Originally posted on Bassmaster.com

John Cox won’t be fishing this week in the Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

B.A.S.S. officials ruled him ineligible for the final tournament of the 2021 Elite Series season because he violated the 28-day off limits rule that all competitors must follow.

Cox fished in a tournament on New York’s St. Lawrence River June 25-30, placing him in violation of the off-limits period for the Elite Series tournament on St. Lawrence which begins July 15.

Bassmaster Elite Rule C3. I, for Practice and Competition states, “Off-limits for Elite events begins on the Monday closest to 28 days prior to the first practice day.”

Here is the official statement from B.A.S.S.

“The Bassmaster Elite Series competition rules are very clear that the off-limits period for events begins 28 days prior to the first practice day. B.A.S.S. is committed to maintaining the integrity of our tournaments by holding every angler to the same rules. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that an angler has been disqualified for violating the off-limits rule.”

In 2019 Elite Series rookie Derek Hudnall was disqualified for the Lake Hartwell tournament for fishing there inside the 28-day off-limits period.