The majority, if not all of our boat coaches are dads, uncles, friends of the family
This league is about the KIDS, but the student anglers must provide their own boat drivers who should review the handbook attached below ( especially the rules on PFD on pages 30 and 31 )
This league is about the KIDS, but the student anglers must provide their own boat drivers who should review the handbook attached below ( especially the rules on PFD on pages 30 and 31 )
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24-25 season guidelines
DETAILED GUIDELINES Amended July 7, 2024
The following guidelines are designed to promote sportsmanship among the anglers and provide fair competition. Once you register, you have agreed to these guidelines. Failure to comply with any guidelines may result in a weight penalty or disqualification from any tournament and/or the trial up to 365 days. Anything else is at the director’s discretion and he has up to a week to decide.
Communication
The director prefers to communicate by text. When you receive a text from "Coach", please kindly respond back as soon as you have an answer. There is a lot of planning for events so having 50 boats or 25 boats makes a big difference in preparation.
Inclement Weather Plan
The tournament director will communicate with the boat captains by phone and post on the "Social Media" should weekend weather cause the tourney to be cancelled. We plan to have each tourney as scheduled. Safety comes first. We have a date in place to make up a fall and/or a spring tourney if necessary.
During the event, if there is lightning or thunder, the tournament director will communicate with the boat captain to “stop fishing” so all boats will be secured, and participants asked to return to the nearest safest location. Please honor this request until the director communicates to “continue fishing” or “return to landing” which means the tournament is cancelled and weigh in will begin when it is safe to begin the process.
We would cancel a tournament when there is: 100% chance of rain, Freezing Temperatures all day, Temperature in the 40s with rain, post storm conditions with dangerous floating items from a hurricane. Other options are up to the director’s discretion until 5 pm the day before a tourney.
Tournament Start
We are going to use the Virtual launch format that makes it easier for teams to launch and fish closer to home then bring in the fish to the designated weigh in boat landing or location.
Where ?
For the trail, you must launch from a public boat ramp along the rivers and/or waterway. Nothing private because we want everyone to have a level playing field for competition. If you have a private dock with a boat lift, you still must report to the nearest public boat ramp to check in before you begin.
In Charleston and Beaufort/Port Royal, it is "highly" encouraged to launch from the host site boat landing due to the advantage of weigh ins being onsite. For example, in Charleston, if you launch on the ICW and get stuck in traffic while trailering your boat and fish to weigh ins, you risk a DQ.
When ?
-For the trail, the videos must have daylight in the background, so we are “not” using the terms safe light. A time will be designated by the director to start submitting videos so will have plenty of time to film your video with daylight in the background. Yes, we know that there are other tourneys going on and they will leave the boat landing before we do.
-You do NOT have to start at the allocated time that morning. Feel free to start later but you must always check in with the director virtually before you begin. This helps those with a private dock get to the nearest public boat ramp to check in before they begin.
Here is how it works:
-Use your cell phone to record a video then text it to the director at 843-902-4274
-In the "Write Something" type in the Student Angler name (s), Boat Captain (s) and Boat Landing Name plus which fish your team is targeting (reds or bass)
-Every video submitted must include the following:
1. video is submitted from the boat with daylight (no videos in the dark )
2. show the boat landing and identify verbally what landing you are using
3. show the students wearing life jackets and which fish your team is targeting (reds or bass )
4. show empty livewell(s) …. It should be enough light that you do not have to use a flashlight
Weigh In Plan
-When you arrive to weigh in your fish, make sure you arrive early enough to get your weigh in card completed and to the director before the designated time or you will face a penalty or even a DQ
-There will be a table set up with weight in cards, pens plus cull tags for the “big fish.”
-There will also be weigh in bags which are "mandatory" that can be purchased from the director
Times
-1:00 pm -Check in begins at the weight in location ( not the ramps )
-3:00 pm -Check in ends at the weigh in location ( not the ramps )
Weigh in Times Staggered unless everyone given notice by the director for a time change.
