours, including the weigh-in.   20. Guides cannot be hired to fish with you or for you during the tournament hours.   21. PFD must be on and kill switch attached when outboard engine is on.