Bylaws

All Dues must be paid as follows: Full payment by April prior to the start of the upcoming season that the individual intends to fish. (i.e. payment for the 2024 season is due by  April and may be paid by mail, at the banquet or at the ramp). Dues for new members may be prorated depending on tournaments missed,                                (see below for details)

All Dues must be paid prior to fishing your first tournament.

Total Dues: $325.00

PRO-RATED BREAKDOWN ---

Dues are $325.00 per year  ( January - December ).
We have 7 Tournaments per season.

$325.00 divided by 7 = $46.43
Dues would be -----

If 2 tournaments are missed   ..........  -$45.00  =  $280.00
If 3 tournaments are missed   ........... -$90.00  =  $235.00
If 4 tournaments are missed  .........   -$135.00  =  $190.00
If 5 tournaments are missed  ........... -$180.00  =  $145.00

If tournaments 6 & 7 are missed ---- you should wait for the next season.
This Pro-Rate applies to NEW MEMBERS joining only.

Dues must be paid before you receive any winnings from Tournament payouts.

Payouts will be held back until all dues or other obligations to the club are paid in full.

ie. If you are making payments towards dues owed and win money by fishing, that money will be put towards your dues owed and the remaining balance, if any, given to you.

Raising Money for the Club
If the members of the club vote that a raffle needed to raise money for the club, it will be the responsibility of each club member to sell the tickets assigned to them.  If you do not sell the tickets, this money will also will be taken from tournament winnings. At our Annual Banquet we will be raffleing off prizes donated by local Bait & Tackle Shop and Major Tackle Companies.  

Members that join as Boaters are required to bring their boats to each tournament unless they have machanial difficulty, at which time he must contact the Tournament Director to get approval to compete as a Non-Boater.

All boats used in Cape Cod Bass events must have a minimum hull length of 15 feet, a minimum horsepower rating of 20 and adequate live well(s). All gas-powered motors will be equipped with some type of ignition kill switch, which will be checked on the morning of the tournament. This kill switch must be attached to the driver any time the combustion engine is operating. Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Canoes, barges or similar cumbersome craft will not be permitted. Boats equipped with stick steering will not be permitted to be used during tournament hours by any competitor. The Tournament Director shall make the definition of stick steering. Tiller steering is permitted. All boats must have a current registration and meet all Coast Guard Regulations.

Meetings are held at the ramp prior to the draw.  For more information, contact the club Secretary.

Associate Members (inactive put paid dues, excluding pay-outs - $60.00) are considered active members except for Tournament winnings and points. They have full voting rights and can fish for Lunker Pool. Should a waiting list exist, all Associate Members must be called and asked to become active members, before a new member can be added from the waiting list. Associate Members also cannot take the place of active non-boaters if the boat space is ever a concern at a Tournament. The active member always fishes before the inactive member. The maximum amount of Associate Members is 2.

The Cape Cod Bass membership is limited to a maximum of twenty-four (24), broken down as sixteen (14) boaters and eight (10) non-boaters. The membership must always have at least two (2) more boaters than non-boaters to ensure enough boats on Tournament days. When a limit is reached, a waiting list will be established, on a first come first serve basis. (This rule has one exception, see Associate Member Rules below) When a new potential members name comes up in the waiting list, that candidate must show up at the next regular club meeting and be voted in by the club. Two (2) negative votes prohibits the candidates membership. If the candidate is voted in, he becomes a member, but under a trial membership for one (1) year.

Tournament sites will be closed to pre-fishing, to all club members, two (2) days prior to the scheduled Tournament. (i.e. Sunday event - off the water by midnight Thursday)

All Cape Cod Bass members must have a valid Massachusetts Fishing License.

Non-boaters are expected to provide their own Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for every tournament they participate in.

Club Officers will include a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

1. Shall be the sole spokesman for Cape Cod Bass.
2. Shall preside over all regular or special club meetings of Cape Cod Bass, direct all business, supervise all club activities, and delegate such duties as may be necessary to better serve the club.
3. Shall have the power to vote to break a tie by any club or special committee vote. Shall also have the power to table in place of breaking a tie.
4. Shall appoint any special committee that he and the other officers feel necessary.
5. Shall review or assign a person or persons to review the descriptive paragraph on Cape Cod Bass, which must be sent to Mass BASS for the Travel Guide once a year.
6. Shall assist the Vice President during tournaments.

