NORTH TAMPA BASS CLUB BYLAWS

Section 1. Officers and Executive Committee

A. President: Presides over all meetings and directs all official business. Maintains club
website. Appoints and directs all committee functions. Assists other officers in their
duties, as required.
B. Vice President: Assumes all responsibilities of the President in the President’s absence.
Assists other officers in their duties, as required.
C. Sponsorship Ambassador: Chairs the Sponsorship Committee and works efforts to
obtain sponsors for the club and maintains the sponsor discount codes list, website links
for sponsors and soliciting for new sponsors. Keeps club members informed on
sponsors offers.
D. Treasurer: Maintains club account, responsible for all club funds, collects all fees,
responsible for tournament pay-outs and maintains accurate reports on the club
account. Assist other officers in their duties, as required.
E. Tournament Director (TD): Directs all matters pertaining to Club tournaments.
Including: the start of the regular tournaments, tournament weigh-ins, tournament
exemptions (passes these out at the meeting prior to a tournament), maintains
tournament records, attendance records, and report results and standings to the
members at meetings. The tournament director has final call on violations and
disqualifications. Assist other officers in their duties, as required.
F. Weigh Master: Assists the TD during tournament weigh-ins. Assists other officers in
their duties, as required.
G. Social Media Director: Manages the social media pages (Facebook) in all matters
pertaining to posting of tournaments and/or announcements. Assists other officers in
their duties, as required.
H. Photographer: Takes photos at tournaments and tournament weigh-in. Provides photos
to the President and Social Media Director for publication. Assists other officers in their
duties, as required.
I. Executive Committee: Consists of the Club Officers and is the governing body for these
By-Laws.
Section 2. Elections
A. The election of Club Officers will be held annually at the regular meeting during the
month of November. Elections will be by a simple majority of the members present at
the meeting. The election of each Officer will be held separately, in order listed above.
The new Officers will take office on the first meeting of the new tournament year.

Section 3. Meetings
A. Regular meetings will be held on the third Tuesday @ 7:30 PM of every month at such
place designated by the Club Officers. There are no meetings in July and August. Club
members receive 5 points for attendance at each tournament meeting. 5 points can
also be awarded if declaration of participation in the next tournament is made before
the associated partner drawing at the associated meeting. No meeting points awarded
if declaration of participation occurs after partners are drawn for the tournament. A
maximum of 50 points can be awarded for the year.
B. During club meetings a 50/50 raffle will be held. Additionally, club members may
participate in a $10 raffle. Winner will receive the #1 berth at the following
tournament. This is not transferrable and must be used at the tournament following the
raffle drawing or it becomes Void. This option is not available during Two-Day events as
the reversal of order takes precedence.

Section 4. Membership and Dues

A. Membership: Hybrid Team format. Team or Draw boats are eligible for club entry. See
Section 8 Pairing for details.
B. Dues: Dues for membership will be $25.00 per year, in advance. No refunds.
C. Voting: All new members must be voted on prior to acceptance into NTBC by the
executive committee.

