BountyFishing Tournaments

Official Qualifying Guidelines, Rules & Conditions

1) GENERAL

BountyFishing Tournaments 2008 dates are from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. To be eligible for prizes you must register as a BountyFishing member prior to participating in a BountyFishing Tournament. Fish must be caught by the individual listed as the “Registered Angler”. The registered BountyFishing angler is responsible for completing the online official BountyFishing tournament affidavit when uploading the tournament photos. All materials submitted, unless noted otherwise, become the property of BountyFishing.

Winners will be ranked according to length validated by BountyFishing. The winners will be announced within 48 (excluding weekends and holidays) hours of the conclusion of the weekly tournament. Cash prizes will be awarded within 30 days thereafter.

Each winning entry is validated by BountyFishing and all decisions are final. Participants may be required to provide additional information if requested by BountyFishing (including, but not limited to, additional images from the same camera that was used for your tournament photos). BountyFishing reserves the right to reject or accept any entry. Any falsification of information provided by the registered angler will lead to disqualification. Failure to comply with these rules will result in forfeiture of prizes. Additionally, you may be subject to prosecution under local state/provincial and federal laws.

2) PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY

Participation is open to BountyFishing members in North America with the following exceptions:

Residents of Vermont, Maryland, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Colorado, Tennessee, Quebec and Mexico and those under 18 years of age are not eligible to compete but are welcome to join BountyFishing.com and participate in the online community.

Entrants must provide proof of age and residency. BountyFishing reserves the right to reject any entry which they feel is not in the best interest of the tournaments. Final BountyFishing tournament eligibility and bounty authorization will be determined only by BountyFishing. Persons employed by BountyFishing and its affiliated companies are not eligible for prizes.

3) BOUNTYCODE

The BountyCode is a unique, seven digit alpha-numeric code which is randomly generated at the start of each day (daily codes) and week (weekly code). The codes are generated at midnight EST.

The BountyCode must be clearly visible in your photo of the “Fish with Ruler” as it will be used to validate the date of your catch.

4) SPECIES

See the schedule for the current eligible species list.

Hybrids will be counted as the larger of the parental species. Entries in which species are incorrectly identified may be subject to disqualification.

Due to Washington state regulations, BountyFishing will not accept Tiger Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy x Esox lucius) or any Trout species from Washington State.

5) FISH

• Only your longest fish, per species is eligible for prizes. Should you wish to upgrade your catch it will replace any existing fish you have previously entered for that species.
• You can enter multiple categories.
• You are judged on the LENGTH of the fish and NOT the weight.
• All fish must be caught alive using legal angling methods.
• Anglers must abide by all state/provincial rules and regulations.
• Absolutely no fish caught in fish hatchery waters, fish culture stations, "Fish & Pay" Lakes, private ponds or fishing preserves may be submitted. Furthermore, no fish captured using unconventional methods is eligible.
• Fish showing signs of improper handling will be disqualified.
• You may not submit the same fish more than once in any twelve (12) month period.

6) MEASURING DEVICE

Only a valid ruler, tape measure or measuring board will be accepted by BountyFishing for measuring the length of the fish. This device must be displayed clearly in your photo of the “Fish with Ruler”. BountyFishing, at its sole discretion, will disqualify anyone suspected of using an inaccurate measuring device. Winners may be asked to submit the measuring device, used in the tournament, for verification.

Please Note: While not mandatory, the use of a rigid ruler or hard tape measure will produce a more accurate measurement.

7) CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS AND SETTINGS

Camera Specifications:

• 4 Mega Pixel minimum.
• No Cell phone cameras. No video cameras.

Camera Settings

Most digital cameras have three important settings:

• Resolution: File size must be set to the largest size.
• File Type: Must be set to JPEG.
• Quality: Must be set to High.

In addition:

• No image manipulation is allowed!
• Images must be uploaded to BountyFishing in the unedited JPEG format in which they were captured.
• All images must be clear and of good quality.

NOTE: BountyFishing reserves the right to reject and/or disqualify images of poor quality.

8) PHOTOS

• Your catch (the live fish) must be alive when measured and photographed.
• Using your digital camera, you are required to take one photograph showing the "Fish with Ruler" and another photograph showing "Fish with Angler" (see below).
• Both photographs that are uploaded to BountyFishing for any individual entry must come from the same camera.

