Rules 2026

Competition Regulations

1. General

a; The official name of the competition: XII. International Balaton Carp Cup (hereinafter: “the competition”).

b; The organizer of the competition (hereinafter: “Organizer”): Tematik-Kábel Kft. (1012 Budapest, Márvány u. 17.).

c; Date of the competition: from 12:00 on 19 April 2026 to 08:00 on 25 April 2026.

d; Registration times:

– 17 April 2026 from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 18:00 (in time slots)

– 18 April 2026 from 08:00 to 14:30 (in time slots) at Lake Balaton

e; Location of the competition: Lake Balaton

f; Competition center: Club Tihany Resort, 8237 Tihany, Rév u. 3., Hungary

g; Official website of the competition: www.ibcc.hu

h; Official Facebook page of the competition: www.facebook.com/ibccbalaton

i; In order to maintain the professional standards and ideals represented by the International Balaton Carp Cup competition series, all participants are strongly requested to strictly comply with fishing ethics.

j; The competition is an open international team competition.

k; The competition is organized based on the “Catch and Release” principle.

l; This Competition Regulations document (hereinafter: CR) has been developed with special attention to ensuring sportsmanship and equal opportunities, as well as to eliminate random elements/events during the competition and evaluation process, in accordance with the international carp fishing rules of CIPS/FIPSed, the National Competition Regulations (OVSZ) of MOHOSZ, the international anti-doping regulations, and the National and Balaton Fishing Regulations of Hungary.

The Organizer emphasizes the importance of environmental protection and civil behavior, and warns about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

Anyone who fails to comply with these rules may be disqualified from the competition by the Jury following prior warning.

m; In view of the spirit and rules of the competition, only anglers with a clean record are eligible to register – i.e. whose names have not been involved in any proven ethical violation, infringement, or crime related to fish or fish protection. During registration, each competitor shall sign a Declaration of Integrity (Annex 1 of the CR).

n; The Organizer enforces the rules it has developed, reserves the right to ensure their compliance, and may not amend them after 1 April 2026.

o; All reported or observed violations will be immediately investigated by the Organizer and may result in disqualification, depending on their severity.

p; The Organizer declares that during the competition, it will report any observed legal violations and reserves the right to immediately or retrospectively disqualify participants and to reclaim any awarded prizes in cases where the sanctions outlined in the CR have been violated or the Declaration of Integrity proves to be false.

q; The official languages of the competition are Hungarian and English. The Competition Regulations are prepared in both Hungarian and English, but in the case of any discrepancies resulting from translation, the Hungarian version shall prevail. In case of inconsistency between the annexes and the CR, the CR shall prevail.

Any modifications or supplements to the CR will be published within one day following their approval, in accordance with the provisions of this CR. The current 1.1 version reflects such content changes and additions involving new elements.

No amendments may be made to the CR within 8 days prior to the official start of the competition.

r; The official currency of the competition is the euro (EUR).

s; All times stated in the CR and during the competition refer to Central European Time (CET).

2. Schedule

Official schedule:

Registration at the competition center:

– 17 April 2026, from 09:00 to 20:00 (in designated time slots)

– 18 April 2026, from 08:00 to 14:30 (in designated time slots)

Assembly at the waterfront of the competition center:

– 18 April 2026, at 15:00

Group photo:

– 18 April 2026, at 15:15

Flag parade:

– 18 April 2026, at 15:15

Official opening ceremony in the conference hall of the competition center:

– 18 April 2026, at 15:30

Draw for fishing spots:

– 18 April 2026, at 16:00

Occupation of camp areas:

– from 07:00 on 19 April 2026

Start of the competition:

– 19 April 2026, at 12:00

End of the competition:

– 25 April 2026, at 08:00

Award ceremony and official prize-giving in the conference hall of the competition center:

– 25 April 2026, at 15:00

3. Registration

In addition to the changes in the Competition Regulations, the organizers of IBCC wish to maintain the international character of the 2026 event; therefore, a country-specific team quota will be established.

