Merrimack Valley Bassmasters

Merrimack Valley Bass Masters, Inc.

Tournament Rules

1. Rules: Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director or his designee. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director may impose such sanctions as he sees appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Director and tournament officials shall be final.

2. Participation and Eligibility: Participation in MVBM tournaments is by invitation only. Contestants in MVBM tournaments must provide documented proof of a minimum of $300,000 boating liability insurance to the Tournament Director or his designee prior to competing in their first tournament of the year. This insurance document must show the effective date and expiration date. A hard copy of the insurance document must be submitted and will be retained by MVBM. No new members will be accepted after the NH STQT event date.

3. Off Limits: there is no cutoff to tournament water.

4. Registration: Each competitor must check in with a tournament official on the morning of the competition to complete any tournament fees and dues (if applicable). Late arrivals must find to complete same as above including live-well check.

5. Safety: Safe boat conduct must always be observed at all times by tournament competitors. During the tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved life preserver. This preserver must be worn anytime the combustion engine is operating. This preserver must be snapped, strapped, or zippered securely. Violation of this rule shall be cause for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to delay or cancel the start of a tournament because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time due to bad weather conditions.

6. Sportsmanship: Competitors in MVBM tournaments are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental principles may be deemed as cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or illegal drugs during the tournament shall be cause disqualification. Competitors may not fish within 25 yards of another competitor.

7. Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait or prepared bait will be permitted, with the exception of pork trailers. Only one rod and reel may be used at any one time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone catching bass by means of snagging from spawning beds will be disqualified. When sight fishing for spawning bass, all bass must be hooked inside the mouth.

8. Horsepower Regulations: Maximum horsepower for all boats will be determined by the boats attached Coast Guard rating plate.

9. Boat and Motor: All boats must be equipped with an operable kill switch. The kill switch lanyard must be attached to the operator's body any time the combustion engine is operating.

10. Basic Boat Equipment: Every boat must have all of the required Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, all boats must have a functional bilge pump and functioning live-well space that is properly aerated to adequately maintain alive a limit catch of bass

11. Permitted Fishing Locations: Tournament waters shall be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Off-limit areas will be announced at the pre-take-off meeting. Fishing on tournament water is permitted anywhere except within 25 yards of another competitor. Any waters posted by State or Federal authorities as closed are deemed off limits. All angling must be done from the boat.

12. Contestants Must Remain in Boat: Contestants may not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Contestants must leave and return to the official checkpoint by boat. Competitors may leave the boat in case of emergency or for the use of restroom facilities.

13. Official Checkpoint: There shall be one official checkpoint for check-out in the morning and check-in in the afternoon and this point shall be designated at the pre-take-off meeting. At the time of checkout, all competitors and their boats must be in full compliance with all rules set out by the Tournament Director. At each event, the Call out boat will perform an on-the-water review of all boats to check for live-well function. Should an Angler/Team need to leave the event prior to finish they are required to inform a member of the group as soon as possible to avoid concern for their safety and well-being. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of participating in future events.

14. Weigh-in and Penalties: Only largemouth and smallmouth bass shall be weighed in. A legal bass shall be 12 inches long from tip of closed mouth to pinched tail. A contestant may ask for a courtesy measure for a fish in his bag prior to weigh-in. Any fish under 12 inches that are weighed in shall incur a penalty of .5 (1/2) pound and the fish shall not count towards total weight. Any fish that appears mutilated in any way shall be weighed in at the discretion of the Tournament Director. All dead bass presented for weigh-in will incur a .5 (1/2) pound penalty. Any fish that in the Tournament Director's opinion will not survive upon release will be considered dead. No dead fish may be considered for any lunker award. Any contestant(s) who brings to the scale more than the allotted limit of bass shall immediately cull down to the prescribed limit starting with the largest bass first.

14a. Release of Fish (For NH waters only): Any angler who releases his fish not in accordance with the Tournament Director's (or his designee) instructions and contrary to NH Fish and Game regulations, shall be disqualified for the remainder of the season or the next four (4) tournaments, whichever is greater. If necessary, the suspension will extend into the next season.

15. Late Penalty: Competitors who are not at the official check in area by the end of competition shall be penalized at the rate of 1 pound per minute to be deducted from the total weight of their catch, including any weight to be counted towards the Lunker Award. Any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall be disqualified from weighing in.

16. Tournament Hours: All tournaments shall be conducted from 7:00AM to 3:00PM unless otherwise specified by the Tournament Director.

17. Ties: In Case of a tie, the following tiebreakers will be used in order:

  • The largest number of legal fish weighed in.
  • The largest number of legal live fish weighed.
  • Heaviest single fish.
  • In the event a tie remains a coin flip will determine the outcome.

18. Protests: Any protests must be made prior to the tournament end when payouts are made. Should a competitor lodge a protest, the Tournament Director or his designee shall appoint (two) 2 other competitors who are not involved in the protest to form a committee to discuss the protest and render a decision. All decisions are final.

19. Any angler that has been adjudicated by MVBM as cheating will be immediately removed from any club events and no monies will be refunded.

Rev. 11-2026