Photo 1 (Fish with Ruler):

Your catch (the live fish) lying flat with a measuring device below the fish, clearly indicating the length of the fish and clearly displaying the BountyCode.

• You must take the photograph from directly above and centered on the fish.  
• All photographs must be clear.
• The fish must be lying down on a flat surface.
• The fish must be visible from tip to tail. Any part of the fish not visible in the picture will not count as part of the length.
• The measuring device must be clearly visible and must be placed below the fish as shown in the example below. Entries with the measuring device placed above or on top of the fish or where the measuring device is not clearly visible may be disqualified.
• Total Length is measured from the most forward point of the head, with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail while the fish is lying on its side. The tail may not be pinched, compressed, or squeezed in any manner.

Please Note: While not mandatory, the closer the ruler is to the fish, the more accurate the measurement.

Photo2 (Fish with Angler):

You, holding your catch (the live fish) horizontally, chest high and as close to your body as possible.

• The picture must be close enough to ensure the fish fills most of the frame.
• You must be facing forward with your eyes open and clearly visible. Sunglasses are NOT allowed!
• Photographs of the fish hanging in a vertical position will not be accepted.

9) UPLOAD IMAGES

For Daily Codes, upload BOTH the “Fish with Ruler” and the “Fish with Angler” via the BountyFishing website prior to midnight on the day of your outing. For Weekly Codes, upload your tournament photos prior to the tournament close midnight on Sunday.

10) PRIZES

All prize money may be subject to both state/provincial and federal taxes. BountyFishing assumes no responsibility for failure to adequately report your winnings.

11) STATE/PROVINCIAL GAME REGULATIONS

All participants are required to abide by all state/provincial laws and game regulations. All fish must be caught alive in a legal and sporting manner, by proper angling methods.

12) PROTEST

All protests must be submitted via email within 24 hours after the final tournament standings have been posted. A $150 online contesting fee will be required. All claims and/or disputes will be examined, and all decision rendered by BountyFishing will be final. BountyFishing reserves the right to refuse any application. Participants that refuse to cooperate will be disqualified.

13) CANCELLATION

BountyFishing reserves the right to add, delete, or modify the list of eligible species, enhance, change, alter, or terminate the tournaments at any time.

14) GENERAL RELEASE

Fishing presents hazards at any time: weather, faulty equipment and poor seamanship, to name a few. As a condition of entering the Tournament the participant fully indemnifies BountyFishing and all it’s, employees, directors, representatives and agents.

15) MODIFICATIONS

These Rules may be amended or modified by BountyFishing in its sole discretion at any time. Any such amendments will be posted to this page and will apply to any transactions and events that occur after the effective date thereof. It is your responsibility to review this page from time to time for such amendments.

16) REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS (beta)

The following rules currently apply to Largemouth North only.

Rules 1 through 15 apply to regional tournaments. Please make sure to read them carefully.
A region is defined as a list of eligible states/provinces that may be fished for entry into a regional tournament. BountyFishing regional tournaments work the same way as our regular tournaments with the following rule additions:

1. You can only use a daily BountyCode. Weekly codes will NOT be accepted. If your photo contains a weekly code your entry will be disqualified so please be careful.

2. You will be required to submit 2 photos of landmarks that proves your fish was caught in the region you're competing in. Take one picture before fishing and one picture after. The SAME camera that is used to take the "Fish with Ruler" and "Fish with Angler" photo must be used to take the landmark photos. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Examples of landmarks including but not limited to are:

• Your house or hotel.
• A marina or boat launch.
• A tackle shop.
• Famous landmark.
• An intersection showing both street signs.

Regions For Largemouth Bass North and Largemouth Bass South are defined as follows:

NORTH: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland / Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming

SOUTH: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisianna, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia

Please note: Residents from certain states/provinces, although included in the defined regions, are currently ineligible for tournament entry. See eligibility.

This rule may be amended or modified by BountyFishing in its sole discretion at any time. Any such amendments or modifications will be posted to this page so please check back regularly.

Last updated: Jun 10,2008