1. Participation and Eligibility – There are no restrictions as to race, gender, creed, or color for any HBC Angler or Volunteer Tournament Official. The minimum age for all HBC events is 16 years of age. Any HBC Angler or Volunteer Tournament Official under the age of 18 years of age must have written consent and the release of liability from a parent or guardian to participate in any HBC event.

2. Media Relations – HBC Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials will cooperate with all media, promotional, and sponsor representatives covering all HBC events. By virtue of their entry and acceptance into all HBC events, the HBC has the expressed permission to use any photographs, audio and/or video recordings of HBC Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials, accounts, or interviews with Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials for the promotion of the HBC. Any such photographs, audio and/or video recordings of HBC Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials become the exclusive property of the HBC.

3. Sportsmanship – Sportsmanship, good judgment, as well as courtesy towards others on and off the water will be strictly adhered to at all times. The use of obscene language or inappropriate gestures is specifically forbidden at all times before, during, or after every HBC event, particularly in the immediate areas of the host marina, weigh-in area, lodging facilities, or tournament headquarters.

4. Tournament Protection Rule - Any act(s) or inflammatory statement(s) by any Angler or Volunteer Tournament Official that, in the opinion of the tournament authority, is detrimental to the bass tournament, damaging to organized bass fishing, to the HBC, or any of its staff, sponsors, or to permitting agencies or their officers (such as park rangers, fisheries biologists, or other officials), during any HBC event will result in disqualification from that event and banned from all future HBC events. It is the responsibility of each HBC Angler and Volunteer Tournament Official to know, understand, and accept all HBC rules.

5. Alcoholic Beverages/Narcotics - Any HBC Angler or Volunteer Tournament Official who is under the influence of, or in possession of alcohol or any banned or illegal substance or drug will be disqualified from that event and banned from all future HBC events.

6. Expenses – Volunteer Tournament Officials ARE NOT responsible or obligated in any way to share expenses with HBC Anglers.

7. Safety - All boats entered in HBC events must be equipped with a working “Kill” switch that must be attached to the driver whenever the outboard motor is running. Additionally, all Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials must wear a Coast Guard approved (Type III PFD) life vest whenever the outboard motor is running. SOSpender type life vests that meet Type V PFD performance ratings are permitted. Waist-type life preservers are not permitted. It is the responsibility of all HBC Anglers to maintain and operate their boat in a safe and courteous manner. Unsafe or reckless driving, excessive speed, and violation of local laws will not be tolerated. HBC Anglers who purposely endanger their passengers and/or other boats on the water during tournament hours will be disqualified and banned from all future HBC events.

8. Insurance & Liability - – It is the sole responsibility of the boat owner to carry and have proof of public liability insurance covering the boat operator and their passengers. All HBC Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials are required to sign or acknowledge a waiver (on their entry form) absolving the tournament staff, sponsors, co-sponsors, tournament venues, and their employees from any responsibility for any damage or personal injury sustained as a result of their participation in all HBC events or related activities. All HBC Anglers are required to have proof of insurance upon the request of the tournament director. Failure or refusal to provide proof of insurance upon demand will result in disqualification from the event.

9. Licenses & Registration - Each HBC Angler must have in their possession a valid and current fishing license with the appropriate stamp(s) governing the fishable waters of the event. Any HBC Angler found to be in violation will be disqualified from that HBC event and is subject to citation. Boats used by HBC Anglers must have valid and current registration from the state in which it is registered.

10. Off-Limits Period - There will be a one day off-limits period on the Thursday immediately preceding every HBC event. Any HBC Angler or VTO found on the tournament waters or found to have been on the tournament waters during the off-limits period will be disqualified from the event and the Angler will forfeit their entry fee and/or any prize monies received.

11. Soliciting Information - HBC Anglers may not solicit or receive any fishing related information of any kind from any non-contestant after 3:00 PM local time on the Wednesday immediately preceding the event through the conclusion of the event. HBC Anglers may not solicit or receive any fishing related information of any kind from their Volunteer Tournament Official at any time.

12. Underwater Viewing/Sonic Equipment – The use of underwater viewing and/or underwater sonic (“Biosonics”) equipment is prohibited during tournament hours of any HBC event.

13. Volunteer Tournament Officials - HBC Volunteer Tournament Officials are not permitted to assist their HBC Angler IN ANY MANNER (excluding medical emergencies). This includes handing them nets, netting their fish, and operating any equipment in or on the HBC Angler’s boat. Volunteer Tournament Officials are not permitted to bring any fishing rods, reels, tackle, portable or hand-held GPS devices on-board. Volunteer Tournament Officials may bring their own cameras on-board, so long as they do not interfere with their HBC Angler in any manner. A discussion should take place between Volunteer Tournament Officials and HBC Anglers PRIOR to the start of the event regarding the asking of questions and/or talking to their HBC Anglers during the event. By the same token, HBC Anglers are encouraged to be respectful and polite to their Volunteer Tournament Officials. All Volunteer Tournament Officials will be required to have a working cell phone with them during tournament hours.

