General Overview

Eligibility

• Open to all anglers holding a valid Tennessee fishing license.
• All participants must comply with TWRA regulations.
• Minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• No pre-fishing within tournament boundaries after the mandatory meeting.

Registration

• Registration opens May 5, 2026, and closes the day before the event or when capacity is reached.
• Early registration: $135 per team (deadline August 31) — includes $10 Big Fish pool contribution.
• Late registration: $155 per team (Sept. 1 through close of registration) — includes $10 Big Fish pool contribution.
• Register online via the official tournament QR code or website link.
• No refunds after registration is confirmed.
• Each team must check in at the tournament meeting the evening before or morning of the event.
• Teams with an angler aged 15 or under must have a parent or legal guardian co-sign the registration form. The parent or guardian assumes full legal responsibility for the minor participant.

Youth Angler Prize

• Any team with at least one angler aged 15 or under is eligible for the Youth Angler Prize.
• The youth team with the heaviest five-fish limit wins a dedicated prize separate from the main payout.
• Youth teams are also eligible for the standard prize places — youth designation is additive, not exclusive.
• Youth prize amount is subject to sponsor contribution. Final amount will be posted on the official tournament website and announced at the pre-tournament meeting no later than 7 days before the event.
• Teams must declare youth eligibility at check-in.
• Any cash prize awarded to a team that includes an angler aged 15 or under will be paid directly to the registered parent or legal guardian on behalf of the team.

Conduct and Safety

• Life jackets must be worn at all times while the boat is under power — no exceptions.
• Each boat must carry all TWRA and USCG required safety equipment.
• Alcohol and illegal substances are strictly prohibited during tournament hours.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct, cheating, or abuse of officials will result in immediate disqualification.
• Tournament officials reserve the right to inspect any boat, livewell, or catch at any time.
• All boats must have a working bilge pump and be considered seaworthy before launch.

Weigh-In Procedures

• Only one (1) dead fish is allowed per team. A dead fish incurs a 0.50 lb penalty. 
• Fish must meet TWRA minimum size limits. Attempting to weigh a short fish results in a 0.50 lb penalty and loss of the short fish AND the team’s largest fish of the day.
• Teams must report to the weigh-in line at their designated tiered time. Teams arriving after their designated time will still be weighed as long as they arrive before the official weigh-in cutoff time of 4:00 PM.
• Weigh-in begins at 3:00 PM. No fish will be weighed after 4:00 PM.
• Teams arriving before the cutoff will be weighed in the order they arrive.
• Only five fish per team may be weighed.
• Fish must remain in the livewell until called to weigh-in. No culling in the weigh-in line.
• Tournament officials will measure and weigh all fish on a certified scale.

Disputes

• All protests must be filed in writing with the tournament director within 15 minutes of weigh-in completion.
• A $50 protest fee is required (refunded if protest is upheld).
• The tournament director's decision is final and binding.

Sponsorship & Special Events

• Ott DeFoe — professional bass angler — will appear for a signing event. Time and location posted at check-in.
• Sponsor challenges and additional prizes may be announced at the pre-tournament meeting.