Tournament Rules:
704 Outdoors tournament rules are to provide a fair and equal playing field for all participants. Participants are expected to follow all tournament rules. Rule infractions are subject to disqualifications or permanent ban from club tournaments and events. All decisions regarding compliance with and interpretation of these rules will be made by 704 Outdoors.
- Cat’n on the Yadkin tournaments are team events. Each team consists of members aboard a single boat. There is no limit to the number of team members a boat can have during a single tournament. The points system as it relates to team members will be described in the section below.
- A tournament point series fee of $20 will be required for each angler above 18 year of age and is good for one (1) season.
- No one is allowed on tournament waters eight (8) hours prior to tournament start time except to catch bait with a cast net or ultra light tackle.
- Chumming prior to a tournament or fishing in a known baited or chummed hole is strictly prohibited.
- Captains meeting will be called prior to start of each tournament for instructions and live well checks.
- Livewells, bait tanks, and coolers will be checked at registration and random launch points. Failure to comply will result in disqualification from the tournament.
- Teams must compete from a boat. Any circumstances that require a team member to enter or exit the boat during tournament hours, fishing must be suspended.
- Tournament Registration will start one hour and fifteen minutes (1hr 15min) before blast off. Registration window will be active for one (1) hour, followed by a fifteen (15) minute break before blast off.
- All boats will leave the launch site or sites at the designated launch time. No saving of spots will be allowed.
- Participants must remain at least 150 feet away from another participant’s boat during tournament hours unless providing distress assistance. In such cases of providing distress assistance, the tournament directors must be contacted immediately.
- NO LIMITATION OF ROD COUNT per boat.
- All fish must be caught on rod and reel. No catfish may be taken by jugs, limb-lines, or trotlines.
- Any commercial or natural bait will be allowed. The use of natural bait must comply with state and local fishing regulations.
- The use of stringers, ropes, or bags for keeping catfish alive is strictly prohibited. No exceptions. No fish that has been stringered will be weighed. All fish caught must be kept in the team’s livewell, shall only be transferred from the livewell into the totes provided by the tournament directors, and taken directly to the weigh-in scales. The team’s livewell must be equipped with a functional aeration system that includes components such as fresh water pumps, re-circulation pumps, bubblers, agitators, or an oxygen system.
- All boats must be in the weigh-in line thirty (30) minutes after the tournament end time.
- The following species of catfish may be weighed; blue, channel, flathead, white, or bullhead.
- A team limit of two (2) fish per boat must be weighed in alive on all tournament events.
- Teams with 2 or more anglers can weigh-in 2 blues over 32 inches. Single man teams can only weigh-in 1 blue over 32 inches. This rule does not apply to flatheads or channels.
- Anyone caught or seen discarding expired fish at the launch or weigh-in site will be disqualified from the tournament and suspended for one (1) year from 704 Outdoors Fishing events on the 1st offense. 2nd offense will result in permanent ban from ALL 704 Outdoors Fishing events.
- Tournament Participants are required to follow Catch, Photo, Release (CPR) of trophy fish outside of club events. Tournament directors have the discretion to ban any club member from participation in club events if a member does not follow CPR.
- Only containers and totes provided by 704 Outdoors at the weigh-in may be used to transport catfish from the livewell to the scales. No nets, coolers, bags, or buckets are allowed.
- 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.
- Any protest must be submitted in writing within fifteen (15) minutes of the announcement of the final results along with a $50 review fee. The submission must include the team and the rule that was broken. Rulings will be made by 704 Outdoors personal, and their decisions are final. If the protest is proven correct, protesting team will be returned their $50 Review Fee.
- In case of extreme weather conditions, 704 Outdoors reserves the right to postpone or cancel the event.
- 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.
- YOUTH PARTICIPANTS – we support and encourage bringing the kids out to participate in our tournament series. Kids can hook, reel and assist in any and all catches. They do not have to stay the entire tournament in overnight competitions. Rules for adult team members still remain. If a team member has to leave with a kid, that team must suspend all fishing until the team member accompanying the child returns. Please make arrangements for children to be picked up if you want to continue fishing throughout the event.
- 704 Outdoors, its directors, event sponsors or entrants are not and will not be responsible for any accidents or injuries at any Cat’n at the Yadkin 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 fishing event. Signing and submitting the agreement will be good for one (1) season. The official agreement can be found and downloaded HERE.
- By participating in Cat’n on the Yadkin tournaments and events, you agree to704 Outdoors posting your name, photographs and video on our website social media, TV Show or other publications and media.
- Team may be required to take a polygraph test before the tournament results are final. Any team having a member who fails or refuses to take a polygraph test or whose condition does not permit administration of a test due to the use alcohol or drugs will be disqualified from the tournament. Tournament directors have the authority to select any number of tournaments during the season to conduct a polygraph. The tournament directors will allocate $500 from the tournament entry fees to pay for the polygraph tests.
- Tournament registration is explained in detail in the Tournament Registration section below.
- Tournament blast-off will happen at a designated area announced prior to the tournament. Boat count will dictate wether or not a flight system will be utilized. If so, we will organize by the order the boats registered for each tournament. Please refer to the Tournament Launch and Start section below for additional details.
- Participating in 704 Outdoors Fishing Tournament includes displaying the highest form of professional conduct before, during, and after Cat’n on the Yadkin events as well as during non-Cat’n on the Yadkin events and on social media. Good Sportsmanship is an integral characteristic each member must possess to build and sustain the integrity of the club. Failure of a participant to adhere to Good Sportsmanship conduct will be reviewed by 704 Outdoors directors and committee and assessment of a penalty will be determined based on the severity of the offense. The participant will have the opportunity to submit an objection to the offense through the tournament director prior to the vote. One of the following penalties can be applied:
- a. Revocation of all points up to the time of the offense
- b. Revocation of tournament membership for 1-year
- c. Lifetime revocation of participant