R 1,000,000 AFRICA CHALLENGE
BANK ANGLING RULES - 2025
Rule 1: Participation and Eligibility
- 1.1 To participate in the EBASS Africa Challenge, all competitors must be affiliated with EBASS Africa. Affiliation is free of charge and can be completed online by following the simple steps outlined at www.ebassafrica.co.za.
- 1.2 Each competing angler must have liked and followed the official EBASS Africa Facebook page.
- 1.3 A properly completed official entry form from each angler, as well as an entry fee per angler, must be received by the Ebass Africa, on or before the entry deadline date of Monday 22 September 2025.
- 1.4 Failure to comply with any of the above sections may result in non-registration or disqualification of the transgressing angler.
Rule 2: General and Pre-Competition Cut-Off
- 2.1 The R 1,000,000 Africa Challenge will be held at Vaal River on Sunday 05 October 2025.
- 2.2 The pre-competition off-limits period for this tournament begins at midnight on Sunday, 21 September 2025, and includes the following restrictions:
- 2.2.1 Fishing on the tournament waters.
- 2.2.2 Receiving any fishing information on the tournament waters from a 3rd party, provided the information received was gathered by the 3rd party during the official competition off limit period.
- 2.2.3 Any competitor who violates any of the pre-competition off limit rules, will be disqualified from the tournament.
- 2.4 By his/her signature on the official tournament entry form, each competitor agrees to submit to a truth verification (polygraph) test and abide by its conclusion should he/she be accused of any rule violation. The tournament director and committee shall have the discretion to determine the need for such a truth verification test.
- 2.6 Random truth verification tests may be conducted onsite during the R1,000,000 Africa Challenge, including but not limited to the anglers who weigh in the three heaviest fish.
Rule 3: Angler's Briefing
- 3.1 A mandatory angler briefing will be held on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at 06:30 at the bank angling weigh station. Attendance is required for all competitors.
- 3.2 Failure to attend the angler's briefing may lead to disqualification from the tournament, of any transgressing angler.
Rule 4: Eligible Fish - Tagged and Big Fish Tournament
- 4.1 Only live Largemouth Bass may be weighed.
- 4.2 A fish that is gilling will be deemed to be alive, with the final decision at the weighmaster's discretion.
- 4.3 Fish that have partially ingested their prey will not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and not counted towards the weight.
- 4.4 The introduction of materials or devices that increase the fish's weight/mass will be deemed an act of fraud and will result in immediate disqualification from the tournament, of the angler presenting the fish to the weigh master.
Rule 5: Permitted Fishing Methods and Tournament Waters
- 5.1 Only one line per angler to be in the water at any given time.
- 5.2 Only artificial lures are permitted for use in the tournament.
- 5.3 No more than one artificial lure may be attached to a line at one time.
- 5.4 One artificial lure is defined as a single man-made device designed to attract and/or catch one fish at a time.
- 5.5 Adding trailer or treble hooks, plastic trailers, blades, etc., to a single lure is acceptable.
- 5.6 If multiple fish are caught on a single manmade lure, on a single cast, all fish are considered legal and may be presented to the weigh station.
- 5.7 No “live bait,” “dead bait,” or “prepared bait” will be permitted during the competition, except for pork strips or rinds.
- 5.8 Any umbrella-type rigging, harness, or other device designed to hold more than one lure at a time - with or without hooks - is not allowed.
- 5.9 Twin arm spinnerbaits, underspins or buzz baits are allowed.
- 5.10 Trailer hooks and plastic trailers must be on the main hook of the bait; only spinner blades can be affixed to the arms.
- 5.11 No feeding areas are allowed to be prepared to attract any fish species to a specific area within the tournament waters.
- 5.12 Any violation of rule 5.1 to 5.11 may result in the disqualification of the transgressing angler.
- 5.13 Tournament Waters shall be established by the tournament director. Any water within these boundaries posted “Off-Limits” or “No Fishing” by provisional, conservation or any other authority, as well as areas established by the tournament director, will be OFF-LIMITS and will be announced at the tournament briefing. Fishing outside the tournament waters will result in disqualification from the tournament, of the transgressing competitors.
Rule 6: Sportsmanship
- 6.1 Competitors are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any infraction of these fundamental sporting principles may be deemed cause for disqualification from the tournament.
- 6.2 Use of alcohol or drugs (other than those drugs purchased over the counter or prescribed by a physician) by any competitor during the tournament will not be tolerated.
