2027 Official Rules
The official rules for the 2027 Falcon Boats Divisional Series presented by Mercury. Updated October 31, 2026.
Rules at a Glance
Tournament Rules
Joining the Series
1Xtreme Bass Series
Tournament rules are included herein with special notations. It is each participant’s responsibility to read all items before entering. Xtreme Bass Series (XBS) rules will apply in all events unless superseded by federal, state or local laws. XBS reserves the right to refuse any membership or tournament entry fees or entry forms for any reason. XBS reserves the right to make needed changes to these rules in order to ensure the safety and welfare of the XBS anglers, and/or the public and preserve the integrity of the XBS. Any rule changes will immediately supersede all previously published copies of these rules. XBS officials and directors decisions will be final in all matters.
2Membership
The nonrefundable membership fee is $50.00 per person per year (children under 10 years of age are free). Only paid members may participate in XBS tournaments. Anyone fishing with a non-current membership will be disqualified. No points or credit for tournament will be awarded for non-current members. This can be managed through the online portal at XBSeries.com.
3Eligibility
3.1 Participation is open only to current members of the Xtreme Bass Series. Any person age 17 or under must be a team partner with a parent or a person age 18 or older. Persons under 18 must have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian on the membership form.
3.2 Any angler that pays more than $3,500.00 on any one entry fee more than twice a year is not eligible to fish in the Xtreme Bass Series. Any angler who is fishing or has committed to fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, Major League Fishing Pro Circuit, or National Professional Fishing League is ineligible to fish. This does not apply to the 4 Man Open or Limited Team Opens.
4Teams, Partners & Fishing Solo
Xtreme Bass Series is designed to be a team tournament and should be approached as such.
4.1 Team Captain: Teams will declare a team captain upon registering at the start of the season. This is how points and Championship qualification are tracked. All points credit and Championship qualification shall stay with the team captain for the entire season.
4.2 Partner Substitution: A team may have as many partners as needed during the course of the season, but all partners must pay membership fees.
4.3 Captain Absence: If a team captain is unable to compete, their partner may choose to fish with an alternate. Points and credit will stay with the original team, as long as the team is not splitting up and the partner and alternate are not forming a new team.
4.4 Fishing Solo: An Xtreme Bass Series member may fish a divisional event alone but is required to pay full tournament entry fees and must fish at least one tournament in the season with a partner when attempting Championship qualification.
4.5 Championship Partner: A qualified angler must fish the Championship with a partner, except as outlined in Rule 22.3. The partner can be any member in good standing who has fished at least one divisional event, in any division, during the regular season.
Entering an Event
5Tournament Entry Fees
Entry fee for divisional events is $160.00 per team. $10.00 of each entry goes to event Big Bass and $20.00 goes to the Championship Fund. Staff boat, Team of the Year and sponsor boat entries, if used, are not included when calculating the payout. All tournaments will pay back a minimum of 2 (two) places.
Teams that pay for a tournament and do not fish it will not receive points for that tournament, but will receive credit toward Championship qualification. These situations must be approved before the event. To receive credit, entry must be paid before the event, and there will be no paying after an event has passed. No team may pay for a season and not fish just to qualify for the Championship.
6Pre-Registration & Sign Up
Teams will take off in the order in which entry fees are received. Teams may sign up and pay at any Xtreme Bass Series event, or by mailing entry with check or money order to: Xtreme Bass Series, 5230 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. #386 Land O’ Lakes, FL 34639. Check or money order must be received SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO TOURNAMENT DATE. Members may only pay in cash at the ramp the morning of the tournament. NO CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT RAMP SIGN-UP.
Boats & Safety
7Safety, Life Jackets & Kill Switch
Safety is of the utmost importance, and anglers must recognize that; fishing from an open boat is inherently dangerous, and as a result XBS seeks to limit those hazards with reasonable safety rules.
7.1 Safe boat conduct and speed limits, where applicable, must always be observed by competitors. Anglers must realize that riding in an open boat is inherently dangerous, and all safety precautions must be adhered to.
7.2 Tournament officials may delay, shorten, restrict tournament waters, or cancel the start of an official tournament day due to bad weather or other factors that would endanger the safety of the competitors.
7.3 In the event of an emergency, competitors should call 911 immediately and then notify tournament officials. Competitors may leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather conditions when danger may be imminent, at which time all fishing must cease.
