The Catfish Showdown Tournament Rules and Regulations The Catfish Showdown Tournament rules and regulations are your responsibility as a fisherman to express professional courtesy towards each other at all times. Good Sportmanship is expected of all individuals during the tournament.

If any changes need to be made, it will be done at the captain’s meeting. “Official statements” made the day of each tournament take precedence over printed material.

All boat captains are required to attend the captains meeting at 4:30 PM EST.

The 2013 Tournament hours are 5:00 PM EST – 12:00 AM EST.

1. Safety:

Safety MUST be followed at all times during The Catfish showdown Tournament.

No Alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are allowed at any time.

All children 16 years of age and under MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times.

All boats registered in The Catfish showdown Tournaments shall have the proper number of life jackets or throw cushions on board, (See Boat Registrations Below).

Boats leaving at launch time must be clear from other boats before full throttling. All boat operators are responsible for their actions.

All boats anchored during tournament hours must maintain a minimum 50 yards apart. We strongly encourage the use of life jackets by all parties while in the vessel on the water at each tournament. This is highly recommended during the launch of all boats.

2. Membership:

You do NOT need to be a member of The Catfish Showdown in order to fish the tournaments.

3. Fish & Game Laws:

All individuals entering the tournament will comply with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Rules and Regulations. All individuals fishing the tournaments shall have a VA/NC fishing license. North Carolina regulations apply on North Carolina portions of the water.

All boats entering any of The Catfish Showdown Tournaments shall comply with Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Rules and Regulations.

4. Catfishing Methods:

All fish MUST be caught by rod & reel with hook and line attached, during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

NO Snagging allowed during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

NO Trot-Lines allowed during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

NO Chumming allowed during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

NO Bait-Holes allowed during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

NO foul-Hooked Catfish will be accepted during The Catfish Showdown Tournament hours.

NO Rod limit per boat during The Catfish Showdown tournament hours.

Livewells/Bait Tanks are required. Stringers will NOT be allowed. If there is evidence of stringer use on catfish presented at the scales it will result in disqualification. There shall be NO holes in the mouth or NO gill damage when presented at the scales.

5. Boat Registration:

There will be a $50.00 required Admission fee per boat.

There will be a Life Jacket inspection prior to launch. If you are found without the proper number of Life Jackets and/orThrow cushions will result in disqualification.

There will be a live well check prior to launch. If you are found with a Catfish of any size in your live well, you will be disqualified.

6. Catch and Release:

This is a catch and release tournament only. All live Catfish must be released after weigh-in. The Catfish may NOT be taken home.

Handle the Catfish gently and as little as possible. DO NOT put your fingers in the Catfish’s eyes or gills. Avoid wiping the slim off the Catfish; this reduces their survival by making them more likely to develop a disease or infection.

Remove hook properly using needlenose pliers or a hook-out device. If the hook is too deep or hooked in the stomach or throat, cut the line and leave the hook in. the hook will dissolve without harming the Catfish.

Take care of your Catfish by holding it upright and moving it gently forward so water runs over the gills. With a little care and following the guidelines mentioned, you will give the released Catfish a better chance of survival.

7. Weigh-in:

Each boat registered in all Catfish Showdown Tournaments shall be permitted to weigh ONLY one fish per boat.

The weigh-in scales will open at 8:00 PM EST. All Catfish must be in line by 12:00 PM EST to be counted as weighed.

You MUST be in line by 12:00 PM EST when the scales close. If you are NOT in line by 12:00 PM EST, your Catfish is Disqualified.

Any fish can be rejected at the scales by the weigh-master if he/she finds a need to do so. All decisions will be final.

All fish should be in good condition and be able to swim off successfully.

The first Catfish at weigh-in will break a tie. If your Catfish is the same weight as another in sequence of weigh-in, the first to weigh-in shall break the tie over the two.

It is the responsibility of each fishermen to stay with their fish until it swims off and the official approves the release. Anyone reported not following this rule will get a “0″ (zero) for the weight of the fish.

Protest will be taken for 10 minutes after the last fish is weighed. Anyone who has a concern should use this time to do so. The tournament directors will listen to the protest. The tournament committee will rule on the protest and their decision will be final.

8. Emergency Clause:

All boats registered in The Catfish Showdown Tournaments shall be given a full refund of any admission fee upon a State of Emergency.

The State of Emergency consist of; bodily harm caused by a boating accident or boat is deemed out of commission after tournament launch.

9. Disqualification:

There is a ZERO tolerance for cheating in the Catfish Showdown Tournaments! A Polygraph will be administered randomly or as needed per tournament event.

Any boat registered in the tournament, and found to have cheated will be ample reason to be disqualified. Plus will also result being banned from all future tournaments.

Any disorderly conduct towards any/all participants of The Catfish Showdown will result in Disqualification.

Breaking of any of the rules and regulations of The Catfish Showdown will result in Disqualification.

Note- The tournament directors reserve the right to refuse a contestant’s registration if they see a need to do so.

Please DO NOT LITTER! We have a beautiful lake and rivers. LET’S KEEP IT THAT WAY!