Section 5. Removal from Membership

A. Removal from membership must be by a majority Executive Committee vote. Removal
from Club membership may be for the following: 1) Any unsportsmanlike conduct; 2)
multiple missed events that member said they would attend (i.e., signing up for a
tournament and being a no-show); 3) Not sharing expenses with their boater (gas, hotel,
etc.); 3) Illegal/illicit activities that reflect poorly on North Tampa Bass Club.
Section 6. Tournaments
A. Safety: Safe boating conduct must be observed at all times by all tournament
participants. Each participant is required to abide by all of the applicable laws of the
state of Florida. USCG approved life preservers will be worn by all participants any time
a boat is on plane or traveling at more than 5 mph. No participant shall ride in an
elevated seat while the boat is on plane.
B. Tournament Schedule: Nine regular season tournaments; January through November
(except July and August). March will have a two-day tournament and December will
have a two-day end of year Classic. All tournaments will normally be held on the last
Saturday of every month. If a tournament or meeting falls on or near a holiday or a local
sanctioned event or other conflict deemed reasonable by the majority of directors, the
event may be reset by the Executive Committee at any time.
C. Tournament Fees: Tournament entry fee is $35.00 each. A $5.00 big bass pot, as well as
a $5 Dink bass pot, per day, is optional. A “Dink” fish is defined as the smallest legal fish
(>12”) that can be weighed in. If a member cannot attend the meeting and desires to
fish in the tournament, they must notify a club officer prior to the meeting. Payments
must be paid before takeoff.
D. Distance between Boats: No NTBC boater shall fish within 100 ft (generally defined as 2
casts distance) of another NTBC boater/angler without verbal permission of the boater
(first to arrive). Respect and good sportsmanship are appropriate at all NTBC events.
When in doubt, err on the side of distance.
E. Failure to Participate: If a member and/or member’s guest fails to participate after being
drawn, that member will be considered a “No Show” for the tournament. To receive a
refund for your tournament entry fee, members must contact a club officer prior to the
tournament launch; otherwise, they forfeit their entry fee.
F. Leaving a Tournament: If a participant must leave the tournament waters early, that
participant must communicate his departure prior to departing.
G. Black Bass Only: Only largemouth black bass will be weighed in.
H. Possession limit: The limit will be five fish per day, or governed by the state laws of the
body of water that is being fished. If in possession of more than five fish the member
will forfeit his largest two fish at the weigh-in. Two-day tournaments may exercise a
variation known as “Roll the Dice”. All boats participating must have 2 anglers. Boats
can weigh-in a total of 10 fish over a two day period. Number of fish brought in each
day is up to the anglers, not to exceed 10 total fish for the two days.
I. Minimum length: Minimum length will be 14” unless dictated by state law for that body
of water OR exemption cards are used. Length will be measured from the closed mouth
 of the longest point of the tip of the tail on a “golden ruler”. Failure to meet the
minimum length will result in the loss of the largest and shortest fish.
J. Courtesy Checks: One fish may receive a courtesy check if requested to the TD prior to
putting the fish in the weigh in bucket. Courtesy checks will not be granted for dead
fish.
K. Penalties for dead fish: 1st dead fish – 4 oz., 2nd dead fish – 10 oz., 3rd dead fish – 18 oz.,
4th dead fish – 28 oz., 5th dead fish – 40 oz. The TD will determine dead fish. Penalty will
be deducted from the total weight. Big bass cannot be a dead fish. All live fish will be
released after weigh-in, and all dead fish will be removed from the lake.
L. Launch/Weigh-In Time: Tournaments will last from safe daylight until 3:00 p.m. The TD
will determine “safe daylight.” June tournaments will last from safe daylight until 2:00
p.m. Weigh-in times may be changed by a majority vote prior to launch. Contestants
may pull their boats out of the water prior to weigh-in as long as it doesn’t interfere or
delay weigh-in. Contestants who choose to pull their boats out prior to weigh-in will
NOT wrap their boats in preparation for departure prior to weighing in their fish.
M. Pre-fishing: Pre-fishing the tournament lake is permitted up to 12:00 midnight of the
Friday preceding the tournament date. The lake will be off limits to all members and
guests fishing the tournament from 12:00 a.m. Saturday. A violation of this rule may
result in dismissal from the Club.
N. Bait: Only artificial bait may be used with conventional casting, spinning, fly , or flipping
rods. Only one rod may be in use at any time by each contestant.
O. Trolling: Trolling is not permitted with primary boat motor (gas).
P. Alcohol: No alcoholic beverages will be consumed during tournament hours (from the
time you arrive at the ramp till the time everyone has weighed in their fish). Violation of
this rule will be disqualification from the tournament.
Q. Safety: Life jackets must be worn when on plane. Also, a kill switch must be connected
to the driver while on plane, if the boat is equipped with one.
R. Late Arrivals: If you are going to be late to a tournament you must contact another club
officer prior to blast-off to inform them of your planned participation. If you have not
paid for the tournament prior to a late arrival, you cannot fish the tournament.
S. Start Location: All members must blast-off from the same location as directed by the TD.
T. Start Sequence: Starting order for boats will be drawn at the meeting. Before safe light,
all boats must meet at a designated spot on the water as determined by the TD. The TD
will then determine safe light and the start of the tournament. The last boater drawn
will release the boats with safe minimum frequency.
U. Late for Weigh-in: Contestants who are not at official weigh-in site at the appointed
time shall be penalized at the rate of ten ounces per minute to be deducted from their
total weight. Any contestant who is more than 15 min late shall lose all credit for the
 catch for the day unless the lateness is due to breakdown that was called into an
Executive Officer, as determined by the TD.
V. Communication: During tournament hours, competitors cannot use a CB radio, VHF
radio, cellular phone, or any other type of communication device for the purpose of
locating or catching fish. Use of cell phone applications is permitted. Contestants are
permitted to transmit by radio or telephone only in the event of an emergency.
W. Insurance and Liability: The club shall assume no responsibility or liability for injuries,
damage, or theft of personal property during any club function. The club will not pay for
insurance covering any individual member, as this is a not-for-profit club.
X. Rule Violations/Protest: Any rule violation or protest must be disclosed to the TD prior
to the weigh-in, who will in turn, notify the Executive Committee for a final decision. All
decisions made by the TD or committee members are final. A complete tournament is
defined as the awarding of places and payouts.
Y. Tiebreakers: Total weight tie: 1st tie breaker is determined by the most fish. If both
boats have the same #fish and the same weight, winner will be determined by biggest
fish.