To determine the nationality of a team, it is a basic requirement that at least one team member holds citizenship of the given country. This quota system may be lifted by the Organizer depending on the status of applications.

a; Registration for the competition is only possible in writing, using the online registration form available at www.ibcc.hu.

b; The Organizer will send a notification to the provided contact address regarding:

the confirmation of receipt of the registration,
any required additional documentation,
and, if accepted, the issuance of the registration number,
together with the invoice for the registration fee necessary to complete the registration.

c; A prerequisite for a valid registration is the payment of the participation fee of EUR 2,500 within 5 working days after registration.

I. From 1 August 2025, all teams who participated in the IBCC held in 2025 will have priority registration rights. (Team captains will receive an email about this before 1 August 2025.)

The first round of registration will be by invitation only.

II. From 5 September 2025, anyone may register for the remaining available slots, within the quotas assigned to each country.

III. On 15 December 2025, the IBCC Competition Committee may lift the quota limits, allowing teams on the waiting list to join the competition.

d; Applications will be evaluated continuously, and notifications of acceptance or rejection will be sent accordingly. The Organizer may also designate reserve teams, with whom separate agreements will be made regarding conditions and potential future participation privileges.

e; The Organizer is not obliged to provide justification for the acceptance or rejection of applications.

f/a; The total participation fee for the competition (hereinafter: fee) is EUR 2,500 / team.

g; The fee includes, for the entire team:

the fee for venue rental, fishing rights, and related services,
fees for parking and tent placement, as well as communal costs,
a territorial fishing license for Lake Balaton valid for the duration of the competition,
the costs of organization and execution of the competition,
mandatory accident insurance,
the meals as specified in the Competition Regulations,
a contribution to the cost of trophies and the prize pool.

The participation fee does NOT include electricity supply at the fishing spots!

5. Competition Jury

a; In order to ensure the proper execution of the competition in accordance with the Competition Regulations (CR), the Organizer establishes a Competition Jury.

The Chairperson of the Jury is the Chief Referee, who also serves as the Director of Competition Organization.

Members of the Jury include:

– the Deputy Chief Referee,

– 2 weigh-in referees,

– and 4 competitors selected from among the participants.

The Competition Jury makes decisions by simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the Chief Referee shall decide.

The “List of Jury Members and Weigh-In Referees” constitutes Annex No. 3 of the CR.

b; In addition to the Competition Jury, the official staff of the competition includes:

– other weigh-in referees,

– sector referees,

– as well as technical and administrative personnel.

Only the Chief Referee, the Deputy Chief Referee, and the weigh-in referees have direct authority to issue instructions to the competitors.

Sector referees, other members of the Jury, and additional official staff members have a duty to report any issues regarding the observance and enforcement of the CR to the Chief Referee or, in their absence, to their designated deputy.

6. Draw of Fishing Spots

a; The draw for team fishing spots consists of two rounds.

In the first round, the draw order is determined by each team’s designated member drawing a number at the time of registration.

The drawn number determines the order in which the team will draw their fishing spot in the next round (e.g. the team that draws number 4 will choose fourth in the second round).

b; In the second round, the same designated team member draws a number corresponding to a specific fishing spot in front of the on-site “Competition Map.”

The drawn spot can then be identified on the map.

If any teams fail to appear, the available spots may be modified by decision of the Competition Jury.

Subsequently, on the computerized charts, teams will be identified by their assigned peg codes, and local identification will be based on the Competition Map.

c; Occupying the drawn fishing spots before 07:00 on 19 April 2026 is strictly PROHIBITED.

d; There is NO possibility to redraw or exchange the drawn spot.

e; The Official Competition Map, which includes the sector and peg allocation, buoy placements, and other key information, is available for download from the official website.

This map is included as Annex No. 4 to the CR, and it must be published no later than 1 April 2026.

7. Team

a; Each team shall consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 full members. (This is included in the registration fee.)

b; Only individuals 18 years of age or older are eligible to register.

8. Equipment

a; Each team may fish with 4 rods, with 1 single hook per rod.

b; A maximum of 2 boats per team is permitted.

c; The use of fish finders (echo sounders) is allowed.

d; Each team is required to have at least 3 floating weigh slings, suitable for the safe storage of fish until weighing.

The use of traditional carp sacks is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

From the time of catch until the weighing, the responsibility for the condition and safety of the fish lies with the competitors.