7.4 Life Jackets: Life jackets or vests will be worn by both team members any time the outboard motor is in gear and running above IDLE. “Fanny pack” life jackets are not allowed.
7.5 Kill Switch: All boats must have an operating kill switch. The kill switch will be connected to the boat operator any time the outboard motor is running and in gear.
8Insurance
All boats used in Xtreme Bass Series tournaments must have a mandatory minimum of $100,000.00 liability insurance. This is the user/owners responsibility. Participants should have a copy of insurance readily available for random checks. Failure to supply necessary liability insurance coverage will result in disqualification from the event.
9Boat & Horsepower Regulations
Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. All boats must contain a properly aerated live well space to maintain a live limit catch of bass. Violation of any of the above rules may be cause for disqualification. If running lights are not working you may be held at take off. XBS officials or directors reserve the right to refuse entry to any boats that does not meet tournament standards. No airboats, canoes, pontoon boats, or deck boats are permitted. No mud drive or jet drive motors are permitted in any XBS event. All boats used in XBS events must be in compliance with Rule 8.
Tournament Day
10Tournament Hours & Check-In
Tournament hours will be safe light until 3:00pm, this may be adjusted by tournament director. Safe light will be determined by tournament director. Official time will be stated by tournament director the morning of each event. Each team will be assigned a boat number and/or a boat chip with the assigned number.
10.1 Check-In: There will be one designated spot for check in. All teams must check in at the check station by their stated check in time. Tournament director will decide on check-in procedures for their division or a particular lake. It is encouraged to arrive early for check in. Break down, acts of God, weather, lock malfunction, blockage of waterways by natural or unnatural causes, etc. that prevent teams from making it to the check in area on time will not be granted an extension for check in time.
10.2 Late Check-In: Teams that fail to check in at the check-in point in the afternoon by the stated check in time are late and will not be eligible to weigh fish that day. Standing around the weigh-in area but not checking in, or checking in after the stated check in time, is considered late. A late team’s catch will not count toward the event, event Big Bass or Divisional Big Bass of the Year, and the team will receive the same points as a team that did not weigh fish (5 points less than the last team that weighs fish). A late team will still receive credit for fishing the tournament. A late check-in is not a disqualification.
11Permitted Fishing Locations
During the competition days, competitors must not depart the boat to land fish or to make the boat more accessible to fishing waters. Competitors are allowed to leave the boat to retrieve a lure. All fishing by that competitor must cease until the competitor is back in the boat. Only then may another cast be made. You must fish water that is available to all competitors. In the event of a needed restroom break or a refueling situation at a marina gas pump, contestants are allowed to leave the boat, at which time all fishing must cease and the tournament director should be alerted. No fishing within 50 yards of any boat anchored, with trolling motor up. No fishing in areas designated off limits by governmental agencies or tournament officials. No fishing within 50 yards of Launch Site. Waters deemed off limits by authorities or tournament officials should be treated like a wall. No boats or casting behind that boundary while fishing. There are NO off limit days for practice.
12Tackle & Equipment
You may not fish on or from any structure above the deck. All fishing must be done from boat deck. Only artificial lures may be used, except for pork products. No wading or trolling is allowed. All fish must be caught from the boat. All traditional rods & reels are allowed including fly rods and flipping poles. Only one rod and reel may be used at any given time by each angler. No rod may be left unattended with line or lure in water.
13Cellular Phones & Radios
Cellular phones and radios are encouraged for safety reasons. During the official competition days of the tournament a competitor may not make cell calls for the purpose of locating or catching fish on tournament waters. Cell phones may be used for emergencies or to communicate with the tournament director. Competitors are allowed to call lockmasters for locking purposes only. Competitors are allowed to use smart phones for global maps, weather, power generation, tidal charts, notes, etc.
14Baiting
“Baiting” of any kind is prohibited. Baiting of brush piles of any kind, legal or illegal, weed lines, lilies, or any other structure will not be tolerated. This will help create a more level playing field for all anglers.
15Mechanical Break Down
For emergencies, see Rule 7.3. In the event of a mechanical failure (boat is inoperable) anglers may have their catch counted by one of the following methods ONLY: 1) Boat is towed to the weigh-in site by another boat; 2) One partner may take their team’s fish (clearly marked) and board another competitors’ boat only for a ride to weigh-in. All Competitors must not allow any bass caught by them to be counted on the score of another competitor. Mechanical failures do not extend established weigh-in times. (No fishing from rescue boat, all fishing must cease once boarding the rescue boat. Both teams may be subjected to a polygraph test).
