BBT ELITE SERIES: RULES AND FORMAT

  • The BBT Elite Series is a TEAM event open to both amateurs and professionals alike.
  • The Elite Series is expected to be of a standard befitting the title.
  • We want this competition to be a test of skill and team strategy.
  • Our unique format seeks to reward anglers of all skill levels.

The Elite Series will feature:

No Limit

Power Hour

BassBonus.com Bass Bonus

Biggest Bass Prize

In an effort to improve both efficiency and fish care we have introduced WeighMasters.

Please read below for a comprehensive lay out of the rules and format.

BBT Elite Series RulesParticipation Agreement
Big Bass Tour Africa Special Rules

QUICK INFO

  • TEAMS

    • Teams consist of TWO anglers of which one MUST be a qualified skipper, over the age of 18 years
    • The co-angler must be at least 13 years old at the start of the tournament.

    The Big Bass Tour is about growing the sport and we believe this starts with the youth.

    We have added the following incentive for the use of Junior Co-Anglers:

    • A Junior co-angler is defined as being under 18 years old at the start of the event, still in school and over the age of 13 years old.
    • If a team has a Junior angler then they will launch first at the event with 15 min added time.

  • WEIGHMASTERS

    Every team will carry an independent weighmaster that form part of the BBT Africa staff. They are on the vessel to weigh the bass only and may not be able to assist the teams in any manner whatsoever during the entire competition.

    Weighmasters will capture the weight in the manner trained in front of the team captain, and as demonstrated by the Tournament Director at the briefing.

    They will capture the weight, take a photo with the angler and upload onto the Tourney X platform.

  • BOAT REQUIREMENTS

    We are wanting to be as inclusive as possible and therefore our minimum engine size is 15HP and the vessel must be licenced, certified and registered to able to accommodate the size of the team AND a weighmaster.

    • All Boats MUST have a live-well with sufficient accessories to ensure the ethical storage of fish and anglers will be penalised for any inhumane treatment of ANY species.
    • The Big Bass Tour does not allow any personal water craft, jet skis and similar vessels.
    • All Kayaks, Kick Boats, Canoes and SUP Board Anglers can enter the BBT SMALL Craft Series which runs concurrently with most stages of the Elite Series.
    • Maximum Motor Size will be 250HP and boats must be longer than 4.5m (15ft)

  • PRIZE PAYOUTS

    DAY ONE

    POWER HOUR PAYOUTS AWARDED FOR EACH FLIGHT:

    1. R5,000
    2. R3,500
    3. R2,000
    4. R1,000
    5. R500

    TOTAL CASH PAYOUTS AWARDED ON DAY ONE: R48,000

    DAY TWO

    TEAM AWARD FOR TOTAL WEIGHT

    1. R25,000
    2. R15,000
    3. R8,000
    4. R4,000

    TOTAL CASH PAYOUTS AWARDED ON DAY TWO: R52,000

    A Minimum value of R50,000 in equipment, products and accessories will be awarded to take the GUARANTEED PRIZE POOL TO R150,000 per event.

  • ENTRY FEE

    1. Entry fee is set at R3,500 - 90% of the entry is allocated to the prize pool.
    2. WeighMaster fee is set at R500
    3. Tourney X Fee is R160 ($7)

    The entry fee and Tourney X fee is paid directly to Tourney X.

    The WeighMaster fee is paid directly to them, in cash, on the day of registration.

    ENTRY FEE INCLUDES:

    • Welcome Pack
    • Tournament Access
    • Dinners on Friday + Saturday
    • Access to Refreshment Tent
    • Boat Launch
    • Fishing Licence
    • Camping Site if required
    • Nature Reserve Fees
    • Tournament Officials
    • Medics

TOURNAMENT - SCORING AND TIMES

DAY ONE

  • TIMES - Morning Session

    • 6am Role Call
    • 6.30am Launch time begins for all the teams with Junior co-anglers.
    • 6.45am the remainder of the field is launched in the order determined by the Tournament Director.
    • 7.00am Attach Bait. Cast! (1st Power Hour Begins)
    • 8.00am End of first Power Hour Flight
    • 9.00am 2nd Power Hour Flight Begins
    • 10.00am 2nd Power Hour Flight Ends
    • 11.00am LINES OUT.
    • 11:00am - 13.00pm is Lunch break

  • TIMES - Afternoon Session

    • 13.30pm All teams with Junior co-anglers Launch
    • 13.45pm All remaining teams launch
    • 14.00pm Attach Bait. Cast 3rd Power Hour Begins
    • 15.00pm 3rd Power Hour Ends
    • 16.00pm Final Power Hour Begins
    • 17.00pm Final Power Hour Ends and LINES OUT

  • POWER HOUR

    Day One of every Elite Series event will feature the Power Hour with cash payouts awarded to the top three biggest bass caught during that stipulated time period.

    There will be 4 Power Hour flights during the course of Day One.

  • NO LIMIT

    The Elite Series will feature a NO LIMIT rule on DAY ONE where ALL legal fish caught will count towards the final total. The WeighMaster on board will assist with the weighing of the fish using the approved scale provided by the BBT Africa staff.

  • BassBonus.com Bass Bonus

    All members of BassBonus.com will have an additional challenge that will be revealed at each pre-tournament briefing.

DAY TWO

  • TIMES - Morning Session

    • 6am Role Call
    • 6.30am Launch time begins for all the teams with Junior co-anglers.
    • 6.45am the remainder of the field is launched in the order determined by the Tournament Director.
    • 7.00am Attach Bait. Cast!
    • 11.30am LINES OUT.

    12.30pm Prize Giving

    Only the top 3 biggest bass will be kept in the livewell for day TWO and will return to the weigh-in station.

  • 3 BASS TO COUNT ONLY

    Day Two will be a return to the traditional format and 3 legal bass will be submitted by the teams to add to their Day One totals.

    The Weighmasters will be submitting the teams weights and no other communication will be had regarding the weight, totals and standings other than what was provided at the end of Day One.

  • BassBonus.com Bass Bonus

    All members of BassBonus.com will have an additional challenge that will be revealed at each pre-tournament briefing.
DOWNLOAD THE ELITE SERIES RULES