A starter rules template for your fishing tournament.

Your rules document is the contract you have with every captain and angler. It's also what disputes get resolved against. Specific rules prevent arguments. Vague rules cause them.

This is a 10-section starter template. Take it, adapt it to your tournament's species and format, get it reviewed locally, and publish it on your tournament site at least 60 days before registration closes.

1 — Tournament Overview

Name, dates, location, format (release vs. weigh-in), participating species, organizing entity, and contact information. This is the section that goes on the cover page and in the captain's briefing.

2 — Eligibility

• Who can participate (boats, captains, anglers — minimum age, license requirements)
• Registration deadline and process
• Entry fee and what it covers
• Insurance and waiver requirements

3 — Species and Categories

List every eligible species. State whether each goes in a single overall pool or separate categories. If you run concurrent leaderboards (e.g. Billfish, Roosterfish, Funfish), name each category and list its eligible species.

Specify team structure if applicable (boat-only, team-of-N, individual angler).

4 — Scoring System

• Points per species (release format) or weight rules (weigh-in format)
• Multipliers for size, slam categories, or bonus species
• Tie-breaking rules — most teams default to "first to score the tying total wins," but say it explicitly
• Maximum daily score caps if any

5 — Catch Logging Procedure

How catches are submitted. Whether radio confirmation is required. Time limits between catch and submission. Required information per catch (boat, angler, species, time, location if applicable).

If your tournament uses DockScore, catches are submitted digitally with auto-generated radio codes — no paper forms required.

6 — Jury Decisions and Appeals

• Who serves on the jury and their authority
• Review process (timestamped, documented, written reasons for disqualifications)
• How a captain or angler files a challenge
• Challenge deadline and process
• Final authority statement (e.g. "the jury's decision after challenge review is final")

7 — Disqualification Rules

What disqualifies a single catch (e.g. invalid species, undersized, late submission). What disqualifies a team or boat (e.g. rule violations, unsporting conduct, failure to complete required forms).

8 — Calcutta Rules

If your tournament includes a Calcutta: format (auction, fixed buy-in), pool management (who holds funds, when payouts happen), payout structure (percentages by finishing position), and the dispute process specific to Calcutta payouts.

9 — Registration and Entry Fees

• Registration deadline
• Payment methods accepted
• Refund policy (cancellation by participant, cancellation by tournament)
• Waitlist process if oversubscribed

10 — General Conduct

• Captain responsibilities (safety, communication, sportsmanship)
• Crew conduct standards
• Authority compliance — fishing licenses, IMPESCA reporting, local regulations
• Penalties for conduct violations

Where to go next

Read the full organize a fishing tournament guide for the operational context around this rules document. Use the 90-day checklist to stay on schedule between now and event day.