These rules have been established to encourage fairness, safety, conservation, and significant care for the fish caught. It is the goal of this event to move our sport forward as an example for all to follow.​​

1. Participants are encouraged to be a Member of the America Catfishing Association and in good standing, but not mandatory.  ACA Limited Members or Non-ACA Members are not eligible for ACA Bonus cash or product prizes. JOIN NOW
2. This event is open to ALL anglers over the age of 18 from anywhere in the USA.
3. This tournament will be an ACA Tournament Alliance Division 1 Event.
4. This event is for the sole purpose of giving back. This year’s primary charity is St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The goal is to raise $100,000.
5. Cash prize awards are based on a full field of 300 teams. 50% of all entry fees will be awarded to the top 10 teams, the other 50% will be used as a contribution to this year’s charity, St. Jude’s. There will be a bonus cash prize for the top finishing ACA member of $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for the top second-place ACA member, and $1,000 for the top third-place finishing ACA member. (In the case of a team with multiple ACA members, the cash prize award will be divided equally to each ACA member of the team.)  
6. Entries made and paid for are prohibited from being sold, bartered, or given away. The Tournament will assign your entry to the next team in line of those on a waiting list. A fee of $50.00 will be charged to assign an entry.
7. This is a stay and play event.  All anglers must stay at any one of the following hotels and show proof of their stay. The Fitz Casino/Hotel, The Sam’s Town Casino/Hotel, The Hollywood Casino/Hotel, The Gold Strike Casino/Hotel, or the Horseshoe Casino/Hotel.
8. Good sportsmanship is expected of all individuals during the tournament. Failure to follow good sportsmanship may result in disqualification.
9. Any disorderly conduct will be reason alone for disqualification.
10.  Any violation will result in an automatic disqualification.
11.  All State and Federal rules will be observed. It is up to the anglers to determine what license(s) may be needed.
12.  All participants from each team are encouraged to be present to register and review all rules on Friday, October 29th between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM.  The registration location will be announced no later than 2 weeks before the start of the event.
13.  Tournament Hours: 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM on October 30th.  Teams are limited to a maximum of a 3 person team. Costumes are encouraged at the weigh-in for your chance to win a $1000.00 cash prize for the best costume.
14.  The costume winner will be determined by a panel of judges. The judges will be instructed to consider: 1. Originality, 2. Crowd Response, 3. Costume detail, and 4. Character presentation.
15.  All children 16 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult.
16.  Life vests must be worn at take-off and while underway at all times.
17.  Fish may only be caught by Rod and Reel method only.
18.  A maximum of 3 fish per boat will be allowed at the weigh-in. Only 2 fish 34 inches or over and 1 under will be allowed. All fish must be alive and healthy.
19.  Teams are allowed to have as many rods on board as needed. However, only 6 rods are allowed in the water at any given time.
20.  No snagging will be allowed.
21.  No foul hooked fish will be accepted.
22.  No chumming of any kind is allowed. Scent sprays/liquid applied only to the surface of the bait is allowed.
23.  No fishing intentionally baited holes.
24.  All tournament boats must maintain a distance of 50 yards between each other while anchored and 50 feet while drifting.  This includes all boats.
25.  Buddy fishing or sharing of information during tournament hours including techniques, baits, location, etc. is strictly prohibited.
26.  No fishing outside of the boat.
27.  No alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or illegal substances are allowed onboard or used during tournament hours.
28.  Launching will be allowed to take place at Mud Island, Memphis, TN, Tunica River Park, Tunica, MS, and Helena, AR Launch Sites.
29.  No launching will be allowed before 3:00 am.
30.  No overnight parking at any of the launch sites will be allowed.
31.  Onboard live wells must be no less than 50 gallons, employ an electric freshwater circulating pump and include proper aeration. OXYGEN USE IS ENCOURAGED.
32.  All boats must be at back for weigh-in at the Tunica River Park no later than 4:00 PM. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
33.  Weigh-in will begin and take place at the Tunica River Park starting at 2:00 PM.
34.  There may not be any extra fish in live-well. If there are more than 3 fish in live-well at weigh-in it will result in disqualification.
35.  ALL fish handled at weigh-in MUST BE handled with a gripper and gloves. Weigh slings are encouraged. Larger fish are encouraged to be handled by 2 anglers.
36.  Dropping of fish at weigh-in is discouraged.
37. Placing of ALL fish into the weigh totes must be completed with care.  No throwing or mishandling will be tolerated.
38.  No dead fish will be allowed at the weigh-in and will disqualify your team.
39.  No culling of fish at weigh-in.
40.  Ties will be decided by a coin toss.
41.  You must check-in with the Weigh Master before the end of the weigh-in if you have no fish to weigh-in in order to receive your ACA Tournament points of no less than 100 points. If you fail to check-in, no points will be awarded.
42. Any protests must be made before the Awards Ceremony and must be in writing.  We will not accept any protests thereafter.
43. This is a catch and release tournament.  All live fish must be released healthy and alive unless approved arrangements have been made with an aquarium or scientific organization. Under no circumstances are they may not be taken home with tournament participants.
44. Anglers that consider their catch to be a possible record will have the sole responsibility for caring for the fish until the proper authorities are notified and arrive for verification purposes. Once verified, the fish must be released alive and healthy unless approved arrangements have been made with an aquarium or scientific organization.
45. 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. (see rule #25).
46. Upon your entry into the tournament you agree to and are placed under the Waiver/Release for the SeaArk/ACA Alliance Catfish Charity Challenge event, please read below:

