Team Series Rules

2026 OFFICIAL RULES (Updated 1-16-26)

1.      PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY:

  1. Participation in the MLF Team Series is available to current MLF Bass Pro Tour anglers.
  2. Anglers must arrive onsite by 3 p.m. the day prior to their match for media interviews.
  3. Anglers must use boats and wear jerseys provided by Major League Fishing. Anglers are not permitted to remove, cover or otherwise obscure any logos on the provided jerseys. This includes obstruction by wearable action cameras. 
  4. Anglers can wear any rain gear they choose but the rain gear may not have any logos displayed that are not mutual sponsors of the  Team Series. A sponsor list will be provided in advance upon request and at the pretournament meeting. 

2.      INTERPRETATION, ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY:

  1. The MLF Tournament Director oversees the interpretation and enforcement of these rules. If there is a rules violation, the Tournament Director will determine the angler or team’s penalty in consultation with the rules infraction committee. These penalties may include disqualification, loss of weight, points and winnings, prohibition from participation in future MLF events, and loss of fishing time. 
  2. Anglers are required to report any concerns about possible rule violations by another competitor. If an angler witnesses a rule violation, the angler must report that violation to his own in-boat MLF Official and the Tournament Director as soon as practical, but no later than the end of competition for the day.
  3. All teams will start from and return to the same official check point unless otherwise instructed by the Tournament Director (such as enacting the MLF trailering policy).
  4. Before Lines-In, anglers will follow all instructions from the Tournament Director and his designees.
  5. Teams will leave the staging area for Lines-In when instructed by MLF Officials.  
  6. The MLF SCORETRACKER® scoring system device will serve as the official clock.
  7. Each MLF Official will give their anglers a countdown to Lines-In (beginning of competition). At the end of each period and match, each MLF Official will provide their anglers an official countdown to Lines-Out.
  8. Regarding the final cast of any period and round, any bass hooked on the final cast must be inside the gunnel before time expires for it to be scorable.
  9. The total weight of every scorable bass caught during the day will determine each team’s place for that day unless otherwise instructed by the Tournament Director. 
  10. Anglers must operate their boats at a safe speed and in a safe manner at all times.
  11. In the event of an emergency, competitors must call 911 first and then notify the Tournament Director.
  12. Anglers and MLF Officials are allowed to leave the boat and seek shelter in bad weather where danger my be imminent. 
  13. Once an angler is eliminated from competition, that angler is not allowed back on the event waters without approval from theTournament Director.

3.      MATCH TIE-BREAKER: If two (or more) teams are tied at the end of any match, meaning they have caught the same total scorable weight, the following tie-breaking rules apply:

  1. The day’s heaviest bass will break ties. If a tie remains, it will be broken by the day’s second heaviest bass and then by the day’s third heaviest bass, etc. until the tie is broken. If a tie remains after all bass are considered, it will be broken by a sudden-death one-hour fish-off. The first team to catch a scorable bass wins the tiebreaker.

4.      DISQUALIFICATION:

  1. If a team is disqualified prior to the start of a Team Series Cup, the team will forfeit their match and any payout to which they were previously eligible. If time allows, MLF may assemble an alternate team from undrafted anglers that will compete in place of the disqualified team. 
  2. If a team is disqualified during or after a Team Series Cup, the team in the next position in the affected match will replace them in the next match for which the disqualified team was previously eligible. The disqualified team will also forfeit any payout to which they were previously eligible. 
  3. If an angler is disqualified or otherwise drops out of competition prior to the start of a Team Series Cup, the angler will be replaced by the next available alternate as selected by MLF. The angler that was disqualified or otherwise dropped out will forfeit any payout to which he was previously eligible. 