14. Fishable Waters/Off Limits Areas - Fishable waters in all HBC events will include any water reachable by boat that is open to all persons and is not otherwise restricted by local, state, or federal regulations. All fishing and landing of fish must be done from the boat. HBC Anglers or Volunteer Tournament Officials my not leave the boat to untangle a fishing line or lure from any structure (trees, rocks, docks, etc) or part of the boat. HBC Anglers and/or Volunteer Tournament Officials may not leave their boat in an effort to push their boat into or out of fishing waters that they could not otherwise reach; however, the use of push-poles is permitted.

15. Equipment/Tackle/Technique Restrictions - There are no minimum boat size or minimum horsepower restrictions for HBC events, however boats must be able to safely and comfortably accommodate a Volunteer Tournament Official. All HBC boats must be equipped with an aerated livewell and an ignition “Kill” switch. Engines may not exceed the BIA horsepower rating for the boat hull and no outboards over 300HP are permitted. “Stick” steering boats are prohibited as well. No live bait, cut bait, or prepared baits other than pork rind may be used. Fish attractants and scents may be used. All fishing must be accomplished with one rod and reel combination used at a time. This means that each cast must be completely retrieved before another cast can be made with another rod and reel. There is no rod length restriction. Trolling (the act of manipulating a lure solely with the trolling motor) is prohibited. At no time may an HBC Angler fish while the outboard motor is running. The intentional snagging of fish is prohibited. Landing nets are permitted, however HBC Anglers must retrieve their own landing nets and net their own fish. Volunteer Tournament Officials are not permitted to hand the net to the HBC Angler, nor are they permitted to net their fish.

16. Encroachment - A twenty-five (25) yard encroachment rule is in effect during all HBC events. No HBC Angler’s boat may move within 25 yards of another HBC Angler’s boat at any time for the purpose of fishing. Casting within 25 yards of another contestant’s boat is a violation of the encroachment rule. Anchoring is permitted during all HBC events however the anchoring boat must have its trolling motor up and out of the water while anchored. Anchoring does not eliminate the 25 yard encroachment rule. HBC Anglers are asked to exercise common sense and courtesy regarding the 25 yard encroachment rule.

17. Bag Limits/Size Limits - – All HBC events are one-fish tournaments. At no time shall an HBC Angler have more than one fish in their livewell. Qualifying fish (Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted Bass) must be a minimum of 13 inches in length, measured laying flat with the mouth open on a flat board. At no time shall an HBC Angler have more than one fish in their boat except while in the act of culling their one fish. HBC Anglers shall not have a line in the water while in the act of culling. HBC Anglers weighing in a short fish will be disqualified from that event.

18. Sight Fishing - – The “sight fishing” rule is in effect any time that HBC Anglers are attempting to catch visible fish and is in place to prevent the intentional snagging of bass. A sight or bedding fish is defined as one that can be seen and is watched as it approaches and bites the lure. Any bass that is caught while sight fishing must be caught with the hook in the fish’s mouth with the hook point entering from inside the mouth. This catch must be verified as a legal catch by the Volunteer Tournament Official. Any sight fish caught by snagging or with the hook starting outside the mouth shall be deemed an illegally caught fish and must be released. This same fish may be caught again by legal method – with the hook starting from inside the mouth. Any HBC Angler catching a sight fish without verifying the hook location with their Volunteer Tournament Official will be disqualified from that tournament.

19. Culling - – (Replacing a live caught bass with a larger live caught bass) is permitted in all HBC events. At no time may an HBC Angler possess more than one bass. The HBC Angler may not continue to fish with more than one fish in the boat. As previously mentioned, this means that they may not have a line in the water until they have finished culling their one fish. No measuring, weighing, releasing, or culling of any bass is permitted by HBC Anglers inside the designated host marina. THE CULLING OR RELEASING OF A DEAD BASS IS PROHIBITED IN ALL HBC EVENTS. (See "The Surrender Rule" below).

20. Weigh-In – Once an HBC Angler presents his or her fish to the tournament Weighmaster, it becomes their official catch. It cannot be touched again by the HBC Angler, except for photographs after it has been weighed and the weight recorded.

21. Dead Fish Penalty - Obviously it is the goal of the HBC to release every fish alive after the weigh-in. As such, HBC Anglers are requested to do everything within their power to keep their fish alive. Any HBC Angler who deliberately or intentionally mishandles fish at any time will be disqualified and banned from all future HBC events. In the unfortunate event that an HBC Angler presents a fish that is deemed dead by the Weighmaster, a .25 pound (one quarter of a pound) penalty will be assessed and deducted from the total weight of their fish. This Dead Fish Penalty will be included in the final standings and in determining the tournament winner, however it will not be included should the fish establish a new Lake, State, or World Record.