WAIVER/RELEASE FOR THE SEAARK/ACA Catfish Charity Challenge Event:

By entering the SEAARK/ACA Catfish Charity Challenge Event, you attest to have read the accompanying event information and understand the policies of the event.  I know that fishing on a river is a potentially hazardous activity.  I should not enter unless I am medically able and properly trained.  I assume all risks associated with my voluntary participation in this event, including but not limited to, falls and potential drowning, the effects of the weather, including extreme temperatures, boat traffic, and all conditions on the river, all such risks being known and appreciated by me.  Knowing these facts, and in consideration of your accepting my entry, I for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, or anyone else who might claim on my behalf, covenant not to sue and WAIVE, RELEASE AND DISCHARGE SEAARK/ACA Catfish Charity Challenge Event, the City of Tunica, MS, The Tunica River Park, Mud Island, Memphis, TN, The City of Helena, AR, all sponsors, officials, workers or volunteers, their representatives, successors or assigns for ANY AND ALL claims or liability, whether foreseen or unforeseen, for death, personal injury or property damage arising out of, or in the course of my participation in this event.  I further grant full permission to the above-mentioned sponsors, organizers, and or agents authorized by them, to use any photographs, videotapes, motion pictures, recordings, or other records of the event for any reasonable purpose.

Tournament Boundaries

All participants may launch from the Tunica River Park Boat Ramp, the Mud Island Boat Ramp, or the Helena ramp along the Mississippi River ONLY.  You may fish the Mississippi River and all of its tributaries.

All participants are subject to a polygraph exam and show proof of their stay before any/all prizes are awarded.

Weigh-In

NOTE: There will be someone at the weigh-in site throughout the tournament. If you have a large fish or fish that will not survive until 3 pm, you may bring your fish to be weighed and recorded. We will then release the fish and you can continue to fish. Once the weight and the amount of fish have been recorded, you may not cull when you come back in.

Officials will be stationed at all ramps to ensure no team or person(s) spend the night or launch before 3:00 am.  There will be a live-well check at each launch site. All launching will be done in an orderly manner. The ramp official’s direction and determination will be considered final.

SeaArk Boat Giveaway

SeaArk Boat Giveaway will take place between 9:30 pm and 9:45 pm, October 30, 2021: Winner MUST BE present to win. If the winner is not present, they will have a 5-minute window to be present. If within 5 minutes the first selected winner is not present, a second name will be drawn.  The same procedure will be followed until a winner is found to be present. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Live Feed/Television Broadcast

The Friday night Meet-n-Greet, Silent Auction, and Captain’s Meeting; the Saturday Weigh-in, and the Saturday Awards Banquet will all be LIVE FEED events to various social media outlets.  Additionally, the entire event will be recorded and will be post-produced to create a 1-hour television special to be aired on a national network. ALL TEAMS and TEAM MEMBERS are encouraged to have and wear team/sponsor jerseys.

This is a live document. Rules are subject to change without notice. Rev: 2/07/2021