To help promote consistency in kayak bass fishing competition nationwide, Elite Kayak Fishing has adopted Kayak Bass Fishing‘s Competition Rules Standards, with some changes.
You can find KBF’s rules here on the KBF website, with our addendums listed below on this page.
Addendum to KBF Rule 3. Competition Period
There is no pre-fishing off-limits period.
Addendum to KBF Rule 4. Pre-Fishing
Competitors may only pre-fish from approved tournament vessels (kayaks, canoes, SUPs, etc.) within seven days of the Event. Pre-fishing is considered to be any activity that takes place on eligible water defined in the event-specific rules. Activity would include fishing, scouting, and graphing. At the end of the official pre-fishing period the Competitor must be off the water.
Any Competitor found to have pre-fished from an unapproved vessel—whether registered or not registered for the event at the time—will be disqualified from competition.
Addendum to KBF Rule 5E. Competition Area
Event boundaries encompass the entirety of the competition area of the event (i.e. where an angler can fish). They can be found on the interactive map linked in the event description.
Within the event boundaries are launch boundaries, which, if applicable, can also be found on the interactive map linked in the event description. A launch boundary is the farthest point from which a Competitor may launch his or her approved tournament vessel within the event boundaries. Unless otherwise noted on the interactive map, fishing beyond the launch boundary is permitted.
These boundary restrictions do not apply to pre-fishing.
Addendum to KBF Rule 6. Cooperation, Assistance and Information Gathering.
Starting the Saturday before each event, competitors are prohibited from coordinating on or off the water and sharing information with other competitors and non-competitors with the intent of gaining a competitive advantage. This includes the sharing of waypoints and/or other sources of information that may be shared and stored on electronic devices or otherwise.
Competitors are allowed to research public information such as maps, internet search engines, print material, etc. and to purchase charts and maps through commercially available sources. Quasi-public websites, blogs and/or social media pages, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, set up for the specific purpose of sharing information with individuals or a small group of individuals are not publicly or commercially available sources and are therefore prohibited.
Competitors are allowed to publicly livestream to social media for the purposes of self-promotion, fan engagement, and sponsor requirements. During competition hours, Competitors are not permitted to view on-the-water livestreams or posted on-the-water footage from other Competitors.
Competitors are prohibited from viewing, listening to, or receiving information from non-competitors viewing or listening to the official Elite Kayak Fishing live broadcast during tournament hours. For two-day events, this restriction will remain active from the start of day-one competition until the end of day-two competition.
Addendum to KBF Rule 7B. Fishing Tackle, Equipment, Methods and Measuring Boards
All fish must be caught by the Competitor on rod, reel, line, and hook with artificial lures only. No traps, snares, set lines, or other methods of fishing other than rod, reel and line are permissible, even if legal under state game laws. Violation will result in disqualification from the event.
Unless otherwise stated in the event description (e.g. for a river event), all fish must be hooked and landed by the Competitor while inside the kayak. Competitors may exit the kayak to land an already hooked fish only if it would otherwise be impossible to land (e.g. if it is tangled in a tree, hooked to a limb, etc.).
Addendum to KBF Rule 9G. Hand Position
Competitor’s hand may touch the Caudal Peduncle area (fleshy, scaled part of the bass’ body at the base of the caudal fin), but may not contact the Caudal Fin itself.
Competitors participating in any Elite Kayak Fishing event must observe the applicable rules for the competition and must conduct themselves at all times—during competition or otherwise—in a manner that reflects favorably on the sport of kayak bass fishing, Elite Kayak Fishing, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors. Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, integrity, safety, and conservation in support of the sport of kayak bass fishing, especially when in the vicinity of non-competitors who may be on or beside Eligible Water.
During or outside of competition, any Competitor who violates these principles, intentionally violates Elite Kayak Fishing rules or regulations (attempts to commit fraud), or behaves in ways that reflect unfavorably upon Elite Kayak Fishing, its members, officers or representatives, tournaments or sponsors, or its efforts to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters, and courtesy, may forfeit competition winnings, face suspension from future Elite Kayak Fishing competitions, be permanently banned from competition, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by Elite Kayak Fishing.
Anglers are prohibited from gambling or placing cash wagers, either directly or through a third party, on Elite Kayak Fishing events that they are participating in.
All Competitors are expected to read, understand, and adhere to these rules. Failure to do so may result in deductions, denied fish, or disqualification.