Attaching carp sacks to the shore is strictly FORBIDDEN!

e; Throughout the entire competition, teams are required to present and consistently use the mandatory auxiliary equipment listed below. Non-compliance will result in disqualification.

In addition to at least 2 large landing nets (minimum dimensions: 90×90×70 cm, with mesh size smaller than 1×1 cm),

nets with frames larger than 60×60×50 cm may also be used for fish under 5 kg, provided they meet the required mesh density.

Two unhooking mats with minimum inner dimensions of 60×100 cm must be available and used from the moment a fish over 5 kg is netted and removed from the water, as a safety support.

The use of unhooking mats is also mandatory in boats.

Additionally, after photographing each fish, the use of a preferably colorless wound disinfectant is also required.

f; A weighing tripod (weighing stand) is a mandatory accessory for all teams.

g; Improper or non-intended use of fish safety equipment shall result in penalties and sanctions.

h; The use of a shock leader line is MANDATORY, with a minimum diameter of 0.50 mm and a minimum length of 20 meters.

9. Rules for Boat Use and Waterway Safety

a; For the safety of the competitors, the Organizer will inspect all boats and their accessories that competitors intend to use, based on the technical requirements and equipment list published on the website or in the CR.

b; All boats must comply with current Hungarian legislation and the specified conditions.

c; Only boats that have been inspected and approved during registration are permitted for use in the competition.

d; If deficiencies are found during the inspection, it will be terminated immediately.

e; Referees will issue a certificate confirming the presence and proper condition of the boat and its accessories.

f; Inspected boats will be sealed with a uniquely marked security seal, which must not be removed until the end of the competition.

g; The Organizer may carry out random spot checks on the boats at any time before or during the competition.

h; Boat inspections will be carried out by the referee at the assigned fishing spots.

i; The boat must be no longer than 5 meters and no shorter than 2.4 meters.

j; The use of inflatable rubber boats is permitted.

k; Only electric motors are allowed during the competition.

l; The maximum speed of the boat shall not exceed 15 km/h.

m; Each boat in use must be equipped with the following mandatory items:

two oars,
two life jackets equipped with a light stick and whistle,
an anchor of at least 5 kg,
a 10-meter towing rope with a tow loop,
a foghorn.

n; The use of a life jacket is mandatory at all times when on the boat during the competition.

o; Placing the boat on the water before the official start of the competition is strictly prohibited.

p; Boats must be properly and securely anchored on the shore.

q; Sleeping in the boat is strictly forbidden.

r; During the competition, a maximum of 2 boats per team may be on the water at the same time, but at least one full team member must remain on shore at all times.

s; Prior to changing a boat, the referee must be informed.

t; The rules regarding storm warnings on Lake Balaton must be strictly followed. These rules are available on the competition’s official website.

Live storm alerts: https://www.met.hu/idojaras/tavaink/balaton/

Each team is solely responsible for knowing and complying with storm warning regulations.

u; Swimming in the lake is strictly forbidden for the entire duration of the competition.

v; During Level 2 storm warning, staying in boats moored to the shore is strictly prohibited.

w; During nighttime boat use, boats moving in the dark must be properly illuminated (with a headlamp or navigation light).

x; Both boats of each team will be equipped with a GPS tracking device, sealed with a numbered security seal by the marshal.

The device will allow the Competition Committee to track the movement of the boats for the entire duration of the competition.

10. Other Official Competition Rules

a; The official start of the competition is scheduled for 19 April 2026, at 12:00.

b; The official end of the competition is 25 April 2026, at 08:00.

c; It is prohibited to illuminate the water surface with high-powered spotlights for an extended period during the competition.

Disturbing other anglers with light or laser devices is strictly forbidden.

Searchlights or small spotlights may only be used in absolutely necessary cases (e.g. casting, netting), and only for targeted purposes.

The fishing spot and the fishing rigs in use must be clearly and continuously illuminated at night.