16Fish Limits & Penalties
All contestants must use care in handling and keeping fish alive for release after weigh-in. All fish will be brought to the weigh master in plastic bags with enough water to keep the fish covered until weigh-in. Tournament permits will be pulled for all events, where applicable. There will be no minimum or maximum length with permits. A tournament limit will be (3) fish at all divisional events and the Championship. Tournament director and officials reserve the right to adjust fish limit due to extreme conditions (i.e., heat), or other sanctions/changes from the State, in order to promote better fish care. Teams must not have more than a tournament limit in the live well at any time.
In the event that permits are not available, state and/or local rules will apply. In the event that permits are not available, there will be no minimum length requirement unless state/local rules dictate a minimum length. No more than one (1) fish 16″ in length or longer per person. Fish will be measured on a PRO RULE with mouth closed and tail compressed (pinched) in accordance with state law.
No culling of dead fish. No culling at ramp or in host marina. No retaining bass in live well and not weighing those fish, this is the same as culling at the ramp. Dead fish penalty will be a half pound (.50 pounds) per dead fish. If applicable, if a team brings a short fish to weigh-in the team will be disqualified. If applicable, if a team brings more than one fish per person 16” in length or longer to weigh-in, the team will be disqualified. Teams may ask the tournament director for a courtesy check, if desired prior to presenting fish for weigh-in.
Unless otherwise stated, ALL TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN WEIGH BAGS FOR TRANSPORTING FISH TO WEIGH-IN.
17Event Big Bass
Big Bass must be weighed and released alive in order to count towards Event Big Bass side pot. A dead big bass will not be eligible to win this side pot. Standard dead fish penalty of .50 pounds will be assessed to total weight of bag as outlined in Rule 16. Only one fish from a teams bag will count towards big bass, however, a team can weigh multiple fish to establish big bass for their bag if needed.
18Scoring System
Each team’s weight will be measured in pounds and hundredths of ounces. The highest weight will be 1st Place and receive 100 Points for the event. Each descending weight will receive (1) point less than the previous weight. All teams that do not weigh fish will receive (5) points less than the last team that weighs fish. If a team is disqualified for any reason they will receive (0) points for that tournament, BUT WILL RECEIVE CREDIT FOR FISHING THE TOURNAMENT. A late check-in is not a disqualification. Late teams are scored as outlined in Rule 10.2. In the case of a tie during divisional events, the money will be added together and split evenly between the two teams.
Season Standings & Programs
19Divisional Points Champion/Team of the Year
Xtreme Bass Series will calculate your best 6 tournaments fished in each division to determine the divisional points champion per division. Teams who win the CopperState Tackle Division Points Race will receive no-cost entries into the 2027 Championship. In case of a tie for the division points race:
19.1 The team with the most events fished will be awarded division champions.
19.2 If both teams have fished the same number of events, the team with the most cumulative weight throughout the season will be awarded division champions.
19.3 If both teams have the same amount of cumulative weight, the team with the largest bag for the division will be awarded division champions.
The champions of each division will fish against each other for the Fitzgerald Fishing Team of the Year award at the end of season Championship. Team of the Year will earn no-cost entries into one division the following season.
20Divisional Big Bass of the Year
20.1 Entry Fee: $40.00 per team, per division entered. 100% of the side pot is paid back. The entry covers all partner substitutions for the team.
20.2 Eligibility: This side pot is for the largest bass entered in each division’s side pot for the full season. To be eligible, the entry fee must be paid prior to the tournament in which the big fish is caught. Teams must fish at least 6 of the 7 events in that division to be eligible. If a team catches a fish that would win Divisional Big Bass of the Year but competes in fewer than 6 events in that division, it will not count, and the largest fish caught by a team that competes in at least 6 events in that division will win the side pot. Big Bass must be weighed alive to count toward the side pot.
21Frequent Fishing & 7×7 Programs
Frequent Fishing Program: Any team that competes in 10 or more divisional events throughout the season will be entered into the Frequent Fishing Program. Qualifying teams will compete against each other at the end of season Championship. The highest finishing qualified team will win the Michael J. Blocher Memorial Award and $500.00.
7×7 Program: Teams that compete together in all seven events within one division are entered in a random drawing for $1,000.00.