-2:00 pm Elementary Grades 1-4
-2:30 pm Middle School Grades 5-8
-3:00 pm High School Grades 9-12
*Scales will be ready at 1:00 pm, but if you need an early weigh in, call the director. If you need to weigh in a fish that is throat hooked or may die, you can weigh in less than the bag limit then returns to fish. Example: 1 red weighed in, return fishing for a 2nd red. The fish must be alive during the weigh in process or there is a .25-pound dead fish penalty. If you weigh in your max number of fish, any fish caught afterward cannot be brought to the scale. Example: 2 reds or 5 bass weighed in early, you are done for tourney.
Weigh in Penalty
-up to 10 minutes late = 3-pound penalty
-up to 15 minutes late = 5-pound penalty
-over 16 minutes late = DQ and cannot weigh in fish
-Director or appointee must have your card by the designed time or you will face a penalty. We must be fair to others who manage the time to get back as requested. Again, once you make it to the boat landing, have an angler hustle to the director and just hand in the card so you are checked off. Then, you can take your time to bag the fish and get in line. Again, once you are checked in, you can weigh in your fish after the deadline BUT check in first.
Communicate Boat Issues
-Boat captains must notify the director of any problem. The sooner the better. This way we can start the process of helping you. For example, we may have time to send a boat offered by another team to get your kids and fish to weigh in, if there is enough time. Cards are still due on time even in this situation so the sooner the better chance these kids can make weigh in on time.
-We don't want to punish kids for an adult's mistake like getting stuck on a mud flat, dead battery, and engine problems. If a team gets a DQ and we know in advance, we can give the anglers a gift card or fishing item to help create a better experience. We ask that you release the fish once you know you are receiving a DQ to give the fish a better chance to survive.
Weigh In Set Up
-Fishing Trailer may or may not use the stage depending on rain or other conditions plus locations.
-Normal Tourney
-Area in front of the trailer will be blocked off for trucks to trailer the boat to weigh ins so leave the fish in the live wells
-Tents and Tables with air are set up for anglers to get in line ( if you see more than 2 teams at the air table, keep you fish in the boat)
-Students will keep air in their bags until called to the stage for weigh in then ride in golf cart to release fish
When you’re done with Weigh In
-Free fishing stuff table will be set up with directions on taking home many items from our sponsors.
-Raffle Prize tickets will be handed out after the awards ceremony to student anglers in attendance but not everyone will win something.
Live Wells
Since our priority is catch and release, if your live well is not working, you can return to the landing and weigh in fish so they can be released. If you return and catch more fish, the highest weight of all fish weighted will count. You must return to the landing where we will have live well equipment that can be used when you return to the water to finish the tourney. This live well equipment cannot be taken to begin a tourney. It is for emergency purposes only. We have an air pump you can attach to one of your batteries.
Only with the permission of the director can you transfer fish from one boat to another to make weigh in with the live fish. This is under special circumstances only. You must have the director’s permission in advance. If you are putting 2 fish in a live well that already has 2 fish, you must have a tag system to identify the fish. Tag using the lip, not the gills.
Boundaries
Private or gated area not available to the public cannot be used.
Do not fish within 100 yards of the area where fish are being released
Additional boundaries may be set by the director up to the morning of the tourney for different reasons beyond our control and/or safety.
Boats
Equipment includes a working live well (built in or carry on) and all safety equipment as required by the US Coast Guard and SCDNR.
Participants must use only the gear that is in the boat when the boat leaves the dock at the start of the day except for acquiring a live well from the director.
Captains need to have current boat registration and have included this information during online registration. When you fish on a different boat, you must register again online with new info.
Captains and student anglers (16 and older) must possess a current fishing license. In respect to the location of the Sampit River launch site, the director suggests that you have both freshwater and saltwater license.
Boat Operation
Captains operate the gas engine in a safe manner abiding all boating laws when carrying student anglers to fishing locations with the Lanyard Ignition cut-off device (kill switch ) attached to the boat captain at all times the main engine being used to travel.
Lifejackets should be on anytime the gas motor is running for safety.
Student anglers can operate electric trolling motors.
Captains are encouraged to return to the landing for rest room breaks.
You are responsible for your wake because you are subject to a fine from SCDNR.
