STRAFFORD COUNTY ANGLERS
2025 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
(BYLAWS)

President: Dave Connolly               Tournament Director: Bryan Lucius
Weigh Masters: Troy Page & Brad Bickford
The Godfather: Richard Page

ABOUT THE CLUB:
                      Strafford County Anglers (SCA) is a bass fishing club comprised of local anglers who engage in low-key competition.
                      SCA is a pre-pay club. All teams must fulfill all monetary obligations prior to fishing an event.
                      SCA is a team-based club. All accumulated weights and results go to the primary boat and angler on file.

MEMBERSHIP:
                  SCA will consist of no more than 10 teams for the 2025 season.
                  All teams will pay a one-time club dues of $60.
                  All teams will pay a total of $660 for tournament fees.
                  $60 + $660 = $720 grand total for 2025.
                  Returning teams from 2024 must show intent by January 1, 2025 (submitted application + $60). This will be done on a first come, first serve basis.
                  After January 1, 2025; providing there are openings; new teams must show intent by April 1, 2025 (submitted application + $60). Applications are subject to acceptance by club officers.
                  All teams must remit at least $330 no later than two (2) weeks prior to the 1st scheduled tournament. The remainder $330 must be submitted no later than August 1, 2025. Teams may pay in full prior to the 1st scheduled tournament.
                 All monies paid in are NON-REFUNDABLE.

TOURNAMENTS:
                   The 2025 tournament trail will consist of 11 (eleven) total events. 
                   Each team will drop one (1) tournament result after the completion of tournament #10 to determine year end standings.
                   TOC: The top 4 teams will compete in Tournament of Champions. The 1st 10 (ten) tournaments will be considered the regular season which results from will determine the Team of the Year (TOTY) and the Tournament of Champions (TOC) participants. The 11th (eleventh) tournament will be the TOC and club finale.
                    Pre-fishing cut-off will be the Sunday prior to the upcoming event at 11:59pm. If determined that the pre-fishing cut-off is violated, that team(s) will be disqualified from the upcoming event.
                    Tournament times will be from 7am to 3pm unless otherwise adjusted by club president and/or tournament director due to adverse weather conditions.
                    All teams must arrive 1/2 hour prior to tournament start. All late arrivals must check-in via text to the club president, tournament director or weigh master or if no phone service is available; to the closet boat.
                    All boats will be subject to a livewell check prior to take-off.
                    Take off order will be determined by a random draw the evening prior to the event. This draw will also determine the weigh-in order. There will be NO early weigh-ins.
                    All boats must be at the predesignated weigh-in site, off plane, promptly at 3pm (or earlier if deemed by the club president and/or tournament director due to adverse weather conditions).
                    There will be a 1/2 pound (8 ounces) penalty accessed for every minute late.
                    All boats must remain in the water for their catch to be weighed and officially recorded.
                    All boats must provide their own solid weigh-in bag (non mesh).
                    There will be a 1/2 pound (8 ounces) penalty for each dead fish. All dead fish will be included in the weigh-in.
                    There will be NO culling of dead fish. Should a fish die in your possession, you must keep it and it must be included in your tournament bag limit.
                    There will be a 2 pound penalty for each "short" (under 12 inches) fish presented at weigh-in. "Short" fish weight will be included in total weight. Measuring of fish will be at the discretion of the Weigh Master.
                    Tournament fish limits:
                                                 Prior to June 16; 2 (two) per angler
                                                 After June 15; 5 (five) per boat.
                    All live fish must be released back into the main body of water, no less than 150' from shore.
                    All dead fish must either be taken from the event or sunk out in the main body of water, no less than 150' from shore.
                    Proper fish handling techniques shall be utilized to minimize the harm to or death of fish.
                    Each team may request re-weighs to ensure scale accuracy. Request must be asked prior to accepting fish back from Weigh Masters. New re-weigh weight will be recorded whether it's more or less than the original weight. By accepting fish back from Weigh Masters; it is understood that the weight is agreed upon and accepted.
                      PFDs MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE BIG MOTOR IS UNDERWAY.

CANCELLATIONS:
                     In the event of a cancellation, Club Officials will attempt to reschedule the event to a later date. If accommodations cannot be met (due to scheduling conflicts, permits, etc.) the event will be cancelled and will not count as anyone's yearly drop. The money from said tournament will be evenly distributed between the remaining REGULAR season tournament payouts. 

POINT SYSTEM:
                   To determine the TOTY & TOC participants; SCA will institute a points system. The following points will be recorded for each team for each event as follows:
                                             1st.....11
                                             2nd...9
                                             3rd...8
                                             4th....7
                                             5th....6
                                             6th....5
                                             7th....4
                                             8th....3
                                             9th....2
                                             10th...1
                                       Lunker.....1/2 (.5)
All teams at weigh-in will be rewarded a placement, regardless of fish count.
In the event of a tie at an individual event, teams will be rewarded points for the number of positions; divided by the number of tied teams. (IE: 2 (two) teams tied for 1st, 11+9=20 divided by 2=10 points for each team).
In the event of a tie in total points after Tournament #10; the tie breaker will be determined by on how many 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. places are achieved by the tied teams.
 

GRIEVANCES:
                Any grievances must be brought forth to the Tournament Director PRIOR to leaving the event. Any grievance may be discussed with the Club Officials by the Tournament Director at any time. Resolution of any grievance will be handled by the Tournament Director and/or President in a timely matter.


SUBSTITUTE ANGLERS:
                             Each team will be allowed 2 (two) separate substitute anglers for the year whom may be used more than once. 
All substitutes must be approved by the Club Officials PRIOR to the event. 
                             ALL substitutes will pay a 1 (one) time fee of $30.
                             In the event a permanent substitute is needed; a new membership application must be filled out and approved by the Club Officials.
                             There will be NO guest teams.

MONEY DISBURSEMENTS:
                                1) Club Dues: $60 from each team will be divided equally between the TOTY and TOC winners.
                                2) Substitute Dues: $30 from each substitute will be divided equally between the TOTY and TOC winners.
                                3) Tournament Fees: $660 from each team will be disbursed as tournament pay-outs.
                                4) Tournament Pay-outs:
                                        1st place: $300
                                        2nd place: $160
                                        3rd place: $80
                                        Lunker*: $60
                                *Lunker will be the largest weight bass; either smallmouth                                     or largemouth (alive, not dead).

The Club Officers will have final interpretation of these bylaws.

                    Adopted by club officers October 2024.