5.      LAWS, BOATS, SAFETY AND WEATHER:

  1. All anglers must have a valid fishing license for the waters they fish.
  2. Anglers are responsible for knowing all boating and fishing regulations for the waters they fish and must adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws. MLF Officials are required to contact the MLF Tournament Director or his designee with any questions or concerns about an angler’s potential action that may violate a law. An MLF Official must immediately report anangler’s potential violation to the MLF Tournament Director or his designee. Some regulations may differ from these rules, resulting in fines, citations or other penalties from local law enforcement and could result in event penalties as determined by the Tournament Director. 
  3. Boats for MLF Team Series competition will be supplied by MLF and will be fully equipped with all essentials to meet state water safety requirements. The back deck storage compartments must be left open for the MLF Official and camera operator’s gear. No additional forward facing and/or 360-degree sonar transducers or units may be added to the boats, including mapping chips. The MLF Tournament Director or his designee has the right to delay, shorten, suspend or cancel the start of an event because of bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of anglers, officials and camera operators. Competition waters may also be restricted at any time because of bad weather. If at least two periods have been completed on a delayed or shortened competition day, the day may be deemed complete. 
  4. Anglers, officials and camera operators are allowed to leave the boat and seek shelter in bad weather where danger may be imminent.
  5. When traveling, anglers will have first choice of seating positions in the driver and passenger seats. Camera operators have the next choice of seating position, with the option to sit on the front deck, floor or open passenger seat, and officials will sit in the remaining position, front deck, floor or open seating position.  

6.      SPORTSMANSHIP:

  1. A Sportsmanship violation is defined as aggressive or hostile behavior directed at a fellow Angler, MLF Official, a non-competitor or any representative of MLF, including the use of profanity directed at these individuals. Sportsmanship violations will not be tolerated. MLF Officials are required to report any such violations to the MLF Tournament Director. Any Sportsmanship violation penalty will be determined by the MLF Tournament Director, and the Rules Infraction Committee made up of the MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager and MLF Vice President of Operations.
  2. MLF will not tolerate actions that reflect unfavorably upon MLF, MLF sponsors, MLF spectators and fishery conservation.
  3. Anglers are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any violation of the standards may be deemed cause for disqualification.
  4. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than drugs purchased over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any Angler during ride around and competition hours could be subject to disciplinary action, including disqualification. This decision is at the discretion of the MLF Tournament Director.
  5. Maximum courtesy must be practiced always, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters.
  6. All competitors are bound by the laws and policies that are set forth by the various states/counties which they fish. Some regulations may differ from these rules, resulting in fines, citations or other penalties from local law enforcement and could result in event penalties. All anglers are responsible for knowing all local boating and fishing regulations.
  7. Disqualification, suspension or other disciplinary action imposed by other tournament-fishing organizations could also result in disqualification from MLF.
  8. Substance addiction or abuse or conviction of a serious crime may be deemed cause for disqualification from an MLF event.

7.      TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT:

  1. Fish care and conservation is a Major League Fishing priority. All bass must be caught in a conventional sporting manner.
  2. Use of nets and grippers for landing bass is prohibited.
  3. Only artificial lures can be used.
  4. All bass caught while sight-fishing (visually targeting bass other than bass feeding on the surface) must be hooked inside the mouth and immediately shown to your MLF Official for verification before removal of any hooks to be counted in your daily weight. Inside the mouth is defined as when the bass’s mouth is closed in its natural position, it will cover the entry point of the hook. If a bass becomes unhooked before it can be verified, it will not be scored. 
  5. Once a bass is located visually (sight-fishing), it can only be scored one time per day, per team. Violation of this rule may result in loss of weight, loss of fishing time, a fine or any other penalty as outlined in 2A as determined by the Tournament Director. 
  6. Alabama rigs and similar umbrella-type rigs are not allowed. Umbrella rigs are determined to be any nontraditional lure or harness using wires, lines or hooks to connect multiple teasers, including but not limited to swimbaits, grubs or spinners. The use of braid or other line to attach a single stinger hook to a lure is allowed as long as the line is no more than 2 inches in length. Traditional spinner baits with a maximum of five blades, including “twin spins” with a maximum of two arms, are acceptable so long as the arm length does not exceed 6 inches from the tie point. The use of plastic trailers, pork trailers and blades are acceptable as long as they are not connected by additional wires or harnesses. Soft plastics must be molded as a single unit and are limited to a maximum of three main bodies. Traditional double fluke, front-runner, double drop-shot and popping cork rigs with a maximum of two hooks are grandfathered in and will be permitted in competition unless otherwise restricted by state regulations. 
  7. If a competitor breaks their line while setting the hook or retrieving a scorable bass, they can use whatever means necessary to land that bass. If the angler leaves the boat to land the bass, they will be subject to a 3-minute penalty per Rule No. 29.A.
  8. Trolling utilizing the outboard or trolling motor, as a means of fishing by pulling your lure is NOT allowed. Long lining/strolling is acceptable.