- 6.3 Any violation of rules 6.1 - 6.2 may lead to disqualification of all the competitors on the transgressing boat.
Rule 7: Anglers Conduct
- 7.1 Anglers must always conduct themselves professionally, demonstrating integrity, honour, and respect toward fellow competitors, tournament staff, and the general public. Their behaviour should uphold the reputation of the R1,000,000 Africa Challenge, its officials, representatives, and sponsors, ensuring no unfavourable reflection on the event.
- 7.2 Anglers are frequently in the public eye; therefore, it is imperative that tournament competitors demonstrate good sportsmanship in fishing. Sportsmanship is defined as fair play, respect for opponents and polite behaviour while competing in the sport.
- 7.3 Following are examples of unacceptable behaviour by competitors before, during or after the R 1,000,000 Africa Challenge event, which may be cause for disqualification as outlined in this document.
- 7.3.1 Heated public disagreements with tournament officials, other competitors and fans and volunteers during an event.
- 7.3.2 Public attacks through media, including social media, upon the integrity of tournament rules or officials.
- 7.3.3 Public comments that an angler knows, or should reasonably know, will harm the reputation of EBASS Africa, tournament officials, or trail sponsors.
- 7.3.4 Displays of anger and displeasure for reasons related to fishing competition where members of the public, including other anglers, spectators and the media, are present.
- 7.3.5 Publicly questioning or criticizing a tournament official or official decision, ruling or penalty except through the proper channels.
- 7.3.6 Abuse (physical, verbal, threatening or slanderous) of tournament officials, volunteers, fellow competitors or others connected with a R1,000,000 Africa Challenge event.
- 7.3.7 Offensive or slanderous comments with racial, cultural, or sexual overtones regarding event officials, event personnel or fellow anglers.
- 7.3.8 Intentionally interfering with a fellow angler's ability to compete.
- 7.4 Any angler who violates any of the provisions of these Sportsmanship may be subject to forfeiture of tournament winnings, permanent ban from future competitions, or any combination thereof deemed appropriate by the tournament committee.
Rule 8: Weigh-in Procedures
- 8.1 The weigh station will be open the entire day during tournament hours, and will be set up in an area that is accessible to everyone.
- 8.2 All fish to be weighed must be presented to the weigh master in a weigh bucket (provided by the event organizers) filled with water at the weigh station. Fish must then be transferred into the designated mesh weigh bags and presented to the weigh master upon call-up. Hand or direct physical contact with fish during transportation to the weigh station is strictly prohibited.
- 8.3 All fish to be weighed must be alive (gilling) at the time of fish being placed on the scale. It is at the weighmaster's sole discretion whether a fish is deemed to be dead.
- 8.4 NO dead fish shall not be eligible for weighing (this included the tagged fish). The R1,000,000 tagged fish shall not be considered for the three biggest fish prizes if caught.
- 8.5 Living fish that have partially ingested their prey will not be weighed until the protruding remains of such ingested prey are safely removed and will not count towards the weight of the fish.
- 8.6 The introduction of any materials or devices that increase the fish's weight/mass will be deemed will full damage, which will result in a disqualification.
- 8.7 All fish weighed must be left with the weigh master. The weighmaster will then release the fish once weighed and accounted for.
- 8.8 Every angler MUST sign each printed weigh-slip directly after weighing their fish as acknowledgement of the weight. No exceptions will be entertained after the event/tournament, should there be discrepancies and the angler did not sign.
Rule 9: Protests
- 9.1 Protest forms will be available during the tournament at the weigh station.
- 9.2 All protest will be subject to a R 500 non-refundable protest fee.
- 9.3 A protesting team must complete a protesting form, signed by all their witnesses.
- 9.4 The protest form, including the R500 protest fee must be handed in to the tournament director not later than 10 minutes after by the designated weigh-in cut-off time.
- 9.5 Failure by the protesting angler to comply with protesting rules 9.2 - 9.4 will result in the protest to be rejected by the tournament director.
- 9.6 All parties of interest must be made aware of the pending protest by the tournament director or appointed designate.
- 9.7 Once received all the parties must attend a hearing at a place and time determined by the tournament director, who will convene the tournament committee for a protest hearing.
- 9.8 Once the outcome has been decided, penalties / disqualifications will be handed down ASAP by the tournament committee.
This document outlines the official rules for the R 1,000,000 Africa Challenge 2025 tournament. Competitors must abide by all rules and regulations to ensure fair play and sportsmanship throughout the event.