The use of headlamps by participants is permitted at all times.

d; Baiting and luring may be carried out with any environmentally safe substance, except for live bait, which is prohibited.

e; A maximum of 4 rods may be used simultaneously, but additional rigged spare rods may be kept for replacement in case of damage to any active rod.

f; A fish hooked before the end of the competition may be counted if it is netted within 60 minutes.

g; Bait quantity limit!

Each team may have a maximum of 100 kg of bait, in any composition.

E.g. 60 kg of boilies and 40 kg of cooked or soaked grains.

The quantity of bait will be checked by the Organizer.

h; To protect the fish, fish under 10 kg must NOT be brought to shore!

Each boat is recommended to be equipped with a weighing sling and a scale for controlling fish around the 10 kg size.

Carp under 10 kg (not eligible for scoring) must be released immediately!

11. Fishing Rules

a; During the competition, only participants, organizers, and accredited individuals are allowed to stay within the designated competition area.

b; Only one person from each team may leave the designated competition area at a time.

c; At least one person must always be present at the designated camp.

d; Buoys may be placed at the fishing spot, up to a maximum of 8 per team, and must be removed at the end of the competition.

Allowed buoy types: H buoy, deep-water buoy, or leaning buoy.

e; It is not allowed to place a buoy within 25 meters of a neighboring team’s buoy or to fish in its direction.

f; Lighted buoys may be used, but green signal lights are not allowed.

g; The maximum distance for baiting and fishing must be determined based on GPS coordinates.

Each team must define their fishing area using the GPS coordinates provided for their drawn peg.

h; The correct marking of the 4 GPS coordinates is the team’s responsibility!

Each team has a maximum of 3 hours from the start of the competition to complete the marking.

After that, the GPS trackers will be activated, and boundary crossing penalties will be enforced.

i; It is strictly forbidden to leave the designated GPS area, bait or fish outside it, use sonar, overcast lines, or fight fish outside the boundary — or cast from the boat beyond it.

j; Even during a fish fight, crossing the sector boundary is prohibited.

k; The use of bait boats is strictly forbidden during the competition.

l; In case of Level 2 storm warning, wading is only allowed with a life jacket, up to 1 meter depth, and a maximum distance of 50 meters from the shore, at the angler’s own risk — and only for playing, netting, or temporarily storing a fish already hooked.

m; During Level 2 storm warnings, casting or any fishing activity other than defined in point l is strictly prohibited.

n; In case of drop-off rigs, the use of lead weights is prohibited.

Any type of lead clip system that is designed to immediately drop the lead after a bite may not be used with lead weights during the competition.

o; After netting a carp from a boat, it may be brought to shore for photography only under the following conditions:

After unhooking, the fish may be towed in the net, keeping the fish’s head facing the direction of movement.
Once at the shore, the fish may be transferred from the boat into a rigid-walled carp cradle located at the waterfront, using a floating weigh sling.
It is strictly forbidden to carry the fish from the net directly to the cradle without using a floating sling, or to lift or move the fish in the net beyond the initial boat-side handling.

p; At the end of the competition, all teams are obligated to locate and remove any snapped-off fishing lines.

This will be inspected by the Organizer.

Any team whose area contains broken lines will be banned from the 2027 IBCC.

12. Local Rules of the Competition Area

a; After occupying the assigned area, teams must maintain cleanliness and protect the environment, and must leave the area in the same condition as it was upon arrival.

The area must be vacated no later than 12:00 following the end of the competition.

b; Making open fires at the camp is strictly forbidden, except in officially designated fire zones.

The use of camping gas is permitted.

c; Camping is allowed only in areas designated by the Organizer.

Tent placement must follow the referee’s instructions.

Occupying or leaving fishing spots without coordination with the referee is prohibited.

d; Vehicles may only be used for loading and unloading, if permitted by the landowner, to ensure safety and prevent violations.

e; Vehicles must be parked in designated parking areas and may not move within the competition zone during the event.

f; Waste must be collected in sealed plastic bags, which will be removed by the Organizer after the competition.

g; Participants must follow the Organizer’s instructions at all times, including compliance with the maximum allowed fishing area of 10 x 5 meters per team and its approach.

Teams who pack/unpack or disobey referees’ instructions will be penalized.

h; Only participants, organizers, and accredited persons may remain in the competition area during the competition.

i; Visitors may be received by prior agreement with the local referee, only from sunrise to sunset, and only where allowed.

j; Each team must display their national flag in a clearly visible location at their assigned peg.