8.      IN-BOAT MLF OFFICIALS ROLE:

  1. A fully trained and certified MLF Official will accompany each team throughout each day’s competition.
  2. Each boat will be equipped with an MLF SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device that will be linked to a central database system. The device will provide anglers with a leaderboard that shows the status of the event leaders.
  3. The duties of the MLF Official will be to weigh and record the weight of each scorable catch, update the MLF SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device, “call the game” and communicate with the base of operation. The official will continually announce updates to the angler regardless of whether the angler wants the information.
  4. The MLF Official will give the angler SCORETRACKER® updates. MLF Officials will also give the angler SCORETRACKER®updates of any significant fish scored at any other time, known as “flash updates.”
  5. The MLF Official will serve as the rule enforcer and the official scorekeeper.
  6. Specific Penalty Violations will be assessed “on the spot” by the MLF Official and all other
    violations will be reported to the MLF Tournament Director or his representative.
  7. Rules decisions made by an MLF Official are considered final, unless an angler chooses to contact the MLF Tournament Director.

9.      THE WEIGHING OF BASS:

  1. All MLF events shall utilize the term “scorable bass.” A scorable bass is any bass caught that meets or exceeds the minimum weight requirement for that specific round. Any bass caught that weighs less than the minimum requirement shall be deemed “non-scoreable.” The minimum weight requirement shall be determined by the Fisheries Management Division and will be announced in each event’s schedule of events.
  2. Every scorable bass in each match will be used to calculate results in Team Series events. Anglers are encouraged to weigh every bass that may be scorable to assist the MLF Fisheries Management Division with fisheries research. 
  3. Only anglers will handle bass caught during competition. Once a bass is caught, the bass will be set onto the official scale by the angler. To prevent miscalibration, the angler is not allowed to clip the fish onto the gripper until the hooks are removed. In the event a hook cannot be removed without harming the fish, the angler will remove any visible line and weights but will be allowed to weigh the fish with the embedded hook. The angler must notify his official if his fish has an embedded hook. Once a bass is set onto the official scale, the angler cannot make another cast until the bass is released. This provision does not, however, prohibit the angler’s teammate from casting.  
  4. The MLF Official will stand up, hold the scale vertically with the gripper hanging freely, grasp the wrist of the hand holding the scale with the other hand and hold arms at a 90-degree angle with elbows at the side. The bass must be held steady allowing the scale to be clearly read by the MLF Official and in full view of the TV camera. Anglers are not permitted to touch the scale during the weighing process. 
  5. Should a bass be less than the official minimum weight, the MLF Official shall announce the weight followed by it being deemed “non-scorable.” Should a bass meet or exceed the minimum weight, the official will proceed to call the weight in pounds and ounces.
  6. The MLF Official will call the weight. If the call is challenged by the angler, the MLF Official will zero the scale and re-weigh the bass a maximum of two (2) additional times. Then the MLF Official will make the final call, “the official weight is.” The bass cannot be dipped into the water between re-weighs. The exception to this rule is the extremely rare occasion that a scale malfunctions and dipping the fish is necessary for the health of the fish. Any exception will be determined by the MLF Official.
  7. After the official weight is announced (or after a bass is deemed non-scorable) the angler must cease all actions and remove the bass from the scale, immediately releasing the bass below the gunnel into the water, unless a photograph or DNA sample of the fish is required. MLF requires the MLF Official to take several photographs of significant fish throughout each Match.
  8. The MLF Official will immediately record the weight in writing on the MLF “Manual SCORETRACKER® Sheet” and enter the weight into the official MLF SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device.
  9. If an angler catches an exceptional bass, one that may potentially break lake, state or MLF records, the bass may be placed in a functioning livewell, and the angler must immediately contact the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director will work with the MLF media team to determine if a photographer or videographer can arrive in adequate time, based on weather/water conditions, to document the fish. The Tournament Director will then instruct the angler on when the fish must be released.  
  10. At the end of the match, the angler will sign the “Manual SCORETRACKER® Sheet.” If the angler disagrees with any written weight, the angler must present video footage that indicates proof thereof to the MLF Tournament Director.
  11. The angler may request the use of the MLF Officials’ backup scale once per competition day. Once the backup scale has been requested, the MLF Official will use that scale for the remainder of the day and the angler cannot request the use of the other scale. If the scale malfunctions, as determined solely by the Official, the backup scale may be used at any time.

