Jasper County High School

All school rules apply at every event.

Dues: Dues for the 2019-2020 school year are $35.00 per student.

Eligibility: To be a member of the JCHS Fishing Team, each student must be currently enrolled at JCHS and qualify by the No Pass/No Partcipate Policy in the Student Handbook found on page 16:

No Pass/No Participate Policy

In accordance with State Board Policy IDE, a student is ineligible on the first day of the next semester if he or she has not passed five courses the proceeding semester, with the exception of the fall semester, when eligibility shall be declared at the time the student has passed five of seven courses the preceding semester and is on track for graduation. First semester eligibility is determined by the second (spring) semester grades the previous year. Summer school is an extension of the spring semester. Second semester eligibility is determined by the first semester grade for the course. Ineligible students are prohibited from practicing, traveling or trying out for team programs.

Fish: During any pond tournament, any species of fish may be caught and any legal method of fishing with a pole may be used.  However, only a black bass species caught by an artificial lure will be weighed for Angler of the Year points.  Only a black bass species should be fished for during a Bass tournament.  The pond owner will determine the status of catch and release at weigh in.  

Lakes and ponds: The location of each tournament will be determined by the team sponsor.

Dates: The date of each tournament will be determined by the team sponsor.  All dates are subject to change.

Boating & Fishing Regulations: All local and Georgia boating laws will be followed whenever a JCHS Fishing Team member is on the water.  If a  JCHS Fishing Team member is 16 years or older on the day of a tournament, that angler must have a valid Georgia fishing license on their person.   http://gadnrle.org/boating-rules-regulations

Only JCHS Team members who have completed the Boat US Online Boater Safety Course, or equivalent, may run the boat's trolling motor at any time.  The student's boater safety card must be on their person at all times while they are on the boat.  https://elearning.boatus.org/

Tournament Rules:

• Launch will not occur until it is deemed safe by the team sponsor.
• There is a five fish limit at all tournaments.
• You cannot cull a dead fish.
• There is a 0.25 lb. penalty for each dead fish.
• There is a one lb. penalty for each minute late to weigh in.
• Anglers cannot fish within any area deemed off limits by the team sponsor nor within 50 yards of any gas pump.
• Student angler and boater life vests must be fastened when gas motor is on.
• The boat’s kill switch must be attached to the adult boater when the gas motor is running.
• IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, ANGLERS OR BOATERS SHOULD CALL 911 FIRST.  ONCE SAFE, THE TEAM SPONSOR SHOULD BE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
• ANGLERS AND BOATERS ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE BOAT AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER IN BAD WEATHER WHERE DANGER MAY BE IMMINENT.

Points: Tournament winners are determined by total weight of the anglers’ five fish minus any penalties.  The angler with the most weight is awarded first place.  In the event of a tie, the weight of the biggest fish caught will be used as a tie-breaker. Points are accumulated throughout the year.  The angler with the highest point total at the end of the school year will be awarded Angler of the Year honors for the team.

Tackle and Equipment: Only ONE casting, spincasting or spinning rod (8-foot maximum length from butt of handle to rod tip) and reel may be used at any one time. A hung lure that is not in or on the water is not considered in use and may be set aside while another is in use. 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. If a contender breaks his line while setting the hook or retrieving a fish, he is allowed to make an attempt with the rod being used or by hand to secure the line and land the fish to be counted as legal. He may NOT hook the line with another lure, rod and reel, or other device. If a contender loses his rod and reel while landing a bass, he MAY use another rod and reel to retrieve the lost outfit. If that rod and reel is verified to be the lost outfit, that bass may be landed and counted as a legal fish. Anyone guilty of snatching or snagging visible fish will have their catch disqualified. When visually fishing a bed or for bedding bass, to be counted as a legal fish, all bass must be hooked inside the mouth and must be verified by his partner before being unhooked. With the mouth closed naturally, you must not be able to see where the hook point enters the fish to be considered hooked inside the mouth. Contenders are allowed to share baits and tackle at all times including contenders who have been cut from competition.

Entry Fees: For any tournament requiring a bass boat, each angler must supply their own boat or pay a $20 entry fee to compensate the boater for gas. If the student angler is a no show, all monies are forfeited. No refunds will be made.

Angler Code of Conduct: Anglers participating in any JCHS Fishing Team event shall observe this code of conduct and the applicable rules for the specific event in which they are participating. Anglers, boat captains, parents and family members of Anglers shall, at all times, conduct themselves in a manner becoming of professional anglers that will not reflect unfavorably on JCHS, JCHS Fishing Team, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors.

To this end, anglers, boat captains, parents and family members of anglers shall use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in support of the sport of professional fishing. Any angler, boat captain, parents and family members of anglers who violate any of the provisions of the Angler Code of Conduct may be subject to forfeiture of tournament winnings, and/or suspension from competing in individual JCHS Fishing Team sanctioned events.

Maximum courtesy must be practiced at all times, especially with regard to boating and angling in the vicinity of non-contenders who may be on tournament waters. Any act of a contender or boat captain, which reflects unfavorably upon efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy shall be reason for disqualification.

All contenders are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the various states within which they fish. Contenders are responsible for research of fishing and boating regulations.

Sportsmanship: All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation and to conduct themselves in a manner that will be a credit to themselves, JCHS, the team’s sponsors, their parents, and the team’s efforts to promote the sport. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification. Conduct not complying with these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Violation of, or failure to comply with, any of the rules for the JCHS Fishing Team.
• Use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs (other than those purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any contender or boat captain during the official practice or during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future JCHS Fishing Team tournaments. No alcoholic beverages, tobacco or other non-prescription stimulants or depressants shall be allowed in the boats during the official practice or competition days, or when in the weigh-in area.
• Boat operation in an unsafe or unsportsmanlike manner.
• Publicly criticizing or questioning the integrity of JCHS Fishing Team sponsor or officials, including but not limited to JCHS Fishing Team rules, policies and procedures.