Section 7. Tournament Lake and Official Site

A. Lake Selection: The annual schedule and lake selection will be made by the Executive
Committee prior to the first meeting of the year (January). The club membership will
vote on the annual schedule and lake selection at the January meeting. A “backup” set
of lakes will be identified at the January meeting by members the club committee.
Backup lakes serve as a viable option should the primary lake become impaired as
determined by the executive committee (damaged ramp, environmental conditions, low
water, etc.).
B. Classic Lake Selection: Classic selection will be made at the November meeting to allow
enough time for lodging reservations.
C. Restrictions: No one body of water will be fished more than twice in a tournament year
or any two consecutive months. This rule does not apply to the back-up waters.
D. Launch Sites/Boundaries: Launch sites and imposed water boundaries (entire chain or
specific lake) will be decided on during the meeting preceding the tournament.
Section 8. Pairing
A. North Tampa Bass Club (NTBC) will no longer accept unpaired Co-Anglers.
B. All Co-Anglers that were active members in 2023 will now be identified as Legacy Co-
Anglers.
C. At the beginning of the season, or at club entry, all boaters must declare whether they
are a Team Boat or a Draw Boat. Team Boats are defined as boats with a pair of anglers
that stay as a team throughout the tournament season. A ‘Team Boat’ may have only 1
ALTERNATE Angler for the season and must be voted on to become a member of the
club by the executive committee. The Alternate must pay club dues and can only fish 3
tournaments during the season. Draw Boats are defined as a single boater who will
draw a Legacy Co-Angler as their partner for the given monthly tournament.
D. No boater is allowed to fish alone unless there are no Legacy Co-Anglers to draw from.
E. Draw Boats will draw a Legacy Co-Angler each month at the monthly tournament
meeting.

Section 9. Guest
A. If there are sufficient boats for all Legacy co-angler members a boater will be allowed to
bring a committee approved guest/alternate as his partner. The guests name is to be
given and entry fee paid prior to launch of that tournament. The same guest cannot fish
more than twice.
B. Team trail boats may have 1 (one) alternate per year. That alternate must pay all club
fees and abide by NTBC bylaws. An alternate may only fish 3 (three) tournaments per
season and may not fish the classic unless approved by the Executive Committee under
extenuating circumstances (sickness/moving out of town, etc.). Fees will include but are
not exclusive to, big bass and dink pots, if the alternate is fishing these pots in the
classic.

Section 10. Scoring and Tournament Pay Back

A. Pay Back: 75% of all tournament entry fees will be available for pay back.
B. Point Standings: Annual point standings will be determined by points earned at
tournaments plus points per meeting attended. Tournament points will be 50 points for
first place, then 3 points less per place after first. Participation points will be 5 points
less than the last participant who caught a fish. Meeting points may also be awarded if
a committee member is notified of an anglers intent to participate in that weekends
tournament prior to the Legacy Co Angler draw during the meeting.
C. Number of Places: Payouts will be based on attached pay out chart.
Section 11. Awards
A. Team Boat, Draw Boat and Legacy Co-Angler of the Year Awards: Annual point standings
winners will receive a monetary award at the December Classic or meeting. The value
of the monetary award will be determined based on the number of total anglers for that
year.
B. Big Bass and Dink of the Year pot: Members who wish to participate in the Big Bass of
the Year Pot will pay $10 at time of paying your annual membership dues. The member
who catches the largest bass of the year will receive 100% of the money in the pot at
the December Classic or meeting.
C. Only Active Members Receive Awards: To receive a club award you must be an active
member and be in good standings.

Section 12. Annual Classic

A. An annual classic tournament shall be held each year in December as a two day
tournament. All current members who have fished at least six tournaments during the
tournament year are eligible to fish the no-fee classic. Members that have not met the
six tournament requirements may buy into the Classic. The cost will be $35 per
tournament that brings them to the minimum of six. These fees are to be paid to the
Treasurer no later than the November meeting. Optional Big Bass pots are $5.00 per
day. Pairings will be made at the November meeting. Classic payouts will be the
balance of the Clubs funds after all debts have been cleared. Balance of funds will be
distributed based on total weight of fish caught divided by cash available to determine
fish per pound shares. Each team catching fish will receive shares based on weight of
their fish rounded to the nearest pound. The Club Treasurer will maintain $100 to carry
over to the next year.

Section 13. Changes to the ByLaws

A. Bylaws may only be changed by the Executive Committee. Members will send
suggested changes to the Executive Committee and they will determine if it is in the
best interest of the club.