2025 MRM RULES
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.
​The Tournament is capped at 100 boats plus up to 20 promotional spots
​
1. 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!
2. At least one participant from each team MUST be present to register and pick up packets at both
locations on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025.
-First pick up will be at Bass Pro Pyramid Fishing Department between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM
-Second pick up will be at Radisson Hotel in West Memphis, AR, between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM
-MRM Bash/Fundraiser for Marley will be at Radisson Hotel from 6PM til 10PM (you are not required to
stay for MRM Bash, but if you choose to stay a drawing will be held at 10pm for one team to receive their
2025 entry fee back. If the team is not present, we will draw up to 5 times to get a winner.)
3. Friday is open. Prefishing and bait fishing ends at 8 PM, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
4. Tournament Hours: Saturday 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM. Lines in the water prior to 6:30 AM will be cause for
immediate disqualification. No AM Boat Check-Ins.
5. Mud Island gates should be open at 3 AM. Boats cannot leave the ramp area until 4:30 AM Saturday, Sept. 13.
6. Launching and recovery will be allowed to take place at any ramp along the Mississippi River, between
the north boundary being Caruthersville, MO and the south boundary being the River Park ramp in
Helena, AR as well as the Mud Island Launch Site.
7. Teams will be allowed to trailer to any location on the Mississippi River to launch based on rule #6. All
boats must be back for weigh-in at the Bass Pro Pyramid no later than 5:00 PM. Those that launch from
the Mud Island Ramp must be back to the Mud Island ramp by 5:00 PM. There will be no exceptions to
this rule.
8. Teams are limited to a maximum of a 3-person team (ages 13 and over), any person age 12 and under
does not count towards the 3-person team and may also be in the boat.
9. All children 16 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult.
10. 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.
11. All State and Federal rules will be observed. It is up to the anglers to determine what license or licenses
may be needed.
12. Any disorderly conduct will be reason alone for disqualification.
13. Any violation could result in an automatic disqualification.
14. Life vests are encouraged to be worn at take-off and while underway at all times.
15. Fish may only be caught by Rod and Reel method only.
16. 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.
17. No snagging will be allowed
18. No foul-hooked fish will be accepted.
19. No chumming.
20. No fishing intentionally baited holes.
21. All tournament boats must maintain a distance of 50 yards between each other while anchored and 50
feet while drifting. This includes all boats.
22. Buddy fishing or sharing of information during tournament hours, including techniques, baits, location,
etc. is strictly prohibited.
23. No fishing outside of the boat.
24. No alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or illegal substances are allowed onboard or used during
tournament hours.
25. Onboard live wells must be no less than 50 gallons, employ an electric freshwater circulating pump and
include proper aeration. OXYGEN USE IS ENCOURAGED.
26. ALL weigh-ins will take place using a scale that will be calibrated and zeroed out between all weigh-ins.
27. Weigh-in will begin and take place at the Bass Pro Pyramid, Memphis, TN, at or before 5 PM.
28. If there are more than 3 fish in the live well at weigh-in, it will result in disqualification.
29. ALL fish handled at weigh-in are encouraged to be handled with a gripper and gloves. Weigh slings are
encouraged. Larger fish are encouraged to be handled by 2 anglers.
30. Dropping of fish at weigh-in is discouraged.
31. Placing of ALL fish into the weigh totes must be completed with care. No throwing or mishandling will
be tolerated.
32. No dead fish will be allowed on the weigh-in stage and will disqualify your team.
33. No culling of fish once the competing boat has been removed from the water.
34. Ties will be decided by a coin toss.
35. Any protests must be made before the Awards Ceremony and must be in writing. We will not accept any
protests thereafter.
36. This is a catch-and-release tournament. All live fish must be released healthy and alive. They may not be
taken home with tournament participants.
37. Anglers who 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.
38. 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 #22)
39. Upon your entry into the tournament, you agree to and are placed under the Waiver/Release for the
Mississippi River Monsters event, please read below:
WAIVER/RELEASE FOR Mississippi River Monsters:
By entering the Mississippi River Monsters event, you attest to having read the accompanying event information
and understand the event's policies. 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, Mississippi River Monsters, the City of Memphis, TN, and Bass Pro Shops, 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 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 and recover from the Mud Island Boat Ramp or any other ramp along the Mississippi
River between Caruthersville, MO to the north and Helena, AR to the south. You may fish the Mississippi River
and all of its tributaries.
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 5 pm, you may bring your fish to be weighed and recorded. We will then release the fish,
with the least amount of stress and a successful survival rate, 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.
Bass Pro/Tracker Boat Giveaway: Winners MUST BE present to win.
This is a live document. Rules are subject to change without notice.
Rev: 9/8/25