FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Florida Elite Anglers was created in 2025 with a focus on Junior and High School bass fishing tournaments. All tournaments use a team-versus-team format.

The Junior and High School Tournament Series features anglers from across Florida and South Georgia and gives teams the opportunity to compete for scholarships, qualify for the FEA Series Championship and potentially advance to national-level events.

The Junior Division is designed for anglers in 2nd through 8th grade.

The High School Division is primarily for students in 9th through 12th grade.

Participation in the FEA/TBF Junior program is through sanctioned Junior programs or clubs and is open to eligible TBF Junior members in 2nd through 8th grade.

A first-grade student is not eligible to compete. A sanctioned Junior program or club must have at least two members to participate in the FEA Tournament Series.

Participation is through sanctioned High School programs or clubs and is open to students in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade.

One 7th or 8th grade student per team may participate in the High School Division. A 7th or 8th grade student who fishes in the High School Division may not also participate in the Junior Division.

All anglers competing in FEA events must maintain active membership with both Florida Elite Anglers and The Bass Federation.

Local clubs may also charge additional dues separately.

Yes. Florida Elite Anglers requires all competing anglers to remain in good academic standing with their school throughout the season.

Team Advisors are responsible for ensuring student anglers from their club or school continue to meet eligibility requirements.

School backing is encouraged but is not required. Community groups, including homeschool groups, may organize a club and participate.

Contact Florida Elite Anglers for assistance with getting started. TBF requires six anglers with paid dues to create a sanctioned club or organization.

A team consists of no more than two anglers who are members of the same charter or community club.

Every participating team must also have a Boat Captain.

No. FEA tournaments are team events. Each team normally consists of two anglers and one Boat Captain or coach.

There must always be three people in the boat. An angler may not register with the intention of fishing alone.

Boat Captains must be at least 19 years old and must be legally eligible to operate the boat.

Florida boating requirements also apply, including applicable Boater Safety Identification Card requirements.

No. Certain professional anglers and local guides may be ineligible depending on the circumstances.

FEA Tournament Officials reserve the right to approve or deny any Boat Captain.

Yes. Boat Captains operating a boat during FEA Junior or High School tournament competition must provide proof of current boat insurance.

The policy must include at least $300,000 in combined liability boating coverage and identify the boater as an insured user.

The entry fee for FEA Junior and High School tournaments is $65 per team, per tournament.

Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the Thursday before each tournament.

Tournament registrations and entry fees must be submitted through the official Florida Elite Anglers registration page in Fishing Chaos by the published deadline.

Registration will not be accepted on tournament morning.

All teams must check in before each event. Check-in is generally located at the boat ramp where tournament launch will take place.

Teams receive their assigned boat number and tournament information during check-in.

Official launch, check-out and check-in times are established for each event by Tournament Officials.

Teams should review the Schedule of Events posted on the tournament page in Fishing Chaos for the specific times and locations.

No. FEA generally does not have an off-limits period unless Tournament Officials specifically announce one for an event.

Special practice or off-limits periods will be published by FEA when applicable.

No. Paying for a tournament without intending to fish the event is not permitted.

Angler of the Year points must be earned through tournament participation.

Weigh-in is the event and location where teams present their catch to be weighed and measured at the end of tournament competition.

Tournament headquarters, the FEA trailer, scales and tournament staff are located in the official weigh-in area.

The Bump Man is responsible for measuring fish before they are weighed and determining whether each fish meets the minimum length requirement and is alive.

No. Courtesy measurements are not permitted at the weigh-in station.

Teams may compare their boat ruler with the official FEA board on tournament morning.

Holding tanks are used to keep fish aerated and protected while teams wait to move through the official weigh-in process.

Teams should follow Tournament Officials' directions to help minimize congestion and protect fish health.

When FEA-provided weigh-in bags are available, competitors must use those official bags during weigh-in.

The bags remain the property of Florida Elite Anglers and must be returned immediately after weigh-in.

Yes. Every team must report to the designated check-in location after tournament fishing ends, even if the team has no fish to weigh.

This allows Tournament Officials to confirm that every team has safely returned from the water.

A Boat Safety Check is a mandatory inspection for teams finishing in certain top positions, and random inspections may also be conducted.

Required safety items include a working fire extinguisher, kill switch, navigation lights, livewell, throw cushion, life jackets, boat registration, required insurance and applicable fishing licenses.

Navigation lights help other boaters identify your vessel and direction of travel when operating before sunrise, after sunset or in reduced visibility.

Front and rear navigation lights must be functioning before a tournament team may blast off in the morning.

No. Hole sitting is prohibited.

No contestant may coordinate with another person to occupy or reserve a fishing location in order to keep competitors away until the contestant arrives.

Anglers and the Boat Captain must wear a secured, Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device whenever the combustion engine is running.

A one-pound penalty is deducted for each minute a team is late, up to 15 minutes.

A team more than 15 minutes late loses its entire catch for that day.

A protest concerning a rules violation must be submitted in writing to a Tournament Official on an official Protest Form.

It must be submitted within 15 minutes after weigh-in is completed and before awards are presented.

During tournament hours, the outboard engine must be operated by the Boat Captain.

After official weigh-in time, student anglers may operate the outboard with the captain's permission as long as all applicable state laws are followed.

The winning team at an official tournament receives 200 points. The second-place team receives 199 points and the points continue downward by finishing position.

The top three team weights for each school or club are combined.

The school or club with the highest combined weight receives the Team Trophy for that tournament.

An angler may be able to fish with another school's participating organization.

The angler should contact that school's coach, and the participating coach must notify the league in writing.

Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in school before scholarship funds are awarded and must provide the school's payment mailing address and their Student ID.

Scholarship checks are issued to the educational institution rather than directly to the angler.

Host schools assist by providing volunteers who help league staff with tournament operations.

Responsibilities may include directing parking, assisting anglers through the weigh-in line, tournament setup, fish bumping and fish release.