SABAA Opens MP 2025/2026 - Event 1 - 2

Extracts from the Tournament Rules (By-law K)

1. No member may fish or practise the venue of the tournament from the last Sunday (midnight) prior to the event. (Rule 2.1 & 2.2)
2. No participant may solicit information relating to the fishing of the venue from any other person who has fished the venue during the cut-off period. (Rule 2.3)
3. All rules pertaining to the tournament become effective at commencement of registration until the end of prize giving (close of tag board). (Rule 3.5)
4. Live-well inspection (Rule 5.1 to 5.5)
5. Safety (Rule 6.1 to 6.12)
6. Sportmanship (Rule 7)
7. The introduction of materials or devices that cause an increase in weight/mass of a fish shall be deemed as wilful damage and will be just cause for the disqualification of the angler concerned. (Rule 8.4)
8. Fish that have partially ingested their prey, shall not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and do not count towards the weight. (Rule 8.6)
9. In the event of an angler having more than the legal limit of 5 fish in his live-well the angler/boat will be disqualified for that session. (Rule 13.2)
10. Dead fish shall not be returned to the water or disposed of in any manner during a tournament under any circumstances except as provided for in these rules. (Rule 14.1)
11. Competitors shall remove dead fish from the live-well and store them in such a manner that they can be separately handed to the weighmaster for disposal.  (Rule 14.2)
12. A fish that ‘gills’ at least once within a period of 60 seconds from being presented to the weighmaster (during recording), shall be deemed to be alive, and the final decision is at the discretion of the weighmaster. (Rule 21.2)(Now to be read with the Keepnet rules)
13. No contestant may allow any fish caught by him/her to be added to the score of any other contestant. In such an event both competitors shall be disqualified and subject to disciplinary procedures. (Rule 17.1)
14. An Organising Committee boat may approach, and a member may board, a competitor’s boat if deemed necessary in the event of an alleged infringement of these – or supplementary rules. (Rule 18)
15. No boat may approach to within casting distance of another boat. Casting distance is 30 meters. (thus 60m from another boat) (Rule 24.1)
16. If another boat is allowed to fish within a boat’s casting distance, then any other boat may enter and fish that boat’s wet line area as well. (Rule 24.2)
17. When 2 boats are fishing towards each other, then the boat that is closest to the bank will stay against the bank and the other shall give a reasonable berth around the boat on the bank. (Rule 24.3)
18. Where a bay with backwater or river system apply, a boat may pass through the anglers protected area/radius, on an electric trolling motor, to fish beyond and outside of the protected area/radius. (Rule 24.1)
19. An angler must catch, fight and then land the fish, and must stay in contact with the gunnel of their boats at all times. (Rule 26.2) 
20. The use of cellular phones is allowed, however, no angler may contact another angler, whilst on the water, unless in case of an emergency. (Rule 29.1)

Fish may still be weighed at the “Weigh Station” with help from the weighmaster. The responsibility to weigh and record the weight remains that of the angler. (Keepnet Rules)

All video recordings via the Keepnet app are the property of SABAA and may be used as SABAA, or any of its representatives, deem fit.

SABAA retain the right to access any recording made on any device by any SABAA member or competitor during any event for purpose of an investigation into a formal complaint. Such material must be provided to the Tournament Director or weighmaster upon their verbal request. 

SCALE RULES: (According to SABAA Keepnet Rules - regulations - Par 14)

1. Scale that can steady and lock the weight is required.
2. Scale to be verified by the weighmaster at the meeting during the stipulated time frame.
3. A variance of 10 gram will be allowed. 
4. Scales that do not meet this requirement will not be allowed. (Ensure sufficient battery power and a back-up plan should the scale not meet the requirements)
5. Once verified, the scale must receive a sticker indicating it meets the requirements.
6. Scales will be verified for every weekend. 
7. All scales must have a lip grip. No ‘J’ hook will be accepted during the verification process. (By-law K rule 8)
8. No J hooks may be used for weighing fish. (By-law K rule 8)
9. The Lip Grip may not be attached to a hook. Lip Grip to be directly attached to the scale.
10. When weighing the fish the scale with the verification sticker must be visible at all times.
11. The fish and lip grip must be free hanging, and such must be visible on the recording when the weight is locked.