10. MLF OFFICIAL OBLIGATIONS:

  1. MLF Officials are required to have knowledge of SCORETRACKER® operation. SCORETRACKER® operation will be explained during MLF Official Training before the events, and in briefings before each competition.
  2. Anglers and MLF Officials are to be honest and timely with catch and weight reports. Any competitor who, in the judgment of the MLF Tournament Director, advises MLF Officials to neglect or falsely report catches or weights will be penalized.
  3. MLF Officials will carry GPS systems and cell phones during the events to communicate with MLF event officials and other boats on the water.
  4. MLF Officials will bring a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device as part of their equipment bag to each event.
  5. MLF Officials are not allowed to text information to anyone other than Major League Fishing media and event officials, unless in an emergency.
  6. MLF Officials can assist an angler with his personal camera if the angler requests help and the MLF Official is comfortable doing so. Major League Fishing cameras and POV cameras always take priority over angler’s personal cameras, in terms of placement and access to batteries/chargers. 

11. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS:

  1. Competition waters shall be established by MLF for each day of each event. Each competitor must obtain this information from the Tournament Director. Pros may fish anywhere on competition waters available to the public and accessible by boat except areas posted or otherwise designated as “off-limits,” “no boats,” “keep out,” “restricted,” “no trespassing” or “no fishing” (or similar language or markings intended to restrict public access for fishing or safety) by MLF, commercial property owners and/or local, state or federal officials. Off-limits boundaries set by authorities or event officials should be treated as a wall, meaning anglers cannot cast over that boundary while fishing. 
  2. All angling must be done from inside the boat. If forced to leave an area where landowners have the legal authority to claim private property, a team must report the incident to the Tournament Director as soon as possible. Any water to which a team is denied access automatically becomes off-limits to all competitors. When fishing around private property, both feet must be inside the boat such that the anglers center of gravity is also inside the boat. The trolling motor mount will also be considered part of the boat. If a cast has already been made, an angler may momentarily use their foot to hold their boat off private property to avoid damaging it due to wind or wave action. 
  3. Any questionable areas must be brought to the attention of the MLF Tournament Director. Such areas will be considered and will be announced to the field. The MLF Tournament Director has the right to restrict or modify competition waters based on any new information or conversations with local authorities.
  4. Anglers are not allowed to cut, remove, displace, or alter any type of structure on private property (dry land) at any time during an MLF event. Anglers can move structures to include sawing of logs or other obstructions in the water if the local laws permit it. No angler may place any object in the water or on dry land that could put another boater or angler in danger.
  5. Anglers are not allowed to enter private property to fish or locate fish beginning with the ride around and extending through the end of competition for the tournament. Anglers can entry private property to land a scorable bass, but the Angler will be subject to a 3-minute penalty per Rule No. 29.A.  

12. COMPETITORS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT:

  1. During the event days, anglers cannot leave the boat to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. An angler is determined to be in the boat so long as his center of gravity remains inside the gunnel. If the boat becomes lodged while attempting to gain access into fishable water, the angler can leave the boat without penalty to attempt to dislodge. If the angler does dislodge the boat (by pushing) into the area they were attempting to enter, they must immediately exit this area. The angler can continue to attempt access into such area, however, if access is accomplished it must be done so while the angler was inside the boat.
  2. Anglers are not permitted to alter the factory flotation of their boat, including adding excessive weight (even temporarily by taking on water), to pass under low hanging obstacles. 
  3. Anglers can leave the boat to retrieve a lure or a rod without penalty. All fishing by that competitor must cease until the competitor is back in the boat.
  4. Boats must remain in event waters during tournament hours, except when the Trailering Policy is active. Anglers must leave from and return to official checkpoints. Anglers can exit the boat for any reason other than fishing and Rule No. 12.A without penalty. Anglers can purchase baits and tackle in person from retail outlets during competition.

13. SCORING: 

Competition standings and final winners shall be determined by the pound-and-ounce weight of each team’s catch during each match. Only largemouth, smallmouth, mean mouth, or spotted bass will be weighed and counted. Every scorable bass will be counted for each team member and the total combined weight from all three members on a team will be the team’s weight.   