13. Weighing Rules

a; During the competition, the Organizer provides continuous weighing.

Emergency nighttime weighing may be requested if all 3 mandatory floating weigh slings are full.

b; Competitors are required to actively participate in the entire weighing, photographing, and data recording process.

Weighing may be temporarily suspended during fish fighting and netting when justified.

c; Anglers must report every catch eligible for scoring to the respective sector referee via SMS by sending the word “Fish” and the sector name.

E.g. Fish C2.

d; From the time of catch until weighing, the fish must be stored in a floating weigh sling of the required standard (as per the Competition Rules), at a minimum water depth of 1 meter.

Tying the fish to the shore or using traditional carp sacks is strictly forbidden!

e; Weighing is only valid if performed by the sector referee using the official equipment provided by the Organizer, as introduced to the teams. Otherwise, the catch will not be counted.

f; Weighing must be witnessed by:

One member of the team concerned,
The sector referee, and
A helper from the neighboring team.

If no helper is available, an active team member must verify the catch.

g; The weighing documentation (time of catch, angler’s name, weight of fish) must be signed by one team member to confirm the data.

h; It is the team’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the data entered.

i; After official documentation, a photo will be taken of each fish: one team member holds the fish, while another displays the sector board with the required data.

j; The official photo taken by the referee has priority for documentation.

Private photos may only be taken afterwards, and the fish must be immediately released in the presence of the referee.

k; Any correction in the documentation must be countersigned by the referee.

l; In case of any discrepancy between the team’s and the referee’s weighing sheets, the referee’s version prevails.

m; After weighing, the referee will forward the documents and photos to the organizational center for official registration.

n; The safety of the fish is paramount under all circumstances.

Photographing and releasing must be carried out with care.

o; After weighing, the fish may only be released by the referee or by the neighboring team member in the referee’s presence.

p; If a fish weighing over 20 kg is potentially eligible for the Big Fish Award, it must be weighed twice consecutively.

In case of discrepancy, the higher weight will be recorded.

14. Evaluation

a; Only carp weighing 10 kg or more will be included in the scoring.

b; The absolute winner of the competition is the team with the highest total weight of scored fish.

In case of a tie, the heaviest single fish determines the winner; if still tied, the higher average weight decides.

Other rankings are determined by the points earned.

If the top-performing teams in a sector are not among the top 3 overall, they will receive special prizes (sector winners’ award).

c; During the competition, continuous and objective results are available at www.ibcc.hu.

The scoreboard, with map and start list, will display each team’s performance:

total weight, fish species, number of fish, and average weight.

Teams may also compare their results with the official scoring sheet retained by them.

d; The official final result will be announced on 25 April 2026 (Saturday) at 15:00 during the awards ceremony.

e; Protests may be submitted:

Regarding interim results within 12 hours of publication, and
Regarding the final results, no later than 25 April 2026 at 08:00.

15. Prizes and Awards

a; The competition features two separate evaluations:

Total catch (all eligible fish over 10 kg), and
Combined weight of the team’s Top 5 heaviest carp.

b; Top 5 Fish Category prize pool:

1st place: €12,000
2nd place: €8,000
3rd place: €5,000

c; Total Catch Category prize pool (total weight of all fish above 10 kg):

1st place: €30,000
2nd place: €15,000
3rd place: €7,000

d; Biggest Fish Awards (in Mirror Carp and Common Carp categories):

€5,000 each

e; Sector Prizes – Total Catch within Sector:

1st place: €5,000
2nd place: €2,500
3rd place: €1,000 voucher

f; Each team can win a maximum of one prize, except for the Big Fish Award, which is independent of other results.

If no eligible fish are caught in a sector, the sector prizes will be raffled among teams in that sector.

g; Winners are responsible for any applicable taxes on the prizes.

h; The Organizer reserves the right to unilaterally modify the prize structure (and this rulebook) based on the final number of registered teams, following the instructions of the prize sponsor.

Any such decision must be made and published on the official communication channels by 1 April 2026.