1. Shall assist the President upon request, preside in the absence of the President and assume office of the President should it be vacated.
2. Shall automatically be the Tournament Director of Cape Cod Bass.
3. Shall, as Tournament Director, conduct all rulings and maintain all tournaments between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
4. Shall work with the President on any special Meetings.

1. Shall maintain all club records (Tournament winners, schedules, newsletters, etc.)
2. Shall take the place of other officers' duties when they are vacant or unable to perform their duties, as well as assist in conducting meetings and events.
3. Shall record Minutes of club meetings.
4. Shall be responsible for keeping up-to-date by-laws and club roster.

1. Shall receive and disburse all moneys upon approval of the club officers, maintain accurate financial records, and present a current balance and a written itemized account of all income and expenses with copies available for each officer at every regular Cape Cod Bass meeting.
2. Upon taking office, and within 30 days after, shall transfer all funds to a local bank of the Treasurer's choosing and have check signing cards signed by the Cape Cod Bass President and Treasurer with all drawn checks requiring two (2) signatures.
3. Shall have the financial records in order for an annual audit to be conducted each year by a special committee of the club officers.

In the event that a "smallmouth pool" is collected when a body of water contains both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass, the "Alternate Species"  Addendum will prevail.

It will be as follows:

A Lunker Pool  is collected for the heaviest fish weighed in. (see Lunker Pool Bylaw)

An alternate species pool entree fee of $10.00 is collected for the heaviest alternate species fish.

Example: If the heaviest fish weighed-in is a Largemouth Bass, that person wins that Lunker pool and alternately the heaviest Smallmouth Bass would win the alternate species pool.

The process would be reversed if needed.

In the event that a lake has both species of fish and ALL the fish weighed -in are of the same species (all largies or all smallies) the person with the heaviest fish would win BOTH pools.

A Lunker Pool will be collected by the Tournament Director, Treasurer or Secretary before an event and it is entirely optional. The total amount per angler that will be collected is $10.00 per species (see alternate species)....also prior to the launch... we will have an optional 50/50 raffle ... collected and paid out at the ramp.

All anglers must accompany their fish to the scale to be weighed in. Fish will be weighed in while boats are still in the water. (Beached) Unless otherwise notified by the Tournament Director or club officer. If a boater does not have fish but his non-boater does, that boater will not pull their boat. If a competitor pulls their boat before weighing in, they will be disqualified. (boater and non-boater).

TIES:
Ties will be broken for the regular 7 tournaments season as follows:   

1-Number of live fish   

2-Number of fish (dead or alive)   

3-Largest fish from each competitor (weight, than length)
If a tie still exists, points are added for two places, and then split (i.e. 3rd and 4th tie = 4300 points/2150 for each angler)

4- After the two drops the TOC will be determined, and if a tie exsist, the same rules will apply, but will be based only on the 5 tournaments.
 

Penalties will be as follows:

1. Four (4) ounce penalty for each dead fish weighed-in, from total weight only. This does not apply to lunker pool in anyway, even if the lunker id dead.
2. A one (1) pound penalty for each fish shorter than the legal limit of 12 inches weighed-in, from total weight. All fish under the legal limit will not count toward total weight. A courtesy measurement can be requested by at weigh-in by any member of that angler's measuring device, before any fish are weighed. This measurement is made by the angler, not the Tournament Director.
3. Only largemouth and smallmouth bass can be weighed in. All other fish will be disqualified.
4. Competitors who are not at the official checkpoint at the appropriate time shall be penalized. The penalty shall be at a rate of one (1) pound per minute, to be deducted from the total weight of their catch that day. This will include any weight to be counted toward lunker award. After being fifteen (15) minutes late, the competitor will be disqualified. All fishing must cease upon check in. If a boat in distress signals for assistance, you must stop and render such assistance. Anyone not stopping to assist a boat in distress can be disqualified. Anyone who stops to assist a boat in distress will not be disqualified if the attending club officers feel said person has proven they did stop to render assistance. A name and phone number will be required if the boat helped was not in the club tournament.
5. No foreign objects can be added to fish before weigh-in (including weigh-in pins, weights, etc.). Such objects must be removed or a penalty will be given, said penalty to be determined by the attending club officers.
6. Culling into another lcompetitor's live well or tampering in any way with another competitor's fish is grounds for immediate disqualification and expulsion from Cape Cod Bass membership. This is an honor rule unless otherwise provable by two or more eye witnesses.