Fishing
-Bass = artificial only Reds = artificial plus live or cut (use circle hooks with live bait or cut bait)
-Lines Out
-Since we allow up to 2 boat captains and 2 student anglers, there should never be more than 4 lines out at one time. IF you are dead sticking (using rod holders) then only student anglers can have lines out. IF everyone is holding a rod and actively fishing , then you can have 4 lines out.
-Only fish caught in the mouth (not snagging) by students on a rod and reel (without anyone else touching the rod and reel ) in the boat will count for weigh ins.
Boat Captains
-Cannot cast a rod for a student angler then hand over the rod for the student angler to use.
-Cannot hand a rod over a rod the adult casted with a fish on it
-Can use a landing net but do not touch the fish until it is in the boat
-Can assist with rod and reel repair
-Fishing Techniques
-Cast nets can only be used to harvest live bait that will be used for fishing, not catching fish
-Anchor on the side of the smaller creeks so you do not block others.
-Anchor fishing should be at least 25 yards from another boat.
-When using float corks, respect the 25 yard rule so reel it in when it within 25 yards.
Fish Length
SCDNR is one of our partners and could be involved with the weigh in procedures since we must get ramp permission to host the tourneys, they know we are fishing. We invite SCDNR to stand at the weigh in scale during our tourneys. Don’t be surprised if we have an officer at the weigh in.
Each fish is subject bump boards at weigh ins and measured in accordance to the rules of SCDNR.
Each boat is HIGHLY encouraged to have a bump board. Before you put a fish in the live well, measure the fish on the boat's bump board. When in doubt, release the fish. Please don't risk the DQ and/or a ticket at the weigh in from SCDNR.
Bass is 12 inch minimum and no maximum
Red drum slots: SC = 15-23 inches
-We will pinch the tail together on the red fish so we will make the fish as long as possible.
-If the tail goes "over" the 23-inch mark, the fish is DQ.
-We also check to see if the tail has been cut.
Dead Fish
-.25-pound penalty per fish -do not cull a dead fish
Protests
-Boat Captains can teach life lessons on the boat at our tournaments. Doing the right thing is more important than any award. If anyone suspects foul play (cheating), send a picture and details to the director. Keep this between adults and do not use social media or group texts to bring negative attention to us. Once the scales are announced closed, the director will meet with both boat captains. If you have not sent any information, you can file a protest 5 minutes after the scales close for the tournament. We have the option to call for a lie detector test. The protester with the grievance and the boat captain are both subject to a lie detector test. No kids will be tested. If found guilty, the boat captain who broke the rule will be DQ from driving a team for 365 days. We will pay for the test. We would rather use those funds to purchase items for our raffle for the kids.
-These guidelines are expectations. Protests will be handled by the director.
-The only automatic DQ is being 16 minutes or more late for weigh ins.
Teams
Each boat will represent one team.
Each boat must have an adult 21 years or older.
A boat can have a ride along adult ( not in high school ) that is 18 years or older.
Each boat can have up to 2 adults and 2 students.
Students do NOT have to go to the same school because our goal is to just get the kids fishing.
***We HIGHLY encourage elementary teams to have two adults
Team Scoring
If you start solo, you can add a member to your team.
It is ok to fish solo all season.
If you start with a member and drop this member, you can fish solo the rest of the season.
If you replace a member with another member, this creates a new team.
Divisions
The three divisions will be awarded in both reds and bass.
-Elementary Division is students in grades 1-4
-Middle Division is students in grades 5-8
-High Division is students in grades 9-12
*A lower division angler fishing with an upper division angler competes in the upper division
You must declare before every tournament which species you plan to target.
You cannot declare fishing for bass then bring in redfish for weigh ins.
You can target a different species in each tournament if you wish.
Individual Tourneys
Total weight will be scored with the top 3 teams receiving awards plus Big Fish
The awards are usually gift cards.
The gift cards have expiration dates and if you receive one that does not, they expire the first day of June in 2025
If there are two or more teams with the same total weight
-1st tiebreaker = a dead fish will bump you down
-2nd tiebreaker = Big Fish weight
-3rd tiebreaker = Big Fish inches
Trail Winners
-Georgetown
-Division Champion = the best 3 of 4 bag weights.
