This event may be recorded for possible video production and distribution.
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.
​Entries made and paid for are prohibited from being sold, bartered, or given away without the expressed written consent of a tournament official.
All Entries Are Final! Any entry that will not be used will be offered at face value to a waiting list of teams/anglers on a first-come-first-serve basis. No “scalping” will be allowed. If it is discovered that any time a team has/had attempted to scalp or sell their entry for profit, they will automatically be disqualified and refunded their entry fee, less a $200 administrative processing charge only IF a replacement team can be secured. THIS EVENT IS CAPPED AT 100, 3 PERSON TEAMS plus up to 20 promotional entries.
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1. Good sportsmanship is expected of all individuals before, during and after the tournament event. This includes social media bashing of the event and/or event participants. Failure to follow good sportsmanship may result in disqualification and/or revocation from fishing this and/or any further Mississippi River Monsters and/or Mega Bucs Tournament events.
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2. Any disorderly conduct will be reason alone for disqualification.
3. At the Directors discretion, any violation may result in an automatic disqualification.
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4. All State and Federal rules must be observed. It is up the anglers to determine what license or licenses may be needed.
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5. Teams are limited to a maximum of 3 persons.
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6. All children 16 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult.
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7. Life vests are encouraged to be worn at take-off and while underway at all times.
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8. Fish may only be caught by Rod and Reel method only.
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9. At least 1 participating angler from each team MUST be present at registration. Registration will take place on Thursday afternoon between 5:00PM and 6:00PM. Before the Captain's meeting. Registration Location: The Pavilion at Ingalls Harbor
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10. Prefishing is allowed until 6pm on the day prior to the event.
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​11. Tournament Hours: 7:30AM - 3:30PM. Lines in the water prior to 7:30AM or after 3:30PM will be cause for immediate disqualification.
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​12. Teams may launch at 6am tournament morning. Teams will be allowed to trailer. All boats must Only launch from a ramp available to the public on Wheeler Lake. Anglers are allowed to lock through to Wilson Lake or Guntersville Lake. All boats must be recovered at the same ramp that it was put in on the morning of the event. Once launched, teams may get underway in a safe and orderly manner. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
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​13. Lines out at 3:30PM. All teams must be back and checked in at the weigh in location no later than 5:00PM. Weigh-in will begin and take place at Ingalls Harbor at or before 4:30PM. Any/All late teams will be disqualified.
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​14. A maximum of 3 fish per boat will be allowed at the weigh-in. 2 over 34" and 1 under 34" will be allowed.
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15. No rod limit
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16. No snagging will be allowed
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17. No fouled hooked fish will be accepted (a fouled hook is any hook located behind the gill plate).
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18. No chumming.
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19. No fishing intentionally baited holes.
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20. All tournament boats must maintain a distance of 50 yards between each other while anchored and 50 feet while drifting or spot locked.
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21. Buddy fishing or sharing of information during tournament hours including techniques, baits, location, etc. is strictly prohibited.
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22. No fishing outside of the boat.
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23. No alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or illegal substances are allowed onboard or used during tournament hours.
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24. Due to possible inclement weather, the tournament directors have the authority to postpone, cancel, or change the date of the event for the safety of the anglers, staff, and spectators. All boat captains must decide for themselves and their fellow team members if it is safe to launch and proceed.
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25. Onboard live wells must be no less than 50 gallons and employ an electric freshwater circulating pump and includes proper aeration. OXYGEN USE IS ENCOURAGED.
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26. It is encouraged that ALL fish handled at weigh-in MUST BE handled with a gripper and/or gloves. Weigh slings are encouraged. Larger fish are encouraged to be handled by 2 anglers.
27. Dropping of fish at weigh-in is discouraged.
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28. Placing of ALL fish into the weigh totes must be completed with care. No throwing or mishandling will be tolerated.
​29. Dead fish will not be allowed on the weigh-in stage and will disqualify your team if presented on stage or weigh-in.
​30. No culling of fish once competing boat has been removed from the water.
​31. Ties will be decided by a coin toss.
​32. Any protests must be made before the Awards Ceremony and must be in writing. We will not accept any protests thereafter.
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​33. This is a catch and release tournament. All fish must be alive and healthy at the time of weigh-in. It is the objective of the event to release all fish alive and healthy. However, if a fish dies after weigh-in and prior to its release, arrangements have already been made to donate said fish to a local food bank. Fish alive or not, may not be taken home with tournament participants.
​34. Angler's 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.
​35. 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 #20)
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​36. After the published cut-off date, any team that experiences a mishap or mechanical issue before or during the tournament event will still be considered a valid tournament participant and will not be provided any relief or forgiveness of the rules as published.
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37. If you are fishing solo and want to weigh more than 1 fish over 34 inches, You must come in and weigh 1 fish and release it BEFORE catching the second one.
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​Upon your entry into the tournament, you agree to and are placed under the Waiver/Release for the Mississippi River Monsters and/or Mega Bucs Tournaments.
​Please read below:
​WAIVER/RELEASE FOR Mississippi River Monsters Bama Blues Tournament:
​By entering the Mississippi River Monsters Bama Blues Tournament, you attest to have read the accompanying event information and understand the policies and rules of this event. I know that fishing on a river or lake 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 waterways, 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 Mississippi River Monsters Bama Blues Tournament, the host city(s) and/or counties and/or state and 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 and/or loss 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 public or private purpose.
​All fishermen are subject to a polygraph exam.
​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 weigh-in, 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 has been recorded and the amount of fish you may not cull when you come back in.
​If you have fish that you feel will not survive until weigh-in time, bring them in so they can be weighed and released. That is why we have someone at the weigh-in. Make fish care a priority so that the fish(s) can be released with the least amount of stress and a successful survival rate.
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Registration Fee/Payment Schedule
​All teams must include payment with their registration. Any registration that does not make a payment will be disallowed and removed from the tournament.
​Total Fee for this event (including Big Fish and Processing fees): $415
​If a team elects to withdraw from this event, they will have up to the cut-off date to find a suitable team to purchase their entry.
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​Boat numbers will be issued by time and date of paid registration.
​During the event setup period, this document will remain live and is subject to change without notice. 15 days prior to the event, all rules will become final (published cut-off date), with the exception of a rule(s) that may affect the safety or fairness of and for the participating anglers.
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Edited 12/27/23