14. PAIRINGS:

MLF Officials and MLF Camera Operators will be assigned to each angler the evening prior to competition. MLF Officials and anglers pairing will be done by automated randomizer. The MLF Tournament Director or his designee may reassign MLF Officials at any time.

15. TAXES:

  1. There may be events in states that have laws requiring income taxes to be withheld on cash awards to non-residents. If that is the case, the taxes will be automatically deducted from the angler’s winnings prior to the awards being presented.
  2. Anglers are responsible for all applicable taxes, execution of all tax forms, and rules on both cash and merchandise awards. 

16. WAIVER AND RELEASE:

As a condition of participation in each event, anglers and MLF Officials must execute a waiver and release of liability and a name and likeness release.

17. NO INFORMATION:

  1. Anglers are prohibited from intentionally soliciting or intentionally receiving any information pertaining to tournament waters from a non-competitor for the purpose of locating or catching bass within 60 miles of the city center once a tournament location is announced. If any such information is unintentionally being received from a non-competitor, the MLF Bass Pro Tour angler must politely ask the non-competitor to cease from divulging the information.
  2. Once an angler learns of a Team Series location, the angler is prohibited from intentionally soliciting, intentionally receiving, or intentionally sharing specific location information pertaining to potential tournament waters within 60 miles of the city center with any other angler, except for their teammate in the event, for the expressed purpose of locating or catching bass. 
    • “Intentionally Soliciting” is defined as deliberately asking for, or in any conceivable way deliberately communicating a request for information.
    • “Intentionally Receiving” is defined as deliberately engaging in any behavior for the purpose of receiving information and the information is actually received.
    • “Intentionally Sharing” is defined as deliberately communicating information, in any conceivable way, with another Bass Pro Tour angler.
    • “Non-competitor” is defined as any person who is not currently a Bass Pro Tour angler, or a Bass Pro Tour angler who has been eliminated from active waters of the MLF tournament.
    • “Specific Location Information” is defined as way points, coordinates, longitudes, latitudes, unique or specific landmarks, code words, graph images or other distinctive descriptors of a position to fish. Specific location information does not include general terms of locations, such as “docks,” “grass,” “shoals,” etc. Such terms are not considered to be specific location information, unless they are considered distinctive, identifiable or named.
  3. Anglers may not use any mapping or GPS device including boat electronics, cell phones, tablets, or computers to research any information about any possible fisheries within 60 miles of the city center once a tournament location is announced until the start of their ride around. 
  4. Competing anglers are prohibited from sharing fishing information of any kind – locations, patterns, tactics, baits, etc. with other competing anglers, except for their teammate, from takeoff through lines out on each day of competition. 
  5. Anglers are prohibited from intentionally sharing another teams fishing location(s) on active tournament waters with other active anglers.
  6. Anglers are prohibited from using drones or aircrafts for the purpose of scouting tournament waters. This includes viewing any images, footage, or any other data from drones or aircrafts. MLF Anglers are prohibited from using drones for any reason during competition hours. 
  7. MLF Anglers are prohibited from viewing or receiving information from anyone about the live streaming broadcast of an active MLF tournament, including SCORETRACKER® Insider, until eliminated from competition. Inadvertent or unintentional information received from the live streaming broadcast, including SCORETRACKER® Insider, must be reported to the MLF Tournament Director. The exception to this rule is live streaming video during activations approved by the MLF Tournament Director where the live streaming video is played.
  8. MLF Anglers are prohibited from studying or investigating any published content pertaining to an active MLF tournament, until eliminated from competition. MLF Anglers are allowed to post videos and photographs provided to them by Major League Fishing. Inadvertent or unintentional viewing of published content pertaining to an active MLF tournament must be reported to the MLF Tournament Director.
  9. During any non-competition day (or day off), anglers are prohibited from intentionally watching or spying on other actively competing anglers, including viewing SCORETRACKER®. Inadvertent or incidental observations of actively competing anglers is not considered intentional.
  10. Should an angler receive information that potentially gives him or his team a competitive advantage, such as locations, baits, topography, conditions, etc., including unsolicited information, he is required to share that information with the MLF Tournament Director as soon as reasonable. The MLF Tournament Director shall determine whether this information should be subsequently shared with any or all other MLF Team Series anglers.
    (Penalty Per Rule 2 – MLF Tournament Director: Sharing Information)

