New Competitive Fishing Club Seeks Adult Boat Captain(s)

WHO CAN BE A BOAT CAPTAIN?

Boat Captains can be parents or alumni who would like to assist current students in a competitive bass fishing league. Insurance and liability is covered by the league and additional riders if necessary. Captains must be 18 years or older who can provide a boat and knowledge of watercraft safety laws and rules in Minnesota.

All boat captains need to check with their team's coach to go through a background check protocol.

WHO CANNOT BE A BOAT CAPTAIN?

Employees, officers and directors of B.A.S.S. or its parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies and members of their immediate families (spouse, parents, children, and siblinga, regardless of where they live) are not eligible to be Boat Captains. Local professional fishing guides are also not eligible.

WHAT IS THE BOAT CAPTAIN ROLE?

Boat captain/coach MAY:

1. Verify competition rules are followed. 
2. Help with hook removal from a fish.
3. Demonstrate how to tie a knot.
4. Provide a net for the event.
5. Assist in untangling of jammed reels, but the student angler’s lure must be out of the water.
6. Verify length of caught fish.
7. Provide education on proper fishing ethics and distance away from other teams (i.e., no closer than two cast lengths).
8. Provide fish handling care and help with culling, however the students must identify which fish is to be kept or released

WHAT ABOUT THE BOAT?

All boats must:

• have an operating livewell with an aeration system to keep all bass alive throughout the day (checked at morning take-off)
• have an operating kill switch connected to the boat captain when the big motor is in operation (checked at morning take-off)
• be a minimum 16-foot length and power cannot exceed Coast Guard maximum limitations. Horsepower (250 hp) limitations do apply at national events.
• carry a $300,000 minimum liability insurance policy with a copy readily available upon random checks at morning check-in.

For more information on the Bassmasters competitions, click here.

If you or someone you know is interested in teaching students to fish and could support the Competitive Fishing Club as a Boat Captain, please contact Science teacher and team manager, Chad Anderson at canderson@c-dh.org.