A blind draw will be used in all Tournaments, pairing the non-boaters to boaters picking the same numbers. If there are extra non-boaters, the highest number picked must sit out the event. However, they will receive the equivalent of last place points (tying the place competitor) for the event and can never be asked to sit out an event again in the same season.

The non-boater will draw first for launch position... the boater will draw second to see if he is partnered with a non-boater. If a boater draws a non-boater that he has fished with before (in that season ) -- he has the option to draw again..... ( the boater does not have to fish with the same non-boater more then one time per season)

Protests made following an event must be made verbally within fifteen minutes of weigh-in. (normally 3:15) All decisions will be made at the ramp and finalized by the club officers or Tournament Director. Protests or problems must be resolved immediately.

During a Tournament, a distance of 25 yards in every direction (approximately 4-5 boat lengths) is required between all boats. If a boat is anchored, the distance increases to 50 yards. The Rule Does Not Apply In These Two Cases:

The infringement is not made known by the "Infringe"

The boat is blocking a navigable channel or cove access

If the rule is broken by the infringing boat, upon being warned off by the infringe, a protest can be made and ruling will follow at the end of the event.

A time check will be made at the beginning of each event, prior to launch by the Tournament Director. He and only he is responsible for determining the proper time. All events begin at 7:00 am and end at 3:00 pm, unless otherwise notified by the Tournament Director. All members are responsible for the time called out by the Tournament Director.

All members planning to compete in a Tournament must arrive before 6:30 am (for 7:00 am start) and have their boats in the water by that time or they will be disqualified. A vote by the Tournament Director can overturn this rule if a valid excuse is given. Anyone arriving after this time must find an officer and check in or they will be unable to weigh in any fish.

This rule will be strictly enforced.

SAFETY INSPECTIONS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED

The Tournament Director will conduct a safety inspection of each boat prior to the first event of each year and any other time he deems necessary during the year. If the inspection does not meet his or her satisfaction, a check will be made at the next event and a disqualification may result if requirements are not met.

Proper Safety Includes:
Proper numbering
Certificate of registration
Working navigational lighting, front and back
Sound device (bell, horn, etc.)
P.F.D. - for each person, plus a floatation device
Type 1B-1 fire extinguisher
Anchor and anchor line
Alternate propulsion (oar, etc.)
Bilge pump or large can
Wiring in good condition
Batteries secured to prevents arcing and movement
Functional, aerated livewell space for 10 fish
Proper and current insurance wavers

The Tournament Director also reserves the right to disqualify a boat immediately if he does not believe it should be used in a Tournament at any time during the year.

Only artificial bait will be permitted. Live bait or prepared bait will not be allowed, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only one rod (8 foot maximum length from but or handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. (with up to two (2) baits per line) per angler. Other rigs as specified above may be in the boat ready to use. No electronically controlled lures may be used.

All competitors are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of the fundamental principles of good sportsmanship or state fishing regulations may be deemed cause for disqualification. Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who are on tournament waters. All bass must be caught alive and in a sporting manner. Anyone caught intentionally snagging fish will be immediately disqualified and can face further disciplinary action from Cape Cod Bass. Any act by a competitor which reflects unfavorably on the Society and Cape Cod Bass' effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and courtesy shall be cause for disqualification. No alcoholic beverages, stimulants or antidepressants will be allowed (unless prescribed by a doctor) before, during or after tournament hours at the tournament site or weigh-in area.

The Payouts below are a sample of possible payouts for Toutnaments and the TOC.

 All payouts for the tournaments and the TOC are based on the membership (more members - more money....less members - less money) and money taken in at our Annual Awards Banquet

Tournaments:
1st Place: $175
2nd Place: $125
3rd Place: $85

Cape Cod Bass TOC:
1st Place: $600
2nd Place: $400
3rd Place: $300

 

Five (5) out of seven (7) Tournament points earned within a season will be used for final standings Cape Cod Bass TOC qualification. The top five (5) best finishes will be used, and worst two (2) will be dropped. The top 1/2 of the members (up to 10 maximum) will be eligible for the Cape Cod Bass Tournament of Champions. Should a member decline to attend, the next place will be eligible.

Points are given as follows: 2400 points for first (1st) place, decreasing 100 points for each place thereafter.
Skunk Points are given to all anglers that weigh in no fish and must split last place points evenly.