Official Rules Catfish Tournament Rules

1. RULE CHANGES: The following rules will remain unchanged throughout the event unless State or Local laws are in conflict. Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. In the event of a rule violation, the Tournament Committee may impose such sanctions as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Tournament Committee shall be final in all matters. It is at the Committee’s discretion to make a change where safety of the contestants is a concern. ALL Tournament, Federal, State, and Local laws must be obeyed during tournament hours regardless of chip or weigh-in status. It is the contestant’s responsibility to know these rules.

2. PARTICIPANTS & ELIGIBILITY: This is a team event. A Team may consist of up to 3 people. The six (6) rod rule will still apply.

3. SPORTSMANSHIP: All contestatns are expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety and conservation. Any contestant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules or any stat or local laws, or brings unfavorable publicity to the sport of cat fishing will be disqualified.

4. SAFETY: Boating safety must be observed at all times. All boats must be in compliance with Arkansas State Law including a working kill switch and USCG approved chest type life preservers. LIFE PRESERVERS AND KILL SWITCHES MUST BE WORN AND USED CORRECTLY WHEN THE COMBUSTIBLE ENGINE IS OPERATIVE.

5. PERMITTED FISHING WATERS: No fishing is allowed 100 yards above and below the weigh in station. No fishing is allowed within 50 yards of a gas pump. No fishing is allowed within 50 yards of another anchored or tied tournament boat with the trolling motor out of the water, without anchored boats approval. Both team partners must fish from the same boat. Only contestants are allowed in the boat during tournament hours. Hole sitting will not be tolerated. Boats may not be trailered to the weigh-in during tournament hours. Contestants must be able to get the boat into the fishing area without getting out of the boat. Contestants cannot leave the boat to land a fish. No baiting of fish holes during practice will be tolerated.

6. MEETING: Meeting mandatory 30 minutes prior to launch time.

7. LIVE WELL: Live wells are required, stringers or bags are not allowed. Live wells must be of adequate size to care for trophy catfish and must have the ability to pump in fresh water. The tournament director will have authority over all live wells and reserves the right to disqualify teams from the tournament with inadequate live wells. If you have any questions please contact the tournament director before the tournament.

8. BOAT LAUNCH: Anglers may launch their boats beginning at 4:30 am after a livewell check. Boats must be launched at Regional Park. There will be an organized blast off that will begin at 6:30 am. No trailering allowed.

9. FISHING HOURS: Boats must quit fishing at 3:00 and be checked in by 4:00. Each boat will be given a chip with boat number on it. There will be a boat collecting chips in the water and on the dock.

10. BAIT: Any legal or commercial bait will be allowed. No chumming or hole baiting of any kind is allowed.

11. NUMBER OF RODS ALLOWED: All fish weighed must be caught by rod and reel only. A maximum of six (6) rods per boat is allowed to be used at any given time. Any team with a third person is still limited to six rods. You may have extra rod and reels in the boat.

12. SCORING: Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish or Flathead Catfish may be weighed. A team limit of five (3) fish maximum, and fish must be alive to weigh in. When a 4th fish is caught one must be culled.

13. MEASURING FISH: Fish will be measured from the front of the mouth to the tip of the tail with both mouth and tail closed. Tournament staff will not provide guidance or feedback on fish length and whether they’re allowed when proceeding to weigh-in.

14. SNAGGING: No snagging will be allowed.

15. TIES: In the event of a tie the prize money will be combined and split among the two teams.

16. MECHANICAL FAILURE: In the event of a mechanical failure towing by any other means will be allowed without weigh-in forfeiture as long as tournament rules are followed. Fish must remain in the boat they were caught at all times.

17. PROTEST: All protests must be submitted in writing prior to the weigh-in scales closing. Scales will close 15 minutes after the last tournament boat to weigh in. Closure of the scales will be announces.

18. POLYGRAPH: All contestants are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in immediate disqualification.

19. REGISTRATION: Register online at https://tm.americancatfishingassociation. com. The deadline for registration is May 12th without a late fee.

20. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: At no time during tournament hours are any alcoholic beverages or drugs other than prescription allowed in the boat or to be consumed while on the water.