• FOBA tournaments are designed to promote a fun, fulfilling time on the water where club members can also share knowledge and learn from one another.  Competition during these tournaments is secondary to these goals. The tournament schedule generally includes the following types of Boater/Co-Angler pairings:

• Draw: For draw tournaments, a Boater is paired randomly with a Co-Angler and each angler fishes within their division.

• Pick Your Partner: For tournaments considered to be travel/away, Boaters and Co-Anglers can choose their tournament partners and each angler still competes within their division.  Picking your own partner facilitates making travel and lodging arrangements.  Picking partners is optional and the TD will pair any anglers that wish to participate if needed.

• The Tournament Director sends out tournament pairings via email along with other pertinent information such as launch order, launch/weigh-in times, size limits,  and off-limits areas. The winner is determined based on the heaviest five bass limit consisting of largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass per division.

• Most FOBA tournaments utilize the traditional weigh-in method of keeping fish in livewells and weighing in at the end of the tournament day.

• When required by local regulations and/or excessive minimum size limits, some FOBA tournaments will use a Catch-Weigh-Release (CWR) format.  In CWR tournaments each individual fish is weighed on a FOBA-provided digital scale, recorded on an official weigh sheet, and immediately released.  CWR tournaments will use a 12" minimum size and still retain a 5-bass limit per angler.  

FOBA members must obtain the appropriate licenses for the waters they intend to fish. Not having appropriate licenses may be grounds for disciplinary action by the Tournament Director.

License requirements by fishery:

• Black Hill / Little Seneca Lake - MD Non-Tidal

• Chickahominy River - VA Freshwater

• Conowingo Reservoir - MD Non-Tidal (Valid in PA waters on main-stem of river); PA license required inside Michael’s Run, Muddy Creek, and Peter’s Creek

• Deep Creek Lake - MD Non-Tidal

• Lake Anna - VA Freshwater

• Lake Gaston - VA Freshwater (Valid in NC waters)

• Piney Run Lake - MD Non-Tidal

• Potomac River (DC to 301-Bridge) - MD Bay & Coastal -OR- VA Freshwater -OR- PRFC license; DC license required for all waters above Wilson Bridge (I-495); VA Freshwater required for Occoquan River above I-95 bridge

• Smith Mountain Lake - VA Freshwater

• Upper Chesapeake Bay - MD Bay & Coastal -OR- PRFC license

License description and costs (based on MD residence, annual):

• MD Non-Tidal: All non-tidal and/or freshwater - $22.50

• MD Bay & Coastal Sport: Chesapeake Bay and it’s tidal tributaries, and Atlantic waters - $15

• PRFC: Entire Chesapeake Bay and all tributaries in MD and VA waters (except DC) -  $15

• VA Freshwater: All freshwater in VA, tidal water up to VDGIF Fresh/Salt lines - $47

• DC: All waters in DC (above Wilson/I-495 Bridge) - $13

• All members must pay the annual $80 membership dues.

• Tournament fees are $30/member for single day tournaments and $40/member for two day tournaments.

• This does not include travel and lodging expenses or the Co-Angler fee.  If you are fishing as a Co-Angler, the Boater may charge you up to $40 per tournament day for expenses related to operating the boat.  

• Payouts are awarded to the top three finishers in each division (Boater or Co-Angler), as well as a "Lunker" payout for the heaviest single fish caught in each division per tournament day.

• From each individual tournament entry fee, $2 goes to the tournament lunker pot and $2 goes to the Classic pot (to be paid in the Classic).  Remaining entry goes to the tournament payout pot.

• 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place payout = 50%, 30%, and 20% of the tournament payout pot respectively.

• The Classic entry fee and payout follows the same breakdown, except with the addition of the accumulated classic pot being added to the tournament payout pot.  

• The tournament schedule is decided on by the board of directors and club officers at the end of each fiscal year. The schedule takes into account factors such as seasonal migrations of fish, tidal conditions, and other large events.

• The schedule will consist of 13 total tournaments which inlcudes the year-end Classic.

• A standings point system is used to reward those who participate in meetings and tournaments. In an effort to recognize fishing success, the following plaques or certificates are presented annually at the awards banquet, based on year end standings:

• Boater Division

• 1st Place – Plaque

• 2nd Place – Plaque

• 3rd Place – Plaque

• 4th Place – Plaque

• 5th Place – Plaque

• Lunker Award – Plaque (largest overall bass caught)

• Big Bag Award - Plaque (largest single-day stringer)

• FOBA Classic 1st Place - Plaque

• FOBA Classic 2nd Place - Plaque

• FOBA Classic 3rd Place - Plaque

• Co-Angler  Division

• 1st Place – Plaque

• 2nd Place – Plaque

• 3rd Place – Plaque

• 4th Place – Plaque

• 5th Place – Plaque

• Lunker Award – Plaque (largest overall bass caught)

• Big Bag Award - Plaque (largest single-day stringer)

• FOBA Classic 1st Place - Plaque

• FOBA Classic 2nd Place - Plaque

• FOBA Classic 3rd Place - Plaque

• Often times boat ramps do not have a physical address, so we provide the most accurate address available.  The exact location of the boat ramps may be found on each tournament page.  Each tournament page has a map and you can click on the "Google" icon in the bottom-left corner of the map to launch Google Maps.