Prize importance ranking:

Total Catch Category
Top 5 Fish Category
Sector Prizes

16; Protest

a; A protest means the report of an angler’s activity that contradicts the Competition Rules (CR). Protests may only be submitted in writing, via email to protest@ibcc.hu, and in the case of catches, according to point 14; e;. Any protests submitted after this will be rejected without justification.

b; After the competition has begun, interpretation of the CR is not allowed. The organizers provide the opportunity for clarification during registration.

c; If a competitor detects a rule violation and reports it as a protest (supporting it with photographic or video documentation is an advantage), the matter will be investigated within 12 hours and concluded by no later than 09:00 on 25.04.2026.

d; The administrative fee for a protest is 200 EUR per submission and reported case.

e; If the protest is deemed valid by the Jury, the protest fee will be refunded. If the protest is unfounded, the fee will not be refunded.

f; If a competitor wishes to report a rule violation as a protest, they must do so within a maximum of 2 hours from the time of detection. The report must be in writing, via email, according to point 16; a;.

17; Force Majeure

a; In the event the competition cannot be held due to unforeseen reasons (force majeure), the registration fee will be refunded by the organizers within 30 days to the specified bank account. Beyond this, the registration fee is not refundable in the case of team withdrawal for any reason.

b; For the purposes of these rules, force majeure includes—on the part of competitors—unexpected and medically certified illness, police-certified accidents, or mandatory official appearances that cannot be rescheduled; and on the part of the main organizer—government-imposed epidemic measures, inadequate water levels, or sudden degradation of water quality as officially declared due to contamination.

c; If a force majeure event affects the main organizer and occurs during the competition but before 50% of the competition time has elapsed, all results are nullified and the unchanged lineup will restart the event in the next competition period with the same peg allocation (suspension of the competition). If more than 50% of the competition time has passed, results achieved until suspension will be deemed final (interruption of the competition). The declaration of cancellation, suspension, or interruption is the exclusive right and responsibility of the Head Judge.

18; Warnings, Penalties, and Disqualification Sanctions

A: Warning – 4-hour penalty (all fishing activities must be suspended!)

a; Wearing a life vest in the boat is mandatory throughout the competition. Failure to comply results in a warning and 4-hour penalty for the first offense.

b; During the competition, a maximum of 2 boats per team may be on the water at the same time. One full member of the team (not a helper) must always remain on shore! Violation: 4-hour penalty.

c; During weighing, one member of the team, the judge, and a helper from the neighboring team must be present. If there is no helper, an active member from the neighboring team must confirm the catch. If the neighboring team refuses to participate at the judge’s request, the verifying team will receive a 4-hour penalty.

The penalty begins after the last fishing rod is reeled in. During the penalty period, fishing, boating, and baiting are strictly prohibited!

B: Yellow card – 12-hour penalty (all fishing activities must be suspended!)

a; Improper or misuse of fish protection equipment results in a yellow card and associated penalties.

b; Bathing in the lake is strictly prohibited during the competition and results in a yellow card.

c; During nighttime boating, boats must be properly lit (headlamp or navigation light). Violation results in a yellow card.

d; Fish should be played without disturbing neighboring teams. Repeated unauthorized line crossing into adjacent sectors results in a yellow card.

e; It is strictly forbidden to leave the area defined by the 4 GPS coordinates, fish outside, bait, echo sound, pull lines, or cast from the boat beyond the boundaries. First offense: yellow card – 12-hour penalty.

f; Lead weights are not allowed in drop-off rigs! Any kind of lead clip that is designed for immediate lead release upon a bite is strictly prohibited. Violation: yellow card.

g; After playing a fish from a boat, transporting the fish to shore for photographing must follow the method detailed in 11;/o. Violation: yellow card.

h; Improper boat use, missing life vests, and entering the water without a life vest during second-level storm warnings result in a yellow card (12-hour penalty).

i; If a rule violation report proves unfounded after investigation, the reporting team receives a yellow card.

j; Fish must be stored in floating weigh slings of proper quality (as defined in the CR), at appropriate water depth (minimum 1 m). Tying the sling to the shore is strictly prohibited. Violation: yellow card. Use of traditional carp sacks is forbidden and results in a yellow card.

