1. XTREME 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 Xtreme Bass Series (XBS) rules will apply in all events unless superseded by federal, state or local laws.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 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. Each competitor agrees to report any rule violation to the tournament director immediately upon discovery of the violation. Violation in the tournament rules may result in the loss of weight, the loss of weight up to a specific time during the tournament day, total loss of weight of the particular day, the ineligibility to participate in future XBS Limited Team Open events, the ineligibility to participate in future XBS Divisional events, or any other penalty deemed appropriate by the tournament director in his/her sole and absolute discretion. Any rule changes will immediately supersede all previously published copies of these rules. XBS officials and directors decisions will be final in all matters and are not subject for appeal.
2. MEMBERSHIP & TEAMS:
Membership is not required for the Limited Open Series. This event is designed to be a team format, but anglers may fish solo if desired.
3. SAFETY:
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
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
4. INSURANCE:
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 must have a copy of insurance readily available for random checks. Failure to supply necessary liability insurance coverage will result in disqualification from the event.
5. ELIGIBILITY & QUALIFICATION:
All XBS Limited Open events are team events, however, an angler can compete as a single person team if needed or desired. If a contestant fishes as a single person team, XBS reserves the right to place an observer in the boat at any given event and further reserves the right to issue a polygraph at any given event. Participation is open only to anglers in good standing with Xtreme Bass Series. Any contestant who refuses to voluntarily submit to a polygraph exam will be disqualified from said event at the sole and absolute discretion of the tournament director. 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 registration form. There is no professional angler designation to limit anglers from competing in the XBS Limited Team Open.
6. Priority Registration
Teams who plan on competing in all 4 events will have priority entry. Priority registration can be obtained with a 50% deposit for all 4 events or paid in full. The remaining balance will be billed on February 1st, 2026. Teams who fail to pay the 50% deposit by February 15th will forfeit their spot and deposit.
7. Tournament Capacity
a. The competing field will be limited to 60 teams. No more than 60 teams will be allowed to compete.
b. Entries will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Once an event reaches a full field of 60 teams, registration will be closed.
c. If any team has to back out of entry, it will be announced that registration will open back up. Once that spot has been filled, registration will close again.
8. PARTNER SUBSTITUTION :
If one angler from a registered team is unable to compete after registering, the team must alert XBS immediately. If an alternate partner is unable to be found, the angler can fish as a single person team or forfeit their spot in the field.
9. TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES:
Entry fees are $600.00 per team, per event.
10. REFUND AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Entry fees are non-refundable 30 days or less before the event, unless a vacated spot can be filled prior to the tournament. If a vacated spot can be filled, a refund can be issued at the sole discretion of Xtreme Bass Series.
11. PRE-REGISTRATION & SIGN UP:
Teams will register online at www.XBSeries.com. Registration items 6 and 7 will be followed. No registrations will be accepted beginning the Monday prior to an event. All registration must be done online, prior to the cutoff date. No entries will be accepted at the ramp.
12. CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFICATION:
Teams finishing in the Top 15 at each event will receive an invitation to the end of season Championship. If a team is double qualified, the second event in which a team qualifies will be voided and the next team in the standings from the double qualified event will receive an invite to the championship. If multiple teams are double qualified from an event, the same will apply as above until the number of invitation spots are filled. The team who qualifies will be the team to compete in the championship, no alternate anglers will be utilized. If one team member is unable to compete, the other angler must fish solo or forfeit their invitation. If a team within the Top 15 from an event does not accept the invitation to the Championship, invitations will be sent out down the standings from the event, beginning with 16th place, until the spot has been filled.
13. SCORING SYSTEM:
Each team’s weight will be measured in pounds and hundredths of ounces (XX.XX). The highest weight will be 1st Place for the event. Being late to weigh-in will result in a disqualification of the day’s weight. In the case of a tie, the money will be added together and split evenly between the two teams. Once a weight has been recorded, competing teams may ask for a courtesy re-weigh in the event they feel there was an error on the weigh-master’s part. In case of a tie for first place at the Championship, there will be an added fish off.
14. FISH 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 (5) fish. 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.
Xtreme Bass Series will provide weigh-bags for competing teams. Competing teams shall not bring fish up to the scales in their own weigh-bags.
In the event that permits are not available, state and/or local rules will apply. 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.
15. EVENT 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 item 14. 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.
16. LIFE JACKETS & KILL SWITCH:
Life Jackets or Vest will be worn by both anglers any time the outboard motor is in gear and running above IDLE. Kill switch will be connected to boat operator any time the outboard motor is running and in gear. “Fanny pack” life jackets are not allowed.
17. TACKLE & 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.
18. PERMITTED 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.
19. TOURNAMENT HOURS:
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 via random draw. There will be one designated spot for check in. All teams must check in at the check station by their stated check in time. Failure to check in at the check-in point in the afternoon by the stated check in time will result in the day’s catch being disqualified. Standing around the weigh-in area, but not checking in or checking in after the stated check in time will result in disqualification of the day’s catch. 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.
20. TEAM CHECK-IN:
Any team checking in after his announced check-in time, even by 1 minute, will be disqualified. No late penalties will be assessed to the overall weight. Tournament director will decide on check-in procedures for a given body of water.
21. TRAILERING PRIOR TO WEIGH-IN
Trailering prior to weigh-in is not allowed, unless approved by the tournament director for safety of anglers or based on ramp conditions.
22. RELEASE OF FISH AFTER WEIGH-IN.
No fish shall be released from the bank after weigh-in. Teams will be required to idle their fish away from the weigh-in site to release their fish.
23. EMERGENCY OR BREAK DOWN:
In the event of an emergency, competitors should call 911 immediately and then notify tournament officials. 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).
24. BOAT & 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. All boats must have an operating kill switch that must be attached to the operator at all times when the outboard motor is running and in gear. 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 style motors are permitted in any XBS event. All boats used in XBS events must be in compliance with Rule #4.
25. SPORTSMANSHIP:
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.
26. PROTEST & POLYGRAPH TEST:
Competing anglers 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 $300.00 deposit. The burden of proof of a rules infraction will be the responsibility of the angler filling the protest. This deposit will be refunded providing the protest be upheld, otherwise, the deposit shall be forfeited to Xtreme Bass Series. Any competitor 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 $300.00 deposit may be subject to disqualification from current and future Xtreme Bass Series events.
27. CELLULAR PHONES AND 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.
28. BAITING:
“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.
29. LIABILITY RELEASE:
Any angler signing up and competing in an Xtreme Bass Series event agrees to the following:
a. I hereby release Xtreme Bass Series, its officers, agents, employees and sponsors(herein referred to as 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.
b. 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.
c. 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.
d. 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 angler and/or team participation from all future Xtreme Bass Series events.
e. 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.
f. By registering I acknowledge that I and my tournament partner have read, understand and agree to abide by all rules and regulations and decisions set forth by Xtreme Bass Series tournament officials.
g. Xtreme Bass reserves the right to refuse membership and/or participation in any event for any reason.
