EFL RULES 2024

2025 YAMAHA ELITE FISHING LEAGUE

Ownership Directives and Notices:

Elite ownership and officials reserve the right to determine field, open or deny entry and/or remove any participant(s) for any reason at any time deemed necessary by Elite ownership and tour officials. Elite ownership and tour officials exclusively interpret all rules, formats, procedures and directives listed or delivered in person or by any electronic means.
Participant(s) who for any reason refuse the taking of a polygraph or other truth detection test will not be eligible for any awards received or expected. Participant(s) that have previously refused to take or have failed a polygraph test with any organization will not be eligible to compete and will be removed immediately at the time of discovery by Elite ownership and its official(s).
Participants must be in good physical health and be free from any conditions diagnosed or not related to blackouts, seizures, fainting or other medical conditions that could knowingly place themselves, fellow competitors and/or the general public in danger on the water or roadways traveling to or from an Elite tournament. Alcoholic beverages cannot be possessed, transported or consumed by a tournament participant during tournament hours including tournament weigh ins.
Participants must follow all federal, state and local regulations, laws including all tournament rules. Participants must have a liability policy of at least $300,000.00 for any vessel used in an Elite tournament and ensure they meet all boat and boater registrations required by state, federal and local law enforcement for the state where tournament takes place. Participants must have a current fishing license for the state in which they are fishing unless state fishing license reciprocation occurs.
EFL Specific Format, Procedures and Penalties.
Anglers will be notified (in the order of their group’s round of competition) of the official base/staging location for the week of competitions. I.E. hotel, business, etc. at least 24 hours prior to having to attend their pre round angler orientation.
The playing field for a round of competition as designated by the tour will be delivered to the anglers taking part in that round the morning of their competition.
Anglers may not seek information pertaining to fishing, lures, fish movements or any other fishing related information and cannot be on any water within the overall playing field beginning Monday the week of an EFL stage.
Fishing period 1 will usually take place 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM. Fishing period 2 will usually take place 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Extensions, delays or any other adjustments may be made to these times by the tour if deemed necessary.
Lines in called by the referee signifies the start or restart after a penalty of official fishing time.
Anglers can’t cast after a lines out call. A fish caught on a cast made during a fishing period and anytime prior to lines out call will count.
Anglers may 1 time per fishing period use an extra cast in an attempt to hook a 2nd fish. I.E. school of fish swim by angler can set the hook on fish one put his rod in holder and then make 1 additional cast in an attempt to hook a 2nd fish. Angler must notify referee of his intention to use his bonus cast.
Anglers may push away from the designated launch location no earlier than 7:00 AM. First cast of fishing period 1 will be 7:30 AM and conclude with lines out call at 11:30 AM. The start of fishing period 2 will begin at 12:00 PM and conclude at 4:00 PM.
A penalty for a violation taking place at the end of fishing period 1 must be served at the start of fishing period 2. A penalty for a violation taking place at the end of fishing period 2 will carry over and must be served prior at the start of fishing period 1 at the following round or stage .
The official scale of the Elite Fishing League is the Brecknell ElectroSamson with fish grips. All fish will be weighed in pounds and hundredths of pounds… 11.25 pounds not 11 pounds 4 ounces.
Anglers may not travel to a fishing location during the 30 minute break period 11:30 – 12:00.
Anglers are responsible for having life vest on and kill switch attached anytime the big engine is operating.
Anglers must ensure that referee and cameramen are secured with life vest on and ready for moving anytime big engine is operating.
During rain and/or thunderstorms safe, storm free areas within the boundary must be sought in order to continue fishing in a safe environment. Fishing will not be stopped for the entire field unless the playing field is under dangerous storm conditions.
Delays, extensions of time or other weather dictated event protocol modifications that affect the entire field will be made by the tour and relayed to referees.
EFL tour officials/ownership reserve the right to delay or extend any fishing period, round or stage and to alter or remove official playing field or fishing zone boundaries at anytime to help ensure a safe, fair and competitive playing field for all participants in a stage or round of competition.
During a penalty anglers cannot re-spool, tie their lines, change lures or do anything other than just sit or stand for duration of penalty. Anglers may anchor or secure boat from rocks, jetties, etc. prior to the start of their penalty. Once started if angler has to readjust or move their boat the penalty time will start over. Penalty time only starts at the moment anglers becomes settled.
Overtime: In the event a round ends regulation with a tie between 2 or more anglers an overtime period will begin 5 minutes after regulation time has ended with the first scorable fish to be weighed determining the winner. If a scorable fish is not caught within the 15 minute overtime period the heaviest scorable fish previously weighed during regulation will determine the winner.
Official round: 1 complete fishing period free from extended interuptions will constitute an official round. Should fishing period 1 of a stage round get cancelled due to inclement weather or other significant event that causes its cancellation, fishing period 2 alone will certify the round as completed. If fishing period 1 is completed but fishing period 2 is cancelled due to inclement weather or another significant event that causes it’s cancellation then the results of period 1 will certify an official round of competition.

2025 YAMAHA ELITE FISHING LEAGUE

Ownership Directives and Notices:

EFL Specific Format, Procedures and Penalties.

Anglers will be notified (in the order of their group’s round of competition) of the official base/staging location for the week of competitions. I.E. hotel, business, etc. at least 24 hours prior to having to attend their pre round angler orientation.

The playing field for a round of competition as designated by the tour will be delivered to the anglers taking part in that round the morning of their competition.

Anglers may not seek information pertaining to fishing, lures, fish movements or any other fishing related information and cannot be on any water within the overall playing field beginning Monday the week of an EFL stage.

Fishing period 1 will usually take place 7:30 AM – 11:30 PM. Fishing period 2 will usually take place 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Extensions, delays or any other adjustments may be made to these times by the tour if deemed necessary.

Lines in called by the referee signifies the start or restart after a penalty of official fishing time.

Anglers can’t cast after a lines out call. A fish caught on a cast made during a fishing period and anytime prior to lines out call will count.

Anglers may push away from the designated launch location no earlier than 7:00 AM. First cast of fishing period 1 will be 7:30 AM and conclude with lines out call at 11:30 AM. The start of fishing period 2 will begin at 12:00 PM and conclude at 4:00 PM.

A penalty for a violation taking place at the end of fishing period 1 must be served at the start of fishing period 2. A penalty for a violation taking place at the end of fishing period 2 will carry over and must be served prior at the start of fishing period 1 at the following round or stage .

The official scale of the Elite Fishing League is the Brecknell ElectroSamson with fish grips. All fish will be weighed in pounds and hundredths of pounds… 11.25 pounds not 11 pounds 4 ounces.

Anglers may not travel to a fishing location during the 30 minute break period 11:30 – 12:00.

Anglers are responsible for having life vest on and kill switch attached anytime the big engine is operating.

Anglers must ensure that referee and cameramen are secured with life vest on and ready for moving anytime big engine is operating.

During rain and/or thunderstorms safe, storm free areas within the boundary must be sought in order to continue fishing in a safe environment. Fishing will not be stopped for the entire field unless the playing field is under dangerous storm conditions.

Delays, extensions of time or other weather dictated event protocol modifications that affect the entire field will be made by the tour and relayed to referees.

EFL tour officials/ownership reserve the right to delay or extend any fishing period, round or stage and to alter or remove official playing field or fishing zone boundaries at anytime to help ensure a safe, fair and competitive playing field for all participants in a stage or round of competition.