18. GPS STORED WAYPOINTS:

No pre-determined, user-generated GPS waypoints will be allowed. Waypoints may only be marked during competition hours.
(Penalty Per Rule 2 – MLF Tournament Director: Illegal GPS Waypoints)

19. OFF LIMITS: 

Competition waters are off limits except for when anglers are competing in the actual MLF Team Series event.
(Penalty Per Rule 2 – MLF Tournament Director: Illegal Scouting)

20. ASSESSING PENALTIES:

  1. Unless otherwise specified, if an MLF Official calls a penalty on an angler, both anglers comprising the team must immediately stop all activities, including fishing. The team is allowed to drop its shallow water anchors or engage theirtrolling motor’s spot lock. ALL other activities, except for talking to the camera operator about the team’s fishing day up to that point or what they are going to do next are not allowed, and additional penalty time will be added for a penalty compliance violation for each occurrence.
  2. If a penalty results from a fish landing violation the bass must be immediately weighed and released. The MLF Official is required to manually record the weight of the bass before he starts the penalty clock on the SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device.
  3. MLF Officials are not allowed to enter the penalty on the SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device before the weight is first manually recorded. Anglers must not request the MLF Official to start the penalty clock before the weight is first manually entered.
  4. Both anglers on the team must sit down and are not allowed to do ANYTHING during his penalty time except for talking to the camera operator about their fishing day up to that point or what it is that they are going to do next.
    (Penalty – Official: Penalty Compliance Violation, 1 Minute Additional Penalty – Both Anglers)

21. PENALTY CARRY-OVER: 

If an angler is assessed a penalty at the end of the day, the penalty time spent will be at the “start of fishing” on the angler’s next day of competition. The beginning ride around time cannot be used for penalty time.

22. LINES-IN:

During the countdown to begin fishing and at the end of a penalty, the angler cannot cast his lure before the MLF Official says “Lines In.”
(Penalty – Official: Lines-In Violation, 2 Minutes at Start of Period – Both Anglers)

23. LINES-OUT: 

When the MLF Official has called “Lines Out, End of Period” or “Lines Out, End of Match,” the angler cannot make another cast.
(Penalty – Official: Lines-Out Violation, 2 Minutes Carry-Over Penalty – Both Anglers)

24. ENCROACHMENT: 

There is no official buoy distance rule. However, at no time is an angler allowed to interfere with another angler’s line. If an angler casts close to another angler and hooks into his line, the casting angler will be penalized.
(Penalty – Official: Hooking other’s line, 2 Minutes Immediate, stop fishing when line untangled – Both Anglers)

25. LANDING BASS: 

While landing bass, the weight of the bass cannot come to rest on the boat floor or any other part of the boat inside the gunnel, or it will be assessed a fish landing violation. If a bass comes unhooked from the bait and falls to the floor or comes to rest on any other area inside of the boat, it will be assessed as a fish landing violation. Exception from this rule will be laying the bass on the floor to remove a deep-set hook, only after it has been properly landed without touching the floor. The angler should first ask the MLF Official if the angler can lay the bass on the floor. 
(Penalty – Official: Fish Landing Violation, 2 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

26. FLAGRANT FISH LANDING:

  1. Should an angler intentionally harm a bass in any way during the landing process, the action shall be deemed a flagrant fish landing violation.
  2. The difference between a regular fish landing violation and a flagrant fish landing violation is intent. A regular fish landing violation is the result of an unintended action. A flagrant fish landing violation is the result of an intended action, such as boat flipping a bass onto the bottom of the boat.
  3. Should an angler hook multiple bass on one bait, and intentionally harm them as described above, a flagrant fish landing violation penalty will be assessed for every bass that is hooked.
  4. If a bass is landed by lifting or pulling it up with the angler’s rod and purposely dropping it on the
    floor (boat flipping), a flagrant fish landing violation will be charged. 
    (Penalty – Official: Flagrant Fish Landing Violation, 5 Minutes immediate, stop Fishing – Both Anglers)

27. RELEASING BASS: 

When releasing any bass, scorable or non-scorable, the angler’s hand must be at gunnel level or closer to the water. Flipping or tossing of bass is prohibited and will be considered a fish release violation. If the anglers’ full intention was to properly release the fish, and they were in the action and motion to do so, a violation will not be assessed.
(Penalty – Official: Fish Release Violation, 2 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