k; If the judges find that a boat does not meet safety standards during the competition, the team will be penalized (yellow card).

l; Repeated or additional violations of fish or environmental protection rules after a warning result in a yellow card (12-hour penalty).

m; Being outside the area marked by the team’s 4 GPS coordinates or casting, baiting, echo sounding from the boat beyond it results in a yellow card (12-hour penalty). Catches made during such violations will not be counted, and the team loses pre-registration rights for the next IBCC.

n; Improper fish storage or unsportsmanlike handling of fish results in a yellow card (12-hour penalty).

o; The penalty starts after the last rod is reeled in. During this time, fishing, boating, and baiting are strictly prohibited.

C: 24-hour penalty (all fishing activities must be suspended!)

All catches made prior to the penalty are annulled.

a; Using a boat from the shore after a second-level storm warning is issued.

b; Repeated misconduct after warnings, excessive alcohol consumption, or severe violations of sportsmanlike conduct.

Penalty begins after the last rod is reeled in. All fishing activities are suspended during this time.

D: Disqualification

a; In all cases of disqualification, all previous results are annulled, and the team may not continue fishing.

b; A second yellow card after a previous yellow card, or a yellow card followed by a 24-hour penalty, results in disqualification.

c; Any direct or indirect act that causes fish death or mutilation, or marking a fish, results in immediate disqualification and a report to the fisheries authority.

d; Presence of an unregistered person in the boat results in immediate disqualification.

e; Any attempted bribery of officials or their assistants, or attempts to deceive the judges or falsify the weighing process, result in immediate disqualification and possible police report.

f; Attempting to enter the weight of a fish not caught by the team or trying to weigh the same fish multiple times results in immediate disqualification and police report.

g; Any external assistance results in immediate disqualification.

h; Any fish not caught with a hook results in immediate disqualification.

i; Placing a boat in the water before the start of the competition is strictly prohibited and results in immediate disqualification.

j; Being in a tied boat during a second-level storm warning is strictly prohibited and results in immediate disqualification.

k; The organizers may re-inspect boats before or during the event. Any issues discovered can result in immediate disqualification.

l; If judges find more than the allowed 4 rods being used, the team will be disqualified immediately.

m; Any team member proven to have assaulted or harassed another person, or caused damage intentionally during the event, will be disqualified and reported to authorities. Such cases must be immediately reported to the Head Judge.

n; Removing or attempting to remove the GPS device sealed with a security tag by the marshal will result in immediate disqualification.

19; Liability

a; Organizers accept no responsibility for any damages or accidents during the competition. All equipment (boats, etc.) is used at one’s own risk. In case of incidents, the insurance policy signed during registration applies.

b; By signing the registration form, the participant acknowledges the risks and accepts that the organizer bears no responsibility for rule violations.

c; The GPS device provided by the organizers must be returned intact at the registration desk after the competition. If not returned or returned damaged, the deposit will be forfeited.

20; Marketing and Media

a; The IBCC is a featured international competition listed in the national calendar of MOHOSZ (Hungarian National Angling Association).

b; Teams must cooperate with accredited media representatives, provide interviews, and allow photo and video recordings.

c; By signing the registration form, competitors acknowledge that video or photo footage of them may appear publicly in the media.

d; Official publication of personal footage without written permission from the organizer is strictly prohibited.

e; Upon request, teams must remove any footage taken during the event from public media platforms.

21; Final Provisions

a; These Competition Rules were prepared using the EPBC rules, with permission under point 98 of the EPBC CR, and approved by MOHOSZ and the Balaton Fishery Operator (BHN Zrt.).

b; In the preparatory period of the competition, the organizer reserves the right to modify or extend these rules or cancel the competition due to COVID-19 related restrictions or regulations. These decisions must be made and published no later than 15 days before the start of the competition.

c; This version of the Competition Rules (Version 1.2, dated 14.07.2025) is approved and issued on behalf of the organizers by:

Tamás Csörgő, Chief Judge

Approved by:

Dr. István Dérer, Director General, MOHOSZ OHSZK

Zsolt Szári, CEO, BHN Zrt.