Tournament Trail Rules

All rules are to provide a fair and equal playing field for all competitors and are based on a (2) man team. Three-person teams will be restricted to the same limits as a (2) person team. All state, local, and Federal laws will take precedence over King Kat National Tournament Rules.

1. In case of extreme water/weather conditions, King Kat reserves the right to postpone, reschedule, or cancel this event with the return of entry fees by mail.

2. Refunds shall only be made in a life-threatening emergency or death in the family. Entry fees may be removed and credited to another event with a full 2 notices and payment of $25.00 (NO TRANSFER OR REFUND WITHIN 14 DAYS OF EVENT FOR ANY REASON - NO EXCEPTIONS).

3. Teams must comply with state, local, and Federal fishing and boating regulations, including the use of PFDs and kill switches. Fishing and boating licenses are the responsibility of team members.

4. No alcoholic beverages or illegal substances are allowed on board or used during tournament hours.

5. This is a team event. The team may consist of up to three persons. A fourth person can be added but must be under the age of 16 or over the age of 65.

6. Registration will be held the day before the competition at a specified location from 4-6 p.m. Captains’ Meeting will follow at 6 p.m. Each team must have a registered angler present. An emergency failure to appear at the Captains’ Meeting will be reviewed by the Tournament Director on an individual basis.

7. All live wells should employ electric freshwater circulation pumps and include proper aeration. Oxygen use is encouraged but not mandatory. The Tournament Director will have the final say if the live well is adequate for the event.

8. There will be no meeting or late registration on the morning of the event.

9. Fishing hours for events shall be 6:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. unless specified at the Captain's Meeting.

10. Trailering will be allowed to any public boat ramp within tournament boundaries. A public boat ramp is defined as any boat ramp that’s available to the public regardless of whether a fee is required. Teams may launch at 4:00 a.m. but may not leave the launch area until 5:00 a.m.

11. All anglers must be in the weigh-in line by 4:00 p.m. – unless specified at the Captains’ Meeting.

12. Ten (10) rods maximum in use by the team unless state law is less.

13. The use of mobile communication devices such as cellular phones, marine radios, etc. to communicate fishing information during tournament hours is prohibited.

14. Teams must compete from a boat and remain in the boat during competition. If an angler needs to exit the boat for any reason, all fishing must stop until all anglers are back in the boat. All team members must stay together through the entirety of the event.

15. Fishing within 50 yards of a marina gas pump or within 50 yards of a competitor’s boat that is considered fishing is prohibited. Fishing is defined as an anchor rope or fishing line in the water.

16. All fish must be caught by rod and reel only. No catfish may be taken from a hoop net, box, trot, jug, limb line, or baited water of any kind.

17. Any legal commercial or natural bait will be allowed. No fishing known chum holes.

18. 3 fish limit per team. Length limits are determined by state law or the Tournament Director has the final say at the Captains’ Meeting depending on weather/traffic conditions. All fish to be weighed in must be alive. If there are more than 3 fish in a live well, it will result in disqualification.

19. Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, and Flathead Catfish may be weighed in.

20. In the event of a tie, it will be decided by the team with the largest fish. If both team's largest fish was not documented, a coin flip would break the tie.

21. If there are any dead fish brought to the weigh-in line, it will result in disqualification. It is the discretion of the tournament office to deem a fish deceased.

22. Handling fish with care is a priority. Dropping fish is discouraged and placing fish into totes must be completed with care. No throwing or mishandling will be tolerated.

23. The use or display of any tobacco products in the weigh-in line, on stage, or during an awards ceremony is prohibited.

24. Bait fishing will be permitted until 11:59 p.m. the day of the Captains’ Meeting

25. Any protest must be made in writing to a Tournament Director within 30 minutes following the end of the official weigh-in. A protest must state the rule number (2) broken. All evidence must come directly from the protester (NO HEARSAY).

26. Any team having a member who fails or refuses to take a polygraph test or whose condition does not permit administration of a test because of the contestant’s use of alcohol or drugs will be disqualified.

27. Unsportsmanlike conduct at an event or on any social media platform during or after the event may be grounds for disqualification. The decision of the Tournament Owners will be final and the team(s) could be banned from the King Kat National Tournament Trail.

28. All tournaments will have boundaries that will be defined on the website unless otherwise specified by the Tournament Director. Boundaries are subject to change due to conditions.

29. The Tournament Director has final say on all rules and/or amendments

30. No information may be purchased or bartered from any person who entered official tournament water two weeks prior to the tournament.

Angler of the Year will be determined by best 5 tournaments. Sweet 16 teams will be Angler of the Year 1st - 16h.
In 2025 we will expand the Angler of the Year from best of 5 to best of 7 tournaments.

Signature Series Additional Rules & Regulations

These rules are to be used in conjunction with the 2024 King Kat Rules

1. $2,000 Per Team.
2. Fees must be paid by February 1, 2024.
3. Minimum of 100% payback.
4. Spots are not transferable.
5. The membership fee is non-refundable.
6. Three-man teams – Teams must remain the same for the season. Can have one alternate.
7. Maximum of 30 Teams – Previous year Signature Series teams get first refusal and must confirm by December 15, 2023. Registration opens, for remaining spots, from December 16, 2023 - to February 1, 2024. (Unless the field is full).
8. There will be 7 Signature Series events. Signature Series is a points race only – Best 5 out of 7.

List of Signature Series waterways:

Classic Qualification Requirements

1. Anglers must attend and fish a minimum of 5 King Kat Tournament events.
2. Place in the Top 60 overall points race in the King Kat Tournament Trail.
3. Finish in the Top 5 places at any King Kat Tournament event.
4. Win 1st place Big Fish at a King Kat Tournament event and fish a minimum of 2 King Kat Tournaments.
5. Finish in the Top 3 places with an Affiliated Club with the King Kat Tournament Trail AND fish a minimum of 2 King Kat Tournament events.

Sweet 16 Additional Qualification Rules & Regulations

These rules are to be used in conjunction with 2024 King Kat rules.

1. Captains earn a spot in the Sweet 16 by being in the top 16 in points for Angler of the Year.
2. In the event a captain has qualified and is unavailable to fish the Sweet 16 event, we will bump down. Bump downs will stop at 20th place in Angler of the Year points.
3. Captain can pick a co-angler/anglers as long as the co-angler fished with the Captain in a 2023 King Kat Tournament.
4. No more than 3 anglers per boat.
5. The Sweet Sixteen is a trailering event - there will be no boats coming into weigh in line via boat.
6. 10 Rod limit
7. This is a three-day event - 1st and 2nd Day will be bracket style based on points placement from regular season. Weight starts over each day.
8. Third day of tournament the top 4 teams may start to fish at 6:30 am - all other anglers may start to fish at 7:00am. All teams not in the top 4 will be competing for 5th place.
9. Big Fish Friday, all teams will compete for Big Fish prize, regardless of whether they won their bracket on day 1.
10. In the event of a tie - 1st Day Tie breaker will be the Big Fish Weight for that day, 2nd and 3rd Day tie breaker will be overall weight.
11. No Information may be purchased, bartered or solicited from any person who entered official tournament waters two weeks prior to the Sweet Sixteen Tournament.
12. The boundary is Kerr Reservoir/Buggs Island Lake.

Big Fish Invitational Requirments

In order to be invited to the Big Fish Invitational Tournament you must win 1st or 2nd place Big Fish at any KingKat regular season event, Classic included.