• • Download the 2024 brochure here • •
Entry fee is $110.00
(check or money order only)
payable to the: Talquin Open
mail to:
Tournament Headquarters at
Ingrams Marina
354 Lois Lane
Quincy, Florida 32351
Phone: (850) 627-2241
Lake Talquin Open Bass Tournament
OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULE CHANGES: The following rules of the Tournament will remain unchanged. Interpretation of the rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final in all matters.
PARTICIPANTS AND ELIGIBILITY: Participation in this Tournament will be limited to the first 150 teams and is open to all persons who are 18 years of age or older with the exception of fishing guides who receive 50% of their income from guiding on Lake Talquin within the last year. Persons under 18 may register and participate if a registered parent or guardian is in the same boat. Tournament officials must receive a properly completed and signed official application accompanied by the $110.00 entry fee by blast-off on Saturday, April 03, 2021
REGISTRATION AND BOAT NUMBERS: Each participant must register by mail or in person at Ingram’s Marina on Lake Talquin. Boat numbers will be assigned when registration is received. Mailed applications should be mailed no later than one week prior to the tournament.
SAFETY: Each participant must wear a Coast Guard approved chest-type life jacket any time the combustion engine is operating. Reckless boat handling which might possibly endanger any contestant or non-contestant will result in immediate disqualification.
SPORTSMANSHIP: Participants are expected to adhere to a high standard of sportsmanship and courtesy. No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the boats. Any act of a participant which reflects unfavorably upon the efforts of the Lake Talquin Open to promote fisheries conservation, clean waters and sportsmanship shall be reason for immediate disqualification.
TACKLE AND EQUIPMENT: Only artificial lures may be used. No “live-bait” will be permitted with the exception of pork strips, etc. Only one casting, spin casting, or spinning rod may be used at any one time. All bass must be caught in a sporting manner. Trolling is prohibited and baiting an area is prohibited.
BOAT AND MOTOR: Fishing boats may be used that are 14 feet or more in length. No barges or similar cumbersome craft will be permitted. All boats used are subject to approval by the Tournament Committee. Every boat must have all required Coast Guard equipment and a working live well. Live wells will be checked prior to take-off.
PERMITTED FISHING LOCATION: Fishing will be permitted anywhere on Lake Talquin, including any and all creeks and rivers flowing into the lake with the exception of within 50 yards of an anchored Tournament boat. The boat shed canals at Ingram’s Marina will be off-limits. Fishing within 50 feet of a gas pump is off-limits.
OFFICIAL CHECKPOINT: There shall be only one official checkpoint for the morning and checkin. This point will be designated at the pre-tournament meeting on Saturday, April 03, 2021. At the blast-off all participants and their boats shall be in full compliance with all rules set forth for the tournament. At check-in, all boats must be identified by number.
SCORING: Only largemouth and smallmouth bass and varieties thereof will be weighed. The aggregate limit shall be 5 of the above species. When the 6th fish is caught, you must cull to a 5 fish limit. Bass must measure 12 inches or more from closed mouth to the tip of the tail. Scoring will be based on the cumulative weight of the total catch of each entrant. 0.25lb, Will be deducted for each dead fish. In case of a tie for any position, the prize will be divided equally between the contestants. All live bass will be released.
POLYGRAPH TEST: A polygraph test will be given to the first place winners however, any contestants finishing in the top 3 places may be asked to submit to a polygraph test. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification.
LATE PENALTY: Participants who are not at the official check-in at the appointed time shall be penalized as follows: Participants who are late by 5 minutes or less shall be penalized 10% of the weight of their total catch or 2 pounds whichever is greater; Participants who are late by more than 5 minutes, but less than 15 minutes shall be penalized 50% of the weight of their total catch or 10 pounds, whichever is greater; competitors who are late by 15 minutes or more shall lose all credit for the tournament. Late penalities will be deducted from the largest bass first.