22. The "Surrender Rule" - Because HBC Anglers are prohibited from releasing or culling a dead fish, there will be a "Surrender Rule" at every HBC event. The "Surrender Rule" is as follows:

If an HBC Angler catches a bass that dies while they are on the water, they can do one of two things:

First – If it is a good fish and the HBC Angler wishes it to be weighed in as their official catch, they can do so, but they must stop fishing for the day and they will be accessed the .25 pound dead fish penalty at the weigh-in.

Second – If the HBC Angler believes that they can catch a better fish than the one that died, they can "surrender" the dead fish to a tournament representative without penalty. To do this, the HBC Angler must immediately cease fishing and have their Volunteer Tournament Official call a tournament representative (at a pre-determine cell phone number) and inform the tournament representative of their intentions. The HBC Angler and Volunteer Tournament Official must then return to the host marina, where they can surrender the dead fish to a tournament representative without incurring a dead fish penalty. The HBC Angler will not get credit for the surrendered fish at all. It is as if they never caught that fish. The HBC Angler cannot resume fishing until they have surrendered their dead fish to a tournament representative.

Each HBC Angler is allowed to surrender only ONE dead fish. If they catch a second fish that dies, they must stop fishing for the day and they must weigh in that second dead fish (even if it is smaller than the fish that they surrendered) and they will be assessed the .25 pound dead fish penalty at the weigh-in. SURRENDERED FISH WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED UP UNTIL EXACTLY ONE HOUR BEFORE THE FIRST FLIGHT IS DUE IN.

23. Breakdowns/Emergencies - – HBC Anglers and Volunteer Tournament Officials are not permitted to leave their boat or touch another boat, with the exception of an emergency or a mechanical breakdown. In the event of a mechanical breakdown, the HBC Angler with the mechanical breakdown can receive a tow from another HBC contestant, but they cannot fish while in tow. The HBC Angler providing the tow may continue to fish, if they so choose. If a mechanical breakdown occurs, the HBC Angler with the mechanical breakdown is requested to have his Volunteer Tournament Official call the tournament director at a pre-determined cell phone number.

24. Cellular telephones - – The use of cell phones or any other communication devices (including text messaging) by HBC Anglers is strictly prohibited except in the event of an emergency, to call a tournament representative to Surrender a fish, or to report a mechanical breakdown. HBC Anglers who use cell phones or any other communication devices for any other reason during tournament hours will be disqualified. Volunteer Tournament Officials WILL be permitted to use their cell phones to call the tournament director to report a noteworthy catch of their HBC Angler. Volunteer Tournament Officials are not permitted to use cell phones or any other communication devices for any other reason.

25. Late Check-in - Anglers who are late for their assigned Check-in/Weigh-in time will be disqualified and their fish will not be weighed.

26. Citations - Any HBC Angler who receives a citation from any local, state, or federal officer may, at the tournament director's discretion, be disqualified from that event.

27. Scoring/Standing/Ties - All HBC events are one fish - biggest (heaviest) fish - winner takes all tournaments. However, points will be awarded on a 100-point system (plus 5 participation points) as follows: 105 points for first place, 104 points for second place, 103 points for third place, and so on. The point standings are EXTREMELY important, as they will determine who will receive Priority Entry Status into subsequent HBC events. As such, HBC Anglers who are inclined to "toss their fish" without weighing them in might want to think twice about doing so – regardless of the size of their fish. HBC Anglers that do not weigh in a fish will receive 5 participation points only. In the unlikely event of a tie for first place, the prize money will be divided equally between the tying HBC Anglers.

28. Lie Detector Testing - All HBC Anglers, by virtue of their signed or acknowledged entry form, agree to submit to a lie detector test at the discretion of the tournament authority. HBC Anglers refusing to submit to a lie detector test or who fail a lie detector test will forfeit any and all tournament winnings and/or merchandise and will be banned from all future HBC events

29. Protests - Protests regarding any rules violation(s) must be declared verbally immediately to the tournament director and then submitted in writing within 30 minutes of the end of weigh-in. The tournament director will review all protests, conduct interviews of potential witnesses (if necessary) and make a ruling on the protest as soon as possible. The decision of the tournament director will be final. (Note: To avoid protests and potential confrontations, it is recommended that you alert the would-be offender to check the rules).

30. Angler Withdrawals - HBC Anglers withdrawing from any HBC event for any reason must do so no later than 11:59 PM PST on the Friday two weeks (14 days) prior to the event in order to receive a refund of their entry fee. Any HBC Angler withdrawing after that time for any reason will forfeit their entire entry fee.

31. Partner Pairings - Volunteer Tournament Officials will be paired with HBC Anglers by a random drawing which will be done in advance of the tournament. The tournament staff reserves the right to make adjustments to the parings as they deem necessary, such as for safety or health reasons, etc.

32. Decisions - All decisions of the tournament director shall be final.