The Championship
22Championship
22.1 Qualification: Teams must fish 6 (six) tournaments in one division or 8 (eight) tournaments in any combination to qualify for the end of season Championship. Qualification stays with the team captain declared under Rule 4.1. Partners do not earn qualification on their own, and a qualified team may not split up to form two new teams for the Championship. The team captain fishes the Championship with a partner as outlined in Rule 4.5.
22.2 Entry Fee: Championship entry fee is $400.00 per team, and $20.00 goes to Championship Big Bass.
22.3 Partners: All members that qualify for the Championship must fish with a partner at the Championship, as outlined in Rule 4.5. Extenuating circumstances leading to an angler fishing alone during the Championship must be addressed to tournament director for approval, but efforts must be made in finding a partner to compete with during the Championship event. The same anglers must fish both days. Fishing with one partner for day one and a different partner for day two is not permitted.
22.4 Fish Limit: The tournament limit at the Championship is (3) fish, as outlined in Rule 16.
22.5 Late Check-In: A team that checks in late on either day loses only that day’s weight, as outlined in Rule 10.2.
22.6 Ties: In the case of a tie at the Championship, there will be an added fish off in order to determine the winner of the boat.
Conduct & Release
23Sportsmanship
Each team is expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, safety, courtesy, and conservation. Any team found in violation of these rules or any federal, state, or local laws may be disqualified. The use, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages during tournament hours, which conclude upon the completion of payout, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from current and future Xtreme Bass Series events. Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those drugs purchased over the counter or prescribed by a licensed physician) by any competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated and shall be cause for automatic disqualification from this and all future XBS tournaments. No alcoholic beverages or prohibited drugs shall be allowed in the boats during competition days or when in the weigh-in area.
24Protest & Polygraph Test
Xtreme Bass Series members may submit a protest during the tournament morning prior to launch or immediately following the weigh-in of the last team’s catch, but before the start of the awards presentation. Protests shall be in writing and accompanied by a $100.00 deposit. The burden of proof of a rules infraction will be the responsibility of the angler filing the protest. This deposit will be refunded providing the protest be upheld, otherwise, the deposit shall be forfeited to Xtreme Bass Series. Any member may be required to submit to a Polygraph or truth verification test. Failure to submit to either of these tests will result in disqualification from this tournament and will not be eligible to fish in any future Xtreme Bass Series tournaments. Any angler making an accusation against another contestant without submitting a written protest accompanied by a $100.00 deposit may be subject to disqualification from current and future Xtreme Bass Series events.
25Liability Release
Any angler signing up and competing in an Xtreme Bass Series event agrees to the following. In this release, “Xtreme Bass Series” includes its officers, agents, employees, tournament directors and staff, volunteers, sponsors and host venues.
- I hereby release Xtreme Bass Series from any and all damages, claims, demands, cost or expenses relating to injury of any person(s) or any property, which I may sustain or which I may cause by reason of participating in or in connection with any and all Xtreme Bass Series events.
- Covenant not to sue and Waiver of Subrogation: I further agree that I will never sue Xtreme Bass Series for damages on account of any injury or damage I suffer or cause whether known now or which may develop in the future. In the event Xtreme Bass Series is sued because of my actions, I expressly agree to indemnify and hold Xtreme Bass Series harmless from any liability whatsoever, including court cost and attorney’s fees, arising with respect to such actions. I understand that in waiving my rights to sue Xtreme Bass Series I am also waiving my rights of recovery from Xtreme Bass Series of my Insurance carrier for any claims they may pay on my behalf. I further understand that by signing this agreement I waive any rights my heirs or relatives have or may have to sue Xtreme Bass Series for liability.
- Verification of Liability Insurance: I state that I maintain liability insurance on the boat I will use in this or any Xtreme Bass Series event.
- Truth Verification: Polygraph or truth verification may be given at any time at the discretion of the officers of Xtreme Bass Series. Refusal or failure of polygraph or truth verification will automatically eliminate team members’ participation from all future Xtreme Bass Series events.
- Camera Release: I hereby grant Xtreme Bass Series the unconditional rights to use my voice, photographic likeness and biographical information and fishing tips and instructions in connection with all Xtreme Bass Series video/audio production, promotions and/or other compensation in connection with such use.
- I signify by my signature that I have read, understand and agree to abide by all rules and regulations and decisions set forth by Xtreme Bass Series tournament officials.
- Xtreme Bass reserves the right to refuse membership and/or participation in any event for any reason.
Questions About a Rule?
Contact your tournament director, or call Xtreme Bass Series at 813-470-0963 or email [email protected].