-1st tiebreaker is points
-2nd tiebreaker is number of 1sts
-3rd tiebreaker is number of 2nds
-Points Champion = the most points
-1st tiebreaker is best 3 total weights
-2nd tiebreaker is all 4 total weights
-Low Country does not have a trail this season but it is our goal to have more tourneys in the future
The following guidelines are designed to promote sportsmanship among the anglers and provide fair competition. Once you register, you have agreed to these guidelines. Failure to comply with any guidelines may result in a weight penalty or disqualification from any tournament and/or the trial up to 365 days. Anything else is at the director’s discretion and he has up to a week to decide.
Communication
The director prefers to communicate by text. When you receive a text from "Coach", please kindly respond back as soon as you have an answer. There is a lot of planning for events so having 50 boats or 25 boats makes a big difference in preparation.
Inclement Weather Plan
The tournament director will communicate with the boat captains by phone and post on the "Social Media" should weekend weather cause the tourney to be cancelled. We plan to have each tourney as scheduled. Safety comes first. We have a date in place to make up a fall and/or a spring tourney if necessary.
During the event, if there is lightning or thunder, the tournament director will communicate with the boat captain to “stop fishing” so all boats will be secured, and participants asked to return to the nearest safest location. Please honor this request until the director communicates to “continue fishing” or “return to landing” which means the tournament is cancelled and weigh in will begin when it is safe to begin the process.
We would cancel a tournament when there is: 100% chance of rain, Freezing Temperatures all day, Temperature in the 40s with rain, post storm conditions with dangerous floating items from a hurricane. Other options are up to the director’s discretion until 5 pm the day before a tourney.
Tournament Start
We are going to use the Virtual launch format that makes it easier for teams to launch and fish closer to home then bring in the fish to the designated weigh in boat landing or location.
Where ?
For the trail, you must launch from a public boat ramp along the rivers and/or waterway. Nothing private because we want everyone to have a level playing field for competition. If you have a private dock with a boat lift, you still must report to the nearest public boat ramp to check in before you begin.
In Charleston and Beaufort/Port Royal, it is "highly" encouraged to launch from the host site boat landing due to the advantage of weigh ins being onsite. For example, in Charleston, if you launch on the ICW and get stuck in traffic while trailering your boat and fish to weigh ins, you risk a DQ.
When ?
-For the trail, the videos must have daylight in the background, so we are “not” using the terms safe light. A time will be designated by the director to start submitting videos so will have plenty of time to film your video with daylight in the background. Yes, we know that there are other tourneys going on and they will leave the boat landing before we do.
-You do NOT have to start at the allocated time that morning. Feel free to start later but you must always check in with the director virtually before you begin. This helps those with a private dock get to the nearest public boat ramp to check in before they begin.
Here is how it works:
-Use your cell phone to record a video then text it to the director at 843-902-4274
-In the "Write Something" type in the Student Angler name (s), Boat Captain (s) and Boat Landing Name plus which fish your team is targeting (reds or bass)
-Every video submitted must include the following:
1. video is submitted from the boat with daylight (no videos in the dark )
2. show the boat landing and identify verbally what landing you are using
3. show the students wearing life jackets and which fish your team is targeting (reds or bass )
4. show empty livewell(s) …. It should be enough light that you do not have to use a flashlight
Weigh In Plan
-When you arrive to weigh in your fish, make sure you arrive early enough to get your weigh in card completed and to the director before the designated time or you will face a penalty or even a DQ
-There will be a table set up with weight in cards, pens plus cull tags for the “big fish.”
-There will also be weigh in bags which are "mandatory" that can be purchased from the director
Times
-1:00 pm -Check in begins at the weight in location ( not the ramps )
-3:00 pm -Check in ends at the weigh in location ( not the ramps )
Weigh in Times Staggered unless everyone given notice by the director for a time change.
-2:00 pm Elementary Grades 1-4
-2:30 pm Middle School Grades 5-8
-3:00 pm High School Grades 9-12
*Scales will be ready at 1:00 pm, but if you need an early weigh in, call the director. If you need to weigh in a fish that is throat hooked or may die, you can weigh in less than the bag limit then returns to fish. Example: 1 red weighed in, return fishing for a 2nd red. The fish must be alive during the weigh in process or there is a .25-pound dead fish penalty. If you weigh in your max number of fish, any fish caught afterward cannot be brought to the scale. Example: 2 reds or 5 bass weighed in early, you are done for tourney.
