What is a Fishing Tournament?

A fishing tournament is an organized competition among recreational fishers. Fishing competitions usually involve several events on a clearly-defined body of water, with each event having specific rules that must be followed. These tournaments can take place along any ocean, river, or lake - even ones that are covered with ice.

The tournament

The winner of a fishing tournament is sometimes determined based on the total weight of a given species of fish caught within a specified amount of time. Some tournaments, however, may revolve purely around length, requiring the fishers to catch their fish, measure it with an approved indicator of length, and record the catch with a camera, and release it back into the water. Tournaments set on the land usually involve individuals, while those set on boats allow participants to compete in teams. Points are awarded according to the weight and type of fish caught - in tag-and-release competitions, a flat score per species, divided by the line strength, is awarded per catch. The internet has had a noticeable effect on how fishing tournaments are organized and held as it allows tournaments to take place literally worldwide, with results posted to a central site in reel-time, allowing competitors from multiple countries to participate in a single fishing tournament.

Fishing tournament formats

There are four major types of tournaments organized: straight draw, pro/amateur draw, pro/observer, and team tournaments.

Straight draw

In a straight draw tournament, all entrants compete for the same prizes and at the beginning of the tournament, all competitors are randomly paired together and must share a boat (although the decision of whose boat to use can be a difficult one). Each participant has the right to half of the day fishing in the location and manner of his or her choosing. Most tournaments require the anglers to catch and record their fish separately from their partner, though some tournaments have the random pair combine their catches for one score per boat.

Pro/amateur draw

There are two entry tiers in this tournament, with pro entries having a larger fee, but larger prizes as well, while amateur entries pay less to participate, but are unable to win as much as a pro entrant. Each pro is paired with an amateur, and their scores may be separate or combined. The pro is given control over the fishing location and allowed the use of his or her boat; part of the intent of a pro/amateur draw is to allow the amateur to gain some insight into strategy and technique from fishing with the pro, while still catching some fish as well.

Pro/observer

A pro/observer tournament pairs a pro fisherman with a partner who accompanies simply to watch, without fishing for him- or herself; observers generally volunteer and are instructed to ensure that all fishing and tournament rules are obeyed.

Team

Team tournaments allow voluntary choosing of partners, with any fish caught by the pair combined into one score per boat.