Official Rules (Subject to Change)

All rules are to provide a fair and equal playing field for all competitors and are based on a two-person team and a three fish weigh-in. That said, a three or more-person team will be restricted to the same limits as a two-person team. All state, local, & Federal laws will take precedence over Catfish South Tournament Rules.

1. In case of extreme weather conditions, Catfish South Director(s) reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event. Catfish South, its directors, and/or entrants are not and will not be responsible for any accidents or injuries at any Catfish South tournament or event. Each entrant is required to sign the WAIVER, RELEASE OF LIABILITY, AND ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK AGREEMENT prior to participating in any club event. Signing and submitting the agreement will be satisfactory for one season.

2. Catfish South tournaments are team events. Each team consists of members aboard a single boat. There is no limit to the number of team members per boat.

3. Teams must comply with all local and state fishing and boating regulations. Use of PFDs and kill-switches are strongly encouraged by all competitors. Proper fishing and boating licenses are the responsibility of tournament participants.

4. A membership fee of $25 will be required for each angler above 18 years of age and is good for one season.

5. No one is allowed on tournament waters eight hours prior to tournament start time except to catch bait with a cast net or ultra-light tackle.

6. Chumming prior to a tournament or fishing in a known baited or chummed hole is strictly prohibited.

7. Live-wells, bait tanks, and coolers may be checked at registration and random launch points. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from the tournament.

8. Teams must compete from a boat. If there are circumstances that require a team member to enter or exit the boat during tournament hours, fishing must be suspended.

9. All anglers may register then leave the launch site at the designated launch time which is one- and one-half hours prior to tournament start time. Lines can then be placed in the water at official start time.

Example: Official Tournament start time 7am

• Registration - 5:30am until 6:45am

• Once registered, anglers may board and/or trailer their boat, then safely navigate to their fishing location and/or public access ramp (on the same body of water).

• Lines may not be placed in the water until official tournament start time of 7AM.

10. Participants must remain at least 100 feet away from other boats during tournament hours unless providing distress assistance. In such cases of providing distress assistance, the tournament director or designee must be contacted immediately.

11. A maximum of 12 rods per boat may be used at one time including bait rods.

12. All fish must be caught on rod and reel. No catfish may be taken by jugs, limb-lines, trotlines, etc.

13. Any commercial or natural bait will be allowed. All bait must comply with state and local fishing regulations.

14. The use of stringers, bags or ropes for keeping catfish alive is strictly prohibited. No exceptions. No fish that shows signs of being placed on a stringer will be weighed. All fish caught must be kept in the team’s live-well, shall only be transferred from the live-well into the totes provided by Catfish South at the weigh-in location, and taken directly to the weigh-in scales. The team’s live-well must be equipped with a functional aeration system that includes components such as freshwater pumps, re-circulation pumps, bubblers, agitators, and/or an oxygen system.

15. All entrants must be in the weigh-in line no more than 30 minutes after the tournament end time.

16. The following species of catfish may be weighed; blue, channel, flathead, white, or bullhead.

17. A team limit of three (3) fish per boat must be weighed in alive and released alive.

18. Anyone observed discarding expired fish will be disqualified from the tournament. Second offense will result in a permanent ban from Catfish South events.

19. Club members are required to follow Catch, Photo, Release (CPR) of trophy fish outside of club events. Voting members have the discretion to ban any club member from participation in club events if a member does not follow CPR.

20. In case of a tie for total weight at a tournament, the team with the biggest fish will earn the higher place. If a tie remains, the pot will be split evenly.

21. Any protest must be submitted in writing within fifteen (15) minutes of the announcement of the final results. The submission must include the team and the rule in question. Rulings will be made by the Catfish South Director(s).

2022 Points Race

Catfish South Series Points System

1. Entering the points race is as easy as entering the event. Every team who enters a tournament during the 2022 season will accumulate points. Everyone is in a 200-point system (Example – 200 pts for 1st, 199 for 2nd, 198 for 3rd etc.) If you fish a tournament and do not weigh-in, you must check in with the tournament director prior to the end of the weigh-in to receive 100 show up points.

2. Points will be tabulated at all events. Total points will be based on your best three tournament results.

3. Awards for points winners to be determined based on participation.

4. In the case of a tie, combined weight of all big fish from each Catfish South tournament will determine the winner.

5. The top three points leaders at the end of the series will receive awards.

Release

Contestants agree that any mention of names or use of photographic likenesses may be used by Catfish South and its sponsors for promotional purposes. All decisions regarding compliance with these rules and the interpretation of these rules will be made by the tournament director and Catfish South voting members which reserves the right to make additional reasonable rules for the conduct of their tournaments if circumstances require.

Code of Ethics

We hope to grow Catfish South to a nationally recognized series. Please present yourself in such a way as we can all be proud. Dress accordingly at the weigh-ins and be at the top of your behavior. The better image we project to our sponsors and America's youth, the more highlight the sport of catfishing will receive. This will be of great benefit to our members who are seeking their own sponsorships as well.

2022 Season and Lakes

For the first year, the 2022 series will run for six months with the first tournament in January. 2022-23 series will begin in September 2022 and run for 10 months.