Weigh in Penalty
-up to 10 minutes late = 3-pound penalty
-up to 15 minutes late = 5-pound penalty
-over 16 minutes late = DQ and cannot weigh in fish
-Director or appointee must have your card by the designed time or you will face a penalty. We must be fair to others who manage the time to get back as requested. Again, once you make it to the boat landing, have an angler hustle to the director and just hand in the card so you are checked off. Then, you can take your time to bag the fish and get in line. Again, once you are checked in, you can weigh in your fish after the deadline BUT check in first.
Communicate Boat Issues
-Boat captains must notify the director of any problem. The sooner the better. This way we can start the process of helping you. For example, we may have time to send a boat offered by another team to get your kids and fish to weigh in, if there is enough time. Cards are still due on time even in this situation so the sooner the better chance these kids can make weigh in on time.
-We don't want to punish kids for an adult's mistake like getting stuck on a mud flat, dead battery, and engine problems. If a team gets a DQ and we know in advance, we can give the anglers a gift card or fishing item to help create a better experience. We ask that you release the fish once you know you are receiving a DQ to give the fish a better chance to survive.
Weigh In Set Up
-Fishing Trailer may or may not use the stage depending on rain or other conditions plus locations.
-Normal Tourney
-Area in front of the trailer will be blocked off for trucks to trailer the boat to weigh ins so leave the fish in the live wells
-Tents and Tables with air are set up for anglers to get in line ( if you see more than 2 teams at the air table, keep you fish in the boat)
-Students will keep air in their bags until called to the stage for weigh in then ride in golf cart to release fish
When you’re done with Weigh In
-Free fishing stuff table will be set up with directions on taking home many items from our sponsors.
-Raffle Prize tickets will be handed out after the awards ceremony to student anglers in attendance but not everyone will win something.
Live Wells
Since our priority is catch and release, if your live well is not working, you can return to the landing and weigh in fish so they can be released. If you return and catch more fish, the highest weight of all fish weighted will count. You must return to the landing where we will have live well equipment that can be used when you return to the water to finish the tourney. This live well equipment cannot be taken to begin a tourney. It is for emergency purposes only. We have an air pump you can attach to one of your batteries.
Only with the permission of the director can you transfer fish from one boat to another to make weigh in with the live fish. This is under special circumstances only. You must have the director’s permission in advance. If you are putting 2 fish in a live well that already has 2 fish, you must have a tag system to identify the fish. Tag using the lip, not the gills.
Boundaries
Private or gated area not available to the public cannot be used.
Do not fish within 100 yards of the area where fish are being released
Additional boundaries may be set by the director up to the morning of the tourney for different reasons beyond our control and/or safety.
Boats
Equipment includes a working live well (built in or carry on) and all safety equipment as required by the US Coast Guard and SCDNR.
Participants must use only the gear that is in the boat when the boat leaves the dock at the start of the day except for acquiring a live well from the director.
Captains need to have current boat registration and have included this information during online registration. When you fish on a different boat, you must register again online with new info.
Captains and student anglers (16 and older) must possess a current fishing license. In respect to the location of the Sampit River launch site, the director suggests that you have both freshwater and saltwater license.
Boat Operation
Captains operate the gas engine in a safe manner abiding all boating laws when carrying student anglers to fishing locations with the Lanyard Ignition cut-off device (kill switch ) attached to the boat captain at all times the main engine being used to travel.
Lifejackets should be on anytime the gas motor is running for safety.
Student anglers can operate electric trolling motors.
Captains are encouraged to return to the landing for rest room breaks.
You are responsible for your wake because you are subject to a fine from SCDNR.
Fishing
-Bass = artificial only Reds = artificial plus live or cut (use circle hooks with live bait or cut bait)
-Lines Out
-Since we allow up to 2 boat captains and 2 student anglers, there should never be more than 4 lines out at one time. IF you are dead sticking (using rod holders) then only student anglers can have lines out. IF everyone is holding a rod and actively fishing , then you can have 4 lines out.
