Seventeenth Annual McClellanville Creek Tournament Rules


1. Date - October 4th, 2008.  Rain or shine. No refunds or cancellations. Tournament begins at dawn (7:13 am) and ends at the weigh in located under the Town Office building at the Town Landing between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. You MUST arrive and be recognized by Tournament Officials by 5:00 PM.

2. Team Tournament - You must ensure that you are registered and fishing with the partner(s) that you signed up with. Every person in the boat must be registered, whether they fish or not.. Any changes must be done prior to beginning fishing. A team can consist of only one boat or craft. Violation of any of these rules will result in disqualification of the team. 

3. Permitted fishing area - All public waters east of Hwy. 17, north of the Isle of Palms Connector, and south of the S. Santee River. This includes the beach and surf if so desired, but excludes private impoundments and any other area where public fishing is not permitted.

4. All fish must be caught on hook and line on the day of the tournament. Artificial or natural bait may be used. Cast nets are allowed to catch bait only.

5. Types of fish -    1. Spottail Bass (Red Fish, Red Drum, Channel Bass)
                                2. Trout (Spotted Seatrout, Winter Trout)
                                3. Flounder (Summer or Southern) 

6. Minimum qualifying size - Bass 15 inches
                                               Trout 14 inches 
                                               Flounder 14 inches

7. Weighing /Measuring fish - Only ONE fish per species per boat will be weighed, with the exception that if a red drum or spotted seatrout is caught  on an artificial lure while fly fishing and, this is not the largest of the species that was caught otherwise, it may be weighed in addition. SC law allows the taking of no spottail bass over 23".   All fish will be measured in their natural condition - tails cannot be pinched or manipulated! Total length is the distance from the most forward point of the fish's head to the hindmost point of the tail.  There will be measuring boxes to determine if a large red drum is a legal fish.  It will be 23 inches long, and if the end board bends up the fish's tail, the fish is not legal.  You will be able to measure your fish prior to presenting it for weigh in. The weigh master will conduct the weigh in and make all decisions concerning the legality of the submitted fish. Each boat is responsible for deciding which one fish of each species is to be weighed.  Submitting an illegal fish results in disqualification of that boat.  All fish must arrive at the landing by boat by way of water. 

8. Prizes - Will be determined by the point system previously announced. In event of a tie the highest aggregate weight of the weighed fish will win. Amounts of the winning prizes will be based on percentage of total entrance fees. First place is 25%, second place is 15%, and third place is 10%.

9. Youth Award - The boat with a Youth angler (15 years old or less) that has the highest point total will win The Haddrell's Point Youth Angler Award. Ties will be broken as above. 

10. Protests - All protests must be presented to tournament officials within 5 minutes and will be acted on immediately. All decisions of the Tournament Committee are final.

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