28. ONE LINE:

  1. Only ONE fishing rod per angler may be used at a time. Dragging a line from a stationary rod is not permitted. Fishing is defined as having a lure attached to a line and a rod and reel with the rod in hand or otherwise under the angler’s control. No bass caught on a second rod or line will be scorable. 
  2. If an angler’s lure becomes hung, the angler is permitted to fish with a new rod before retrieving the hung lure. The new rod in use becomes the ONE line. If a bass is caught on the original hung lure upon retrieval, the bass is not scorable. Once the lure is retrieved, it can be recast and the rod once again becomes the ONE line.
  3. Anglers are permitted to hold a second rod and tie on lures, untangle line, etc., so long as the lure on the second rod is not in the water. 
    (Penalty – Official: Illegal 2nd Line, 1 Minute immediate, stop fishing when 2nd lure is retrieved – Both Anglers)

29. LEAVING BOAT TO FISH:

a. Anglers may not leave the boat for the purpose of fishing. Leaving the boat to assist in landing a scorable bass, as an act of fishing, will result in a penalty. Although penalized, if an angler retrieves a scorable bass, the bass will be counted toward his weight total. Leaving the boat for non-fishing reasons is allowed without a penalty.
(Penalty – Official: Leaving Boat to Land Fish, 3 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

b. The MLF Official and MLF camera operator may not leave the boat to help the angler for any reason. If the boat drifts away from where the angler left the boat, the MLF Official may retrieve the boat to allow angler access. However, a 2-minute penalty will be assessed. The exception to this rule is that the MLF Official may leave the boat only in a situation where the integrity of the game is at risk, but a longer penalty will be assessed.
(Penalty – Official: Boat Retrieval, 2 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

c. Should an angler’s boat get stuck and the angler needs assistance in any form from anyone - including the MLF Official, MLF camera operator, and/or other anglers, a penalty will be assessed once the boat is freed and the angler is back in the boat.
(Penalty – Official: Official Assistance, 15 minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

30. GOING NEUTRAL:

Anglers are required to “go neutral” immediately after their MLF Official calls “Lines Out, End of Period” or “Lines Out, End of Match.” Going neutral means the angler is required to immediately stop fishing and return directly to the boat landing where they launched. The angler cannot use this time to gain any competitive advantage over other anglers. 
(Penalty – Official: Failure to “Go Neutral,” 5 Minutes at the start of the next fishing period – Both Anglers)

31. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE: 

Each Angler must have two Coast Guard-approved chest-type or inflatable personal floatation devices. The angler’s personal floatation device must be strapped, snapped or zippered securely and maintained in that condition any time the combustion engine is in gear. The MLF Official’s personal floatation device must be on, and the MLF Official must be seated before the boat is put on plane. MLF camera operators are also required to wear a personal floatation device when the boat is on plane.
(Penalty - Official: Safe-boat Conduct Penalty, 3 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

32. IGNITION SHUTOFF DEVICE: 

The angler must have his boat’s ignition shutoff device connected any time the combustion engine is in gear.
(Penalty – Official: Ignition Shutoff Device Connection, 5 Minutes immediate, stop fishing – Both Anglers)

33. IMPEDANCE: 

  1. Anglers cannot knowingly put their MLF Official or camera operator in a situation where they are unable to perform their job. This includes being in an area where there is no connectivity with the SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device for more than 15 consecutive minutes.
  2. Once the boat enters an area where the SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device loses
    connectivity, the MLF Official will announce “We have lost SCORETRACKER® connectivity. You have 15 minutes before you must return to an area of connectivity.” Once the 15 consecutive minutes has elapsed, the MLF Official will announce “You have reached your 15 minutes of connectivity loss. You must stop fishing and return to an area of connectivity.” At this point the angler must immediately stop fishing and return the boat to an area of SCORETRACKER® connectivity. This includes making another cast after the MLF Official has announced the 15 minutes of lost connectivity has elapsed. Failure to do so will result in a penalty.
  3. Any bass caught between the time after the MLF Official has announced the 15 minutes of lost connectivity has elapsed and before the SCORETRACKER® Scoring System Device has regained connectivity will be deemed non-scorable.
    (Penalty-Official: Impedance Violation, 15 minutes once connectivity is reestablished, stop fishing – Both Anglers)