-Only fish caught in the mouth (not snagging) by students on a rod and reel (without anyone else touching the rod and reel ) in the boat will count for weigh ins.
Boat Captains
-Cannot cast a rod for a student angler then hand over the rod for the student angler to use.
-Cannot hand a rod over a rod the adult casted with a fish on it
-Can use a landing net but do not touch the fish until it is in the boat
-Can assist with rod and reel repair
-Fishing Techniques
-Cast nets can only be used to harvest live bait that will be used for fishing, not catching fish
-Anchor on the side of the smaller creeks so you do not block others.
-Anchor fishing should be at least 25 yards from another boat.
-When using float corks, respect the 25 yard rule so reel it in when it within 25 yards.
Fish Length
SCDNR is one of our partners and could be involved with the weigh in procedures since we must get ramp permission to host the tourneys, they know we are fishing. We invite SCDNR to stand at the weigh in scale during our tourneys. Don’t be surprised if we have an officer at the weigh in.
Each fish is subject bump boards at weigh ins and measured in accordance to the rules of SCDNR.
Each boat is HIGHLY encouraged to have a bump board. Before you put a fish in the live well, measure the fish on the boat's bump board. When in doubt, release the fish. Please don't risk the DQ and/or a ticket at the weigh in from SCDNR.
Bass is 12 inch minimum and no maximum
Red drum slots: SC = 15-23 inches
-We will pinch the tail together on the red fish so we will make the fish as long as possible.
-If the tail goes "over" the 23-inch mark, the fish is DQ.
-We also check to see if the tail has been cut.
Dead Fish
-.25-pound penalty per fish -do not cull a dead fish
Protests
-Boat Captains can teach life lessons on the boat at our tournaments. Doing the right thing is more important than any award. If anyone suspects foul play (cheating), send a picture and details to the director. Keep this between adults and do not use social media or group texts to bring negative attention to us. Once the scales are announced closed, the director will meet with both boat captains. If you have not sent any information, you can file a protest 5 minutes after the scales close for the tournament. We have the option to call for a lie detector test. The protester with the grievance and the boat captain are both subject to a lie detector test. No kids will be tested. If found guilty, the boat captain who broke the rule will be DQ from driving a team for 365 days. We will pay for the test. We would rather use those funds to purchase items for our raffle for the kids.
-These guidelines are expectations. Protests will be handled by the director.
-The only automatic DQ is being 16 minutes or more late for weigh ins.
Teams
Each boat will represent one team.
Each boat must have an adult 21 years or older.
A boat can have a ride along adult ( not in high school ) that is 18 years or older.
Each boat can have up to 2 adults and 2 students.
Students do NOT have to go to the same school because our goal is to just get the kids fishing.
***We HIGHLY encourage elementary teams to have two adults
Team Scoring
If you start solo, you can add a member to your team.
It is ok to fish solo all season.
If you start with a member and drop this member, you can fish solo the rest of the season.
If you replace a member with another member, this creates a new team.
Divisions
The three divisions will be awarded in both reds and bass.
-Elementary Division is students in grades 1-4
-Middle Division is students in grades 5-8
-High Division is students in grades 9-12
*A lower division angler fishing with an upper division angler competes in the upper division
You must declare before every tournament which species you plan to target.
You cannot declare fishing for bass then bring in redfish for weigh ins.
You can target a different species in each tournament if you wish.
Individual Tourneys
Total weight will be scored with the top 3 teams receiving awards plus Big Fish
The awards are usually gift cards.
The gift cards have expiration dates and if you receive one that does not, they expire the first day of June in 2025
If there are two or more teams with the same total weight
-1st tiebreaker = a dead fish will bump you down
-2nd tiebreaker = Big Fish weight
-3rd tiebreaker = Big Fish inches
Trail Winners
-Georgetown
-Division Champion = the best 3 of 4 bag weights.
-1st tiebreaker is points
-2nd tiebreaker is number of 1sts
-3rd tiebreaker is number of 2nds
-Points Champion = the most points
-1st tiebreaker is best 3 total weights
-2nd tiebreaker is all 4 total weights
-Low Country does not have a trail this season but it is our goal to have more tourneys in the future