South Carolina Crappie Association            

South Carolina Crappie Association Rules

Interpretation and enforcement of these rules shall be left exclusively to the Tournament Committee. It is at the Tournament Committee’s discretion to make a change where safety of the contestants is a concern. In the event of a rule violation, the Board of Directors may impose such sanctions, as they deem appropriate, including, without limitation, disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, entry fee and prohibition from participation in subsequent tournaments. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final in all matters.  All Federal, State and local laws must be obeyed and it is the contestant’s responsibility to know these laws.

1. Participation in each tournament is open to all members.  

2.You may enter alone or with the partner of your choice.

3. Permitted fishing waters shall be defined as areas open to all participants of the event and accessible by normal navigational means only. Fishing within 25 feet of a marina gas pump or within 25 feet of a competitor’s boat, which was first anchored, is prohibited. (Trolling motor must be in the up position to be considered anchored.) A safe and courteous distance should be maintained when trolling motors are in use. Any violation of off limit water will result in disqualification. 

4. Practice is allowed at the events until 6:00PM the day before the tournament. 

5. In the case of extreme weather and/or water conditions, South Carolina Crappie Association reserves the right to postpone or cancel the event with the return of entry fees by mail.

6. Teams may start fishing (line in water) anywhere on the permitted fishing waters at 7:00AM and may continue until 3:00PM. Any fishing by a team member before 7:00AM or after 3:00PM on the day of the tournament will disqualify the team.

7. Two-person team (one boat per team) must stay within 25 feet of each other while fishing and must fish out of a boat or pontoon. Boats less than ten (10) feet in length are not allowed.

8. Teams may use rod and reel combos, hand held pole and reel combos or hand held poles. Twelve- (12) pole limit, per team, applies except where state limits are set at a lesser number.

9. Live and artificial bait may be used.  

10.Crappie must be hooked and landed with a rod or pole by team member (s). Crappie must be hooked through the lip or in the mouth.  

11.All boats should meet US Coast Guard and State regulations. All boats must have an emergency kill switch and should be attached to the driver while running during tournament day.

12. Teams must comply with all state fishing and boating regulations, including the use of P.F.D.’s. Fishing and boating licenses are the responsibility of team members.

13. Crappie must be weighed at the official South Carolina Crappie Association weigh-in sight. Both team members must be present at the time of weigh-in to be eligible for prizes.

14. No team will be allowed to join the weigh-in line after 4:00PM. Anglers must be in line with fish by 4:00PM.

15. A team can weigh-in not more than 10 crappie and those 10 crappie must be alive when entering the official weigh-in line. Any team presenting more than 10 crappie will be disqualified. Once you have entered the weigh-in line your fish will be checked for count, (10 crappie), and be verified dead or alive. All dead crappie will be removed from your creel and only those fish that are alive will be allowed. You may then continue to the scales for official weigh-in. Once your fish have been verified alive, you will then be allowed to weigh in those fish, and only those fish, even if one or more die before reaching the scales. The Tournament Committee has sole responsibility for the declaration of dead or alive crappie.

16. All crappie brought to the scales for weigh-in must have been caught during the tournament hours from tournament waters by the team bringing them to the scales.

17. All crappie presented for weigh-in must meet South Carolina Crappie Associations eight (8) inch minimum limit and State length requirements and must not have any weight enhancements. Any team bringing an illegal crappie to the weigh-in line will be disqualified. Golden Rule Crappie Board will be used as the official measuring board.

18. Big fish entries are optional. The fee is $10 per team with 100% of big fish monies paid back.  Only one big fish entry per team. Team must designate entry at time of weigh-in. Big fish pot will be paid as follows: One place for 1 to 10 teams participating in big fish entry, over 10 teams, 1st place 70% & 2nd place 30%.

19.  In the case of a tie for qualifying position, both teams will equally divide the earnings for the position tied for and the position under it. Both teams will be awarded equal points for the position tied for. 

20. All contestants, winners and non-winners are subject to a polygraph test. Failure to submit to a polygraph test will result in immediate disqualification. Any contestant who has failed a polygraph test in connection with any South Carolina Crappie Association approved tournament for cheating or whose results are found to be inconclusive will not be eligible to compete in any of South Carolina Crappie Association sponsored tournaments.

21. Any minor who participates must make arrangements to have a parent or guardian present at the weigh-in to sign a release form or have the release on the entry form signed prior to the tournament to allow a polygraph examination if required by the Tournament Committee.

22. Protest must be made in writing and given to a member of the Board of Directors within 30 minutes following the end of the official weigh-in. All protest must cite the rule number(s) allegedly broken.

23. Alcoholic beverages and drugs, other than prescription drugs, are not allowed in the boat or to be consumed during the tournament hours.

24. Guides cannot be hired to fish with you or for you during the tournament hours.