FISH WEIGHING PROCESS: (According to SABAA Keepnet Rules - regulations - Par 14)

1. Register timeously for the upcoming competition and do a test.
2. Open Keepnet App.
3. Press ‘add fish’ (Green Button).
4. Change video to selfie mode.
5. Check that the camera is in focus and is not influenced by reflections.
6. Start recording (make sure it is recording on top centre).
7. Show scale is zero and free of any external objects. (That you can see on the screen/video it is showing zero)
8. Weighing fish - fish to be free of any object such as touching any external object.
9. Weighing fish – ensure no part of your hand touches any part of the scale or clip which could influence the weight.
10. Weighing fish - the scale and fish must be visible in the video during the weighing process.
11. Weighing fish - Ensure the full fish is visible and that you do not cut out a piece of the tail – it must be seen to be free hanging.
12. Lock the weight and double check that you locked it.
13. After locking the weight, you may either remove the fish from the clip to show the weight to the camera or hold the fish with your other hand to show the weight in the recording.
14. Show weight to video (make sure that you read out the weight and that you can see the weight in the screen/video).
15. Fish release – must be part of the continuous recording.
16. Fish release – there must be clear and undisputed signs of life either when weighing the fish or when releasing it. (It is advised that fish be placed slowly into the water whilst holding on to its mouth to record it swimming away.)
17. Fish release - must be released in a humane manner. Fish must not be thrown doing ‘back flips’ or summersaults.
18. Fish release – it is the responsibility of the angler to ensure there are sufficient signs of life. If there is any doubt of a fish being alive the final decision will rest with the weighmaster – the burden of proof to be above a reasonable doubt.
19. End video and enter weight.
20. Sync fish on top right corner of My Net. (This will eliminate the lengthy download time at the weigh station)
21. Anglers are required to attempt syncing throughout the day for the weighmaster to start with the verification process. This will allow for results being available in a short period of time.
22. Syncing must be finalised prior to leaving the launch site. In the event of poor or no signal a cut off time for syncing will be communicated by the weighmaster.
23. Only the competitor will handle his/her catch to be weighed and presented for scoring. Helpers will provide the means for so doing but not handle the fish. Helpers may hold the scale and or cellphone for an angler but the ultimate responsibility for the fish and confirmation of the weight remains that of the angler. (Rule 9.1)

EVENT TIMES: 

1. Official fishing time is 06h00 to 16h00.
2. Fish to be weighed only in the official fishing time 06h00 to 16h00.
3. No fish will be weighed out of official fishing time.
4. In the event of an angler returning to the weigh station to have his/her fish weighed, the following must be considered: (Keepnet Rules)

1. The angler must ensure his catch is recorded before the cut-off time on Keepnet and should be aware that this will reduce his/her fishing time on the water.
2. The angler will still weigh his fish on his own scale with the assistance of the weighmaster.
3. It is the responsibility of the angler to allow enough time to perform the task of weighing and recording at the weigh station before the cut-off time considering other anglers that may be at the weigh station performing the same.
4. No additional time will be allowed for the process of weighing your fish after cut-off time – being 16h00.

TAG BOARD:

1. Numbered tags for each boat will be handed out on the Friday evening according to the draw. (Not each angler?)
2. On Saturday afternoon these tags must be on the tag board at the weigh station by no later than 16h15.
3. It is the responsibility of the anglers to return the tag and put it on the tag board.
4. Official times are 06H00 to 16H15 - weather and light permitting.
5. Changes to official times will be communicated on the official communication channel being the WhatsApp group – ‘MP Bass Masters’. 
6. Time check will be called by the Tournament Director prior to departure on competition day to ensure there is no misunderstanding with regards to the exact time.
7.  At 16H15 the weighmaster will indicate the end of the tournament and the tag board will be closed.

COMPLAINTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND PENALTIES:

1. For the upcoming season the weighmaster will verify the weigh-in videos and report to the tournament director. The tournament director will assist the weighmaster with in-house training.
2. No outside legal assistance may be acquired for this process and no attorney letters will be entertained. Should an angler be aggrieved by the process then he/she can follow legal proceedings after finalisation of the below proceedings. (Constitution, Par 40, Dispute resolution)
3. The general rules of SABAA By-Laws and Constitution still apply and must be read together with these provincial rules. 
4. The SABAA rules were posted on the whatsupp page.
5. All complaints must be in writing within 60 minutes after the close of the tag board setting out the possible rule violation and rule with a fee of R250 payable at the weight master or Tournament Director. (Rule 19)
6. No tag on the tag board/Late arrival – An angler will be deducted 1 point for every minute after 16h15 for a tag that is not on the tag board. 7 Minutes after 16h15 (16h22) or the agreed time whereafter his/her entire bag will be disqualified for the day.
7. Fish weighed after 16h00 will not be considered as the Keepnet App will block it.
8. When the weight from the scale cannot be verified the fish will not count. The next legal fish will then be used. The weighmaster must not be required to zoom in or enlarge or run and pause a video clip to enable him to verify the weight – the weight on the scale must be clearly shown in the recording. 
9. Weights will be adjusted by the weighmaster if it does not correspond to the last reading or locked reading on the scale.
10. In the event of any contravention the weighmaster will submit his report to the tournament director via whatsupp and penalties will be applied immediately and the angler informed in writing by the tournament director. (Keepnet rules)
11. Should an angler wish to lodge a representation for a penalty received then such angler must within 24 hours of receiving such notification pay R250 into the MP account and submit the representation to the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director and weighmaster will consider the representation within a reasonable time and their decision will be final. (Keepnet/in-house rules)
12. Dead fish weighed = 0 points and disciplinary enquiry. (Keepnet Rules)
13. Any other contraventions of SABAA rules or regulations not noted above will be dealt with on an ad-hoc basis by the tournament director.
14. Once the weighmaster has verified the scores and in the event of any signs of possible wilful dishonesty being found, the following will take place: (Keepnet Rules read with Rule 19)

1. The weighmaster will present his findings to the tournament director setting out the rules and possible violation.
2. The angler in question will be notified via WhatsApp and handed a copy of the weighmasters’ report.
3. The angler may submit a representation in response to the report which will be presented to a selected panel.
4. A panel will be assembled by the tournament director consisting of 5 Anglers with 3 years’ experience each and the Tournament Director.
5. The five names will be drawn randomly from all eligible anglers and registered with MP Bass Masters for the season. 
6. An angler may not refuse to attend such panel meeting unless exceptional circumstances exist which makes it impossible for him/her to attend or due to other circumstances which may disqualify him/her from sitting on the panel.
7. The tournament director has the prerogative to exclude any chosen panel member and to fill such person’s place with another if the circumstances necessitate it. 
8. The names of the participating panel members will remain confidential and may not be divulged to any person including the accused angler.
9. The tournament director will arrange a date and time for a ‘Teams’ meeting to take place with the panel.
10. During the meeting the tournament director will present the weighmasters’ report and anglers’ representation to the panel.
11. Each panel member will be afforded the opportunity to ask questions or make statements to the other panel members.
12. The panel will then be requested that each panel member first indicate if he/she is satisfied that the reported incident is a contravention of the rules. 
13. In the event of most of the panel deciding that there was a contravention of the rules then the panel will thereafter be requested that each panel member indicate if the incident amounts to wilful dishonesty or not.
14. In the event of the majority votes that no wilful dishonesty took place then the normal penalty will be applied; no further action will be taken.
15. In the event of ALL the panel members being satisfied that wilful dishonesty took place all the fish of the angler for that day will be disqualified and the matter be escalated to SABAA for further decision and disciplinary measures. (By-Law D)
16. The accused angler will be notified in writing of the outcome of the panel decision and sanction, if any.
17. The decision of the panel is final and no further discussions/representation will be entertained.

1. No angler, who is subject to any disciplinary action, may engage with the weighmaster, tournament director or a panel member, in any manner, to discuss the matter at hand whilst sub-judice. Any such conduct will amount to wilful dishonesty. 
2. Anglers participating in the upcoming season undertake to undergo a lie-detector test if required to do so at the expense of MP Bass Masters. Failure to comply will result in expulsion from the remainder of the season and or the anglers results for the season being removed from the point log.