Arkansas Crappie Fishing Association
2011 Tournament Rules
Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. It is the Tournament Committee’s discretion to make a change where safety of the contestants is a concern. In the event of a rule violation, they may impose such sanctions, as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee, and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. All Federal, State, and local laws must be obeyed and it is the contestant’s responsibility to know these laws.
1) Eligible participants. Participation in the ACFA Tournaments is open to any one. There is no qualification to be a member of the AFCA to be eligible to participate.
2) Alcohol and safety equipment. No alcohol may be consumed during or preceding tournament hours. Participants suspected of being under the influence of alcohol during tournament events will be disqualified, this includes the time periods of registration through awards ceremony. All safety equipment required by law enforcement must be in the boat at all times and utilized.
3) Cancellation and Delay. In the case of extreme weather and/or water conditions, ACFA tournament officials reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event. In which case, tournament will be rescheduled by the AFCA Committee at a later date.
4) Tournament hours and ramps. Tournament fishing hours will be from 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (7 hours of fishing time), although the actual start and stop time may vary slightly with the changing sunrise throughout the year. All participants will register at a designated place and are then free to proceed to their fishing locations and await the official “start fishing time”. Participants are allowed to trailer to alternative ramps as well. Participants must stop fishing at 2:00 p.m. (or the time designated) and be at the weigh in ramp no later than 2:45 p.m. (or the time designated) for the weigh in. Anyone arriving after 2:45 p.m. (or the designated time) will be disqualified and not allowed to weigh in.
5) Pre Tournament Inspection and Registration – Each team will register and pay the entry fee the morning of the tournament during registration. Each team is responsible for having their coolers and livewells checked prior to launching or trailering to an alternate launch by one of the tournament officials or designees.
6) Practice – Pre-fishing or practice is allowed before any tournament, but is off limits from Midnight the night before until the official start time the day of the tournament.
7) Partners. – The only limit on the number of people allowed in each boat is that of the stated capacity of the boat. i. e. It is allowable to have 4 or more fishermen per boat in the case of a pontoon boat. It is also allowable to fish by yourself. Partners or participants of any team must stay within the boundaries of their vessel, meaning no parking of the boat and bank fishing.
8) Fishing Methods – Maximum pole limit is 8 poles unless the lake limit is less. This holds true even if more than 2 fishermen are in a boat. Live or artificial bait or combination of both is allowed. In the case of a single man team, you are limited to the per person lake limit for that tournament, but not to exceed 8 poles. Yo-Yo’s are not considered as an authorized fishing method by the ACFA.
9) Winners and Ties. Winning weights will be determined by the heaviest 7 fish of legal size. Legal size is strictly governed by the state and local lake laws and is the responsibility of the participant to adhere to these laws. Any deviation or law breaking of legal size fish will result in disqualification of that tournament. Hot Seat Provision – In order to avoid any ties, the first person to weigh in will be declared the leader in both total weight and big fish until unseated by a heavier weight. The leader in both categories will be required to remain in the general vicinity of the weigh station. Fish do not have to be alive to be weighed but is heavily encouraged.
10) Entry Fees. Entry fees will be $50 for each boat which automatically includes a $10 big fish entry. Entry fees not collected during registration time will be considered as a non-participating boat to the event and therefore cannot participate in the awards payout. Payout will be 1 in 5 boats. After each 5th boat a place will be added (in example 6 boats enter, two places will be paid, 11 boats enter, three places will be paid and etc.) Entry fees will be cash only.
11) Big Fish – Each team will present their selected big fish to be weighed and considered for the big fish award. One fish per team will be weighed. (Hot Seat Provision Applies) The big fish payout will be 80% to the single largest crappie and 20% to the second largest crappie. Both places cannot be won by the same team since each team is allowed only one big fish to be considered per tournament.
12) Awards Splitting– In the event of a team winning prize money or a big fish pot, any splitting of the prize money will be determined by that team at their discretion.
13) Tournament Series. Series will consist of 6 Tournaments and 1 Championship. Dates for tournaments will be no closer than 2 weeks apart and will try to be at least 30 days apart. The Championship lake will be chosen at a later date after all tournaments are concluded. The lake with the heaviest winning stringer will be chosen for the ACFA State Championship to be held in the fall of that tournament year.
14) Championship qualification. To qualify for the championship, teams must fish at least 2 regular tournaments. In the event that a person fishes with multiple partners and qualifies for the championship, that person can choose anyone that has fished at least one regular tournament to fish with them in the championship. In the event that a co-angler (non boat operator) fishes 3 regular season tournaments with other person, that co-angler also qualifies and can bring a boat and fish as an angler in the championship, however, that person’s partner (if he chooses one) would also have to have fished 1 regular tournament. Regular entry fees of $50 per will apply to the ACFA State Championship. ACFA Championship will only pay the top three places. Big fish awards will not be considered during the State Championship tournament.
15) Tournament Officials will be the following:
Lake Master –Will be responsible for places of registration and weigh ins, providing lake details and/or safety concerns prior to tournament start. The Lake Master will be different at each chosen lake the AFCA will hold tournaments on. In addition, it is his call to delay or reschedule the tournament due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.
Weigh Master –Will be selected by the Lake Master responsible for that lakes tournament. This responsibility should be given to someone with an unbiased interest in the results of the tournament.
Tournament Director – Will be elected year by year. This position will keep up with the official weights, records and hold the entries during tournament. This position is also responsible for keeping the records for qualification of teams for the ACFA State Championship for that tournament year. Tournament Director has final decision and this decision cannot be appealed.
Arkansas Crappie Fishing Association Tournament Payback
Payback % Breakdown/ Number of Places Paid (Excluding each teams $10 Big Fish Entry)
# of Boats 1 2 3 4 5 Total Payout
5 100% 100%
6 80% 20% 100%
7 80% 20% 100%
8 80% 20% 100%
9 80% 20% 100%
10 80% 20% 100%
11 65% 25% 10% 100%
12 65% 25% 10% 100%
13 65% 25% 10% 100%
14 65% 25% 10% 100%
15 65% 25% 10% 100%
16 60% 20% 15% 5% 100%
17 60% 20% 15% 5% 100%
18 60% 20% 15% 5% 100%
19 60% 20% 15% 5% 100%
20 60% 20% 15% 5% 100%
21 55% 20% 15% 10% 100%
22 55% 20% 15% 10% 100%
23 55% 20% 15% 10% 100%
24 55% 20% 15% 10% 100%
25 55% 20% 15% 10% 100%
26 50% 20% 15% 10% 5% 100%
