2026 NTBA TOURNAMENT RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES
1. RULE CHANGES: Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Director. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Director(Committee if applicable) may impose such sanctions as he deems appropriate. Including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. Any decision of the Tournament Director shall be final in all matters.
2. PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Contestants (co-anglers excluded) who have paid an entry to any B.A.S.S. Elite, Major League Fishing, or The National Professional Fishing League within the last twelve (12) months prior to date of tournament will be ineligible to participate in that NTBA tournament. An exception to this rule would be an angler who qualified for the BASSMASTER Classic through the B.A.S.S Team Championship. Anglers under the age of eighteen (18) may participate with the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Anyone convicted of a felony within the past three (3) years is ineligible to enter any NTBA tournament. Anyone who has been found guilty of cheating in any local or national fishing tournament will not be allowed to compete in any NTBA event. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. The NTBA reserves the right to reject a membership application or deny membership or tournament entry fees for any reason at any time. By signing an official entry form or paying an entry fee and fishing a NTBA event, you (the angler) agree to all rules and regulations and agree to assume all risks associated with any events, thereby releasing National Team Bass Association, its sponsors, tournament director(s), committee, owners, and employees, and anyone else associated with the NTBA of any and all liability you may incur during a NTBA event. This includes, but is not limited to, damages, claims, and expenses relating to the injury of any person, including yourself, and to damages incurred to any property, including your own, due to your participation in a NTBA event.
3. PRE TOURNAMENT PRACTICE: There are no off-limit periods or official practice days prior to an NTBA event. EACH COMPETITOR AGREES TO SUBMIT, BY HIS SIGNATURE ON THE ENTRY FORM, TO A POLYGRAPH TEST. The administration and interpretation of the polygraph test shall be solely the responsibility of the Tournament Director, and his agents, and shall be used (or not used) at the discretion of the Tournament Director. Without limiting the foregoing, the Tournament Officials shall have sole discretion to select the place at which such polygraph test shall be administered, the individual who administers such polygraph test, and the scope of the questions, that may be asked during such test. The competitor shall be available, at his expense, at the location selected by the Tournament Director and shall cooperate in all respects with such examination. If any competitor refuses a polygraph exam it will result in immediate disqualification and all entry fees and prizes will be forfeited. All participants agree to abide by the results of the polygraph exam. Failure to pass polygraph test will result in the same result as the refusal to submit to same.
4. REGISTRATION: Each competitor is required to submit an official entry form prior to the tournament. Registration and membership are to be paid online at FISHING CHAOS APP.
5. SAFETY: Safe boat conduct must be always observed by tournament competitors. During the
Tournament, each competitor is required to wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life preserver. This preserver must be worn whenever the engine is operating during tournament hours. This preserver must be strapped, snapped, or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the competitor reaches his fishing location and the combustion engine is shut off. Violation of this rule shall be reason for disqualification. The Tournament Director has the right to delay or cancel the start of an official tournament day because of dangerous weather or other factors that would endanger the SAFETY of the competitors. Tournament waters may also be restricted at any time because of severe weather.
6. SPORTSMANSHIP: Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those purchased legally over-the-counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the tournament, pre-tournament meeting or in the weigh-in area will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future affiliated tournaments. Maximum courtesy must be practiced, especially with regard toboating and angling in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a competitor which reflects unfavorably upon the NTBA and/or it’s effort to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification. Chemical substance addiction or abuse, conviction of a felony or other crimes involving moral turpitude, or other conduct reflecting unfavorably of the NTBA’sefforts to promote SAFETY, sportsmanship and compliance with tournament rules shall be grounds for rejecting any application for participation and for disqualification. During the official competition days of the tournament, a competitor may not use a CB radio, a VHF marine-band radio, a cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of locating or catching fish. Competitors are permitted to transmit by radio or cellular phone only in the event of an emergency, for employment related activities, contacting lockmasters or marinas for refueling purposes. If so equipped, competitors may listen to the marine-band weather information. Competitors who receive a Notice of Violation by KDFW or comparable officer shall report receipt of NOV to Tournament Director prior to their weigh in of days catch. Penalty for such NOV shall be prescribed at the discretion of tournament director and tournament committee.
7. TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait will be permitted, with the exception of pork strips, rinds, etc. Only ONE casting, spin casting orspinning rod (8-foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. All other types prohibited. Other rigs as specified above may be in boat ready for use; however, only ONE is permitted in use at any given time. All bass must be caught live and in a conventional sporting manner. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging fish on spawning beds will have their day’s catch disqualified. When visually fishing for bedding bass, all bass must be hooked inside of the mouth and must be verified by your partner before being unhooked to be counted as a legal fish. No gaffs may be used to boat bass nor be permitted in boat at any time. The use of grippers in landing bass is prohibited.
8. HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER FOR ALL OUTBOARD MOTORBOATS
USED IN TOURNAMENT COMPETITION WILL BE the horsepower limitations set by the U.S. Coast Guard in their ruling of Nov. 1, 1972. When required, each boat MUST have a U.S. Coast Guard horsepower rating plate attached to the boat by the manufacturer. The horsepower of the outboard engine must NOT exceed the rating specified on this rating plate. Any boat manufactured prior to Nov. 1, 1972, must adhere to the ratings set by the U.S. Coast Guard for similar boats. Each competitor agrees to submit, by his signature on the official entry form, the boat and outboard motor used in the tournament to an inspection by any tournament officials. Normal maintenance to increase the performance of your engine is allowed. Changing or altering standard factory parts of your motor to increase the horsepower over the factory horsepower rating is forbidden and will result in disqualification. Falsifying information on entry forms or altering the horsepower rating numbers on the motor would also be cause for immediate disqualification from the tournament.
9. BOAT AND MOTOR: For the safety of all contestants, ALL BOATS MUST BE EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE IGNITION KILL SWITCH. This ignition kill device must be attached to the driver’s body whenever the engine is operating. When the engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat. Fishing boats may be used that are fifteen feet or more in length. Any raised platform or decks cannot he higher than the gunnel of the boat. A small electric trolling motor may be used for slow maneuvering; however, trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. All BLADDER tanks and any other type of AUXILIARY gas tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturer are prohibited. Additional gas tanks that are factory options and installed by a manufacturer authorized dealer are legal. Boats that do not have factory installed gas tanks are restricted to a maximum of eighteen gallons of gasoline in tanks that meet U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Gas tanks must be properly secured or strapped in a boat. No barges or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. NO BOAT EQUIPPED WITH STICK STEERING SHALL BE PERMITTED TO BE USED DURING THE TOURNAMENT BY ANY COMPETITOR. The definition of stick steering shall be made by the Tournament Director. Liability insurance with coverage of not less than $300,000 per occurrence is required of each boat. Proof of insurance must be with the boat being used and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks may be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the Tournament Director may result in disqualification.
10. BASIC BOAT EQUIPMENT: Every boat must have all required Coast Guard safety equipment. It must have, in addition a functional bilge pump and LIVEWELL SPACE, PROPERLY AERATED, TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ALIVE A LIMIT CATCH OF BASS. The Tournament Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether the aeration and capacity is proper and adequate. Running lights must be operational and remain on until after takeoff.
11. BOAT IDENTIFICATION: Each boat will be given prior to the start of tournament, an inspection check by a tournament official, and a number which MUST remain in your boat until turned in each day at the check-in.
12. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Tournament waters will be established by the Tournament Director for each tournament. Any water within boundaries posted Off-Limits or No Fishing by state or federal agencies will be OFF LIMITS. Also, the live-bass release area established by the Tournament Director will be OFF LIMITS and will be announced at the Tournament Briefing. Only that water open to ALL public fishing will be considered tournament waters. Any waters closed to public fishing will be closed to tournament competitors. All angling must be done from the boat. Competitors wishing to change fish habitat by placing any object in the tournament waters may do so if such action does not violate state or federal regulations. Buying or bartering fishing locations from any person for use during any competition day is strictly prohibited. Penalty for such occurrence may include Disqualification from all future affiliated tournaments during the upcoming year and that event.
13. CONTESTANTS MUST REMAIN IN BOAT. Contestants must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Contestants must leave and return to official checkpoint by boat. Team members shall not exit the boat except in an emergency (for example: sickness or severe weather, or restroom). If any team member leaves the boat during the tournament day for any other reason, the tournament director must be notified prior to the contestant exiting the boat. NO EXCEPTIONS. Doing so may result in disqualification. In the event of a mechanical breakdown, ONE (1) team member may ride back to weigh in ONLY with another tournament competitor boat, while the other team member stays with the disabled boat. Tournament Director should be notified prior to a team member leaving the boat. Trailering of boats during tournament hours is prohibited, except by tournament officials.
14. OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official point for check-out in the morning, and check-in in the afternoon and this point shall be designated at the Tournament Briefing. At the time of check-in, all competitors and their boats shall be in full conformance with all rules set forth by the Tournament Director; at check-in, all boats shall identify themselves by means of the numbers and proceed immediately to thedesignated weigh-in area. Partners must stay together and numbers must be turned in at check-in.
