North Alabama Catfish Trail Rules 2024

1. Have fun and be considerate to your anglers and acquaintances at tournaments and on all social media.

2. Boat check will begin between 5:30-5:45 AM You can launch and tie boats up prior to check. If you launch prior!! YOU Must get a NACT volunteer to come check livewell before leaving. You will not be allowed to fish until 6:30 AM.

3. Tournament Hours will be 6:30AM - 3:30PM. You must be back by 3:30PM-with stick/chip turned in at weigh in stage! You can fish up to the time that YOU can make it back and get chip/stick in the bucket located at weigh in stage! Some events might have different times!

4. Unlimited Rods in all NACT events.

5. No fishing after 7:00pm the day prior to all events. 2 day events bait fishing hours

and prefishing hours will change and be announced

6. Teams are limited to 4 anglers. Families are encouraged to fish.

7. All children 15 and under is not counted as a team member.

8. Life vests are encouraged to be worn.

9. Fish may be caught only by rod and reel method only.

10. Any legal bait artificial or natural allowed by the state may be used.

11. Good sportsmanship is expected of all individuals before, during and after the tournament.

12. Any disorderly conduct will be reason alone for disqualification.

13. Blue cat, channel cat and flatheads may be weighed

14. 3 Fish Limit for weigh ins.

3 Fish Limit for weigh ins. Ex: 2 over 34” and 1 under, or 3 under 34”or 1 over 34” and 2 under.

15. No culling of fish once the boat has been removed from the water. PLEASE cull your fish out in the deep waters.

16. No snagging will be allowed

17. No fouled hooked fish will be accepted (a fouled hook is any hook located behind the gill plate).

18. No chumming.

19. No fishing intentionally baited holes.

20. All tournament boats must maintain 50 yards between each other while anchored and 50 feet while drifting or spot locked. This includes all boats.

21. Buddy fishing or sharing of information during tournament hours including techniques, baits, location, etc. is strictly prohibited.

22. No fishing outside of the boat.

23. No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are allowed onboard or used during tournament hours.

24. Due to possible inclement weather, all boat captains must decide for themselves and their fellow team members if it is safe to launch and proceed. North Alabama Catfish Trail will proceed with the event unless the director along with 5 randomly selected team captains determine the conditions to be unsafe prior to the event.

25. A live well is REQUIRED. Live wells are recommended to be a minimum of 50 gallons. However, the tournament director has the final determination if the Live-well is adequate to care for the fish being caught. If there is ANY doubt in your livewell please get it approved before the

tournament. If livewell is not adequate the director has the final call for proper care of the fish. Oxygen is RECOMMENDED but not required!

26. Liability insurance is the responsibility of boat owners.

27. We encourage all fish handled at weigh-in be handled with a gripper and/or gloves. Larger fish are encouraged to be handled by 2 anglers.

28. Dropping of fish at weigh-in is discouraged.

29. Placing ALL fish into the weigh totes must be completed with care. No throwing or mishandling will be tolerated.

30. North Alabama Catfish Trail reserves the right to amend or change any rule for safety or any other reason we deem necessary.

31. All fishermen are subject to a polygraph exam. Any angler who refuses is automatically disqualified. Failure to pass a polygraph exam will disqualify you for that tournament.

32. Ties will be decided by the team with the largest fish. If both teams' largest fish was not documented, Winnings will be split equally.

33. All protests must be made in writing before the awards ceremony and must be in writing. We will not accept any protests thereafter.

34. Social Media live feeds are allowed and encouraged. However, caution must be used not to reveal too much relevant information when going live during the tournament hours.

35. All State and Federal rules must be observed. It is up to the anglers to determine what license or licenses may be needed.

36. No Trailering during NACT events. All boats must launch and be recovered from the boat ramp designated for each event and be at back for weigh-in at the same boat ramp they launched from. *Trailing may only be allowed per tournament director due to high winds & inclement weather conditions.

37. Entry Fees will be $140.00 for NACT. For special events the Entry Fee will change.