The Massachusetts Kayak Bassin’ Knockout Series is a bracketed, one-on-one tournament series. Fish until you’re knocked out of the competition! Winners of each round will move on until one angler remains victorious above all others.
Unless specifically addressed in the addendum below, the official rules for this series will be KBF’s Competition Rules Standard, the same rules that we use for our regular series events.
ENTRY FEES
a. Entry fee is a one-time, non-refundable (after March 14) payment of $50.
FORMAT
a. The Massachusetts Kayak Bassin’ Knockout Series is a bracketed, three-fish limit, CPR (catch, photo, release), one-on-one tournament series. Fish until you’re knocked out of the competition! Winners of each round will move on until one angler remains victorious above all others.
b. Starting April 1 (depending on ice out), each round will run for six weeks (32 or 48 anglers) or five weeks (64 anglers) until all matches are complete.
With 32 anglers, the exact time periods are as follows:
Round 1: Apr 1–May 12
Round 2: May 13–Jun 23
Round 3: Jun 24–Aug 4
Round 4: Aug 5–Sep 15
Round 5: Sep 16–Oct 28
With 48 anglers, the exact time periods are as follows (please note that with 48 anglers there will be a three-way finale):
Round 1: Apr 1–May 12
Round 2: May 13–Jun 23
Round 3: Jun 24–Aug 4
Round 4: Aug 5–Sep 15
Round 5: Sep 16–Oct 28
With 64 anglers, the exact time periods are as follows:
Round 1: Apr 1–May 5
Round 2: May 6–Jun 9
Round 3: Jun 10–Jul 14
Round 4: Jul 15–Aug 18
Round 5: Aug 19–Sep 22
Round 6: Sep 23–Oct 27
c. It is the responsibility of the anglers to coordinate the time and location of their tournament within the given time frame. Failure to complete the match within that time frame may result in the disqualification of BOTH anglers, regardless of fault. Therefore, if for whatever reason you cannot compete, please be fair and forfeit so that the angler with whom you are paired can move on to the next round.
d. Pre-fishing cutoff limit is determined by the anglers each round.
SCORING
a. The Knockout Series will be run through the Fishing Chaos app. Each angler is required to have the app on their phone and a Fishing Chaos account.
b. Both competing anglers will unofficially determine the winner of each round by checking each other’s three biggest fish at the end of the tournament. Results will remain unofficial until MAKB staff verifies each fish.
c. Each tournament will run on a three-fish limit and an 8-inch minimum. Highest aggregate length wins the round and the angler moves on.
d. In the case of a tie, the tie-breaker goes to the person with the longest fish. In the case of a tie for longest, the tie-breaker will then be the next longest fish, etc.
IDENTIFIER
a. Anglers will provide each other a unique three-digit identifier code the morning of the tournament.
b. If you do use the card we provide, write your identifier code in the appropriate box—square boxes for rounds 1 through 4, circles for the semi-final and championship rounds.
You may also write the identifier code on your hand or on another identifier, such as a KBF State Challenge identifier, as long as it is clearly visible in each photo.
PAYOUTS
a. At the end of the series, payouts will go to the FIRST and SECOND place winners, as well as to the angler with the LONGEST fish of the series and the angler with the series’ longest COMBINED LIMIT of three fish.
b. Example of Payouts (based on 32 anglers and a pool of $1,600):
1st Place: $800
2nd Place: $400
Longest Fish: $200
Longest Combined Limit: $200
c. Example of Payouts (based on 48 anglers and a pool of $2,400):
1st Place: $1200
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $300
Longest Fish: $200
Longest Combined Limit: $200
d. Example of Payouts (based on 64 anglers and a pool of $3,200):
1st Place: $1,600
2nd Place: $800
Longest Fish: $400
Longest Combined Limit: $400
Payouts this year are approximate and based on net entry fees (gross entry fees less credit card processing fees: 2.9% plus $0.30).
If you have any further questions, please check out the FAQs below, or ask us if the answer is not listed.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Does each tournament run for five or six weeks, similar to the month-long KBF online tournaments?
No. Though you have five or six weeks to complete your match, each match is a single-day tournament.
Q. Do we need to fish 8-hour tournaments?
Paired anglers can fish two hours or 12 hours, weekends or weekdays, day or night. It’s all up to the competitors, whatever is agreed upon prior to the tournament.
Q. If I make it to the finale, can we fish a two-day tournament? And if yes, can we fish a different body of water each day?
Yes on both, but only your top three fish from day one would count toward the Longest Fish and Longest Combined Limit pools.
Q. Does it have to be a three-fish limit?
Yes.
Q. Can we fish out of state waters?
Yes, if both anglers agree to it. However, any match fished out of state is not eligible for the Longest Bass or Longest Limit prize pools.
Also, any out of state angler unwilling or unable to fish Massachusetts waters will forfeit his or her match and the other angler will move on. We encourage anglers to compromise, but we are a Massachusetts-based group, so preference goes to those in-state anglers. Out-of-state anglers sign up acknowledging this.
Q. Will you disqualify both anglers if a match cannot be completed?
Possibly, if fault cannot be determined. Anglers should make the time to fish, or be fair and forfeit if they cannot make it happen by the round deadline.
Q. If I am unable to compete in my match, will I be refunded?
There will be no refunds after March 14*.
* If any angler is unable to complete his round 1 match due to unforeseen circumstances—injury, family emergency, etc.—then a replacement will be sought. If secured, the entry fee will be refunded, even after March 14. Otherwise there will be no refund and your competitor will move onto round 2 via forfeit.
Q. Is it a 12- or 8-inch minimum?
Though we have adopted KBF’s Competition Rules Standard (see link at the top of this page) and they have upped their minimum to 12 inches, we still allow an 8-inch minimum.
Q. Do you allow electric-powered boats?
No.
We do, however, allow anglers to use trolling motors on their kayaks, as long as they are within the limits set by KBF’s Competition Rules Standard.
Q. Will 100% of the entry fees be paid out to the anglers?
Payouts listed above are approximate and based on net entry fees (gross entry fees less credit card processing fees: 2.9% plus $0.30).
Q. Can we use live bait if we agree to it?
No.
Q. Can we fish private waters if we have permission.
No.
Q. If I am knocked out of the competition, will I still be eligible to win Longest Fish and/or Longest Combined Limit?
Yes. All anglers will be eligible to win those categories regardless of their overall standing in the series.