15. SCORING: Weigh-in will begin after check-in time of first flight. At the discretion of Tournament Director holding tanks may be available for use prior to check-in time. Contestants will be notified of this at tournament briefing. Tournament standing, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the pound and hundredths weight of each competitor catch during the competition days of the tournament. Only Largemouth, Spotted, Red Eye or Smallmouth bass will be weighed. The limit shall be 5 of the above species and varieties per day, unless the state limit is less than 5, or a special limit is established for a particular tournament by the Tournament Director, in which case the state limit, or special limit, shall be the tournament limit. No more than tournament limit may be in live well at any time culling MUST be done as your sixth fish is caught. All competitors are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various stateswithin which they fish. Tournament officials may conduct checks for violation of this provision, and in the event a competitor has reduced more than the above-described limits to possession, the Tournament Director shall cull the largest bass first, down to the limit described. The official length for bass shall be determined by the Tournament Director and announced at the Tournament Briefing. In most cases it will be the LONGEST State limit covering the tournament waters. Only bass as described above which measure the official length or more on the longest straight line shall be weighed in. Bass presented for weigh-in that fails to measure the official length shall disqualify entire day’s catch. Any bass that appears to have been mangled, mashed, or mauled will accrue penalties at the rate of one pound for each such bass or otherwise altered will be weighed and credited only at the discretion of the Tournament Director. After a competitor checks-in at theofficial checkpoint he MUST present all LEGAL fish in his possession to a tournament official to be counted, measured and weighed. Once a competitor’s catch is measured, counted, and verified by a tournament official, that contestant may not return to his boat until his catch has been weighed and recorded. Weigh-in bags will be furnished by the Tournament Director, and only these bags may be used for the weigh-in.
16. DO NOT KILL YOUR CATCH: Each competitor is expected to keep his bass alive by use of a properly
aerated live-well. No culling of dead fish.
17. PENALTY POINTS: For each legal dead bass presented to weigh in officials, the competitor will be
penalized one pound per dead fish, deducted from his daily score. The Tournament Director and his designated appointees shall have sole authority for assessing penalty points.
18. LATE PENALTY: Competitors who are not at the official checkpoint as described in Rule 15 at the
appointed time shall lose entire day’s catch.
19. TIES: In case of a tie for first place the following rules will be used: 1) The team with the largest number of legal fish weighed-in during the competition; 2) The team with the largest number of legal LIVE fish weighed-in during the competition. In the unlikely event that they remain tied after these tie-breakers are employed, then a flip of a coin will be used to determine the winner(s) and the money. For any ties other than first place, the prize money will be split equally among the competing teams.
20. ALL PROTEST MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING PRIOR OF CLOSING OF SCALES.
21. NO HOLE SITTING: The definition of Hole Sitting shall be at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
22. None of the above rules shall prohibit a properly designated Tournament Official from approaching or boarding any competitor’s boat.
23. TEAMS: All NTBA events are team events. Teams must be declared prior to the first NTBA participating event. Each team will be allowed one (1) alternate, annually during the regular season only. Alternates must pay the $60.00 membership fee prior to the tournament. No alternate may fish a tournament alone to represent the team. Members who choose to fish the NTBA tournaments as a single person forfeit their right to use an alternate and may not add a partner at a later date. Single person teams are not eligible for BASS Team Championship per BASS rules.
24. MEMBERSHIP DUES: Everyone who participates in the NTBA is required to pay an annual membership fee of $60.00. This fee also includes BASS Team Championship program registration fee of $10.00. In order to participate in the BTC tournament, each member must join and be a current member in good standing of BASS in addition to this BTC fee.
25. TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES AND PAYOUT: Each NTBA tournament entry fee is based on the Tournament Director’s choice. Payout will be based on number of paid entries of each tournament and entry fee per tournament. All Team Circuit registration and membership fees must be paid online at FISHING CHAOS.
26. BONUS MONEY: All NTBA Team Circuit Tournaments are bonus money qualified based on manufacturer requirements from the following list: Nitro, Pheonix, Ranger, Skeeter, Triton. This list may change at any time.
27. DEALERSHIP REWARD DOLLARS: The following dealers have included BONUS BUCKS for each tournament in the amount of $100.00 regular season and $300.00 Fall Classic to highest finishing team who purchased a 2020 model year or newer and usespurchased boat in tournament: Fast Bass Marine, Pittsburg Marine, Renegade Marine and Weida Marine. This list may change at any time.
28. Team of Year points will be accumulated during the four (4) Team Circuit tournaments. Payouts will be awarded to top three (3) teams through using the four (4) qualifiers of Team Circuit.
29. Teams must fish three (3) NTBA events to be eligible for the NTBA Fall Classic.
UPDATED 1/22/2026.
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