Muzzy Bowfishing Tournament 2024

*READ CAREFULLY* These Rules will be STRICTLY ENFORCED!

1. Each team must have proper state fishing licenses for each section of water fished. Legal waters will be from Watt’s Bar Dam to Pickwick Dam on the Tennessee River including it’s tributaries. (All REDZONES can be found on the BAA website or on app Sector)
2. Each team must have proper registration papers and registration numbers.
3. All air boats and fan boats must have a suitable shroud protecting the fan blade.
4. Each boat must have the following safety equipment: running lights, fire extinguisher, one throwable life preserver, horn or whistle, and life jackets for each person.
5. Each team member must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket anytime the boat is on plane.
6. No wading (for safety reasons). Bows must remain in boat.
7. Alcoholic beverages are PROHIBITED during tournament hours.
8. Firearms are prohibited during scouting and tournament.
9. Any violation of State Law Enforcement, DOT or Fish & Game Department will automatically disqualify the participants from the tournament.
10. Up to 4 persons per team, one team per boat.
11. The winner of the tournament will be decided upon the total weight of their biggest 20 fish (limit of 5 grass carp). It is the team’s responsibility to have their biggest 20 fish separated and ready for weigh in.
12. All legal species for the states of Alabama, Tennessee, and Mississippi will be accepted with exceptions. Catfish and spoonbill will not be weighed or counted.
13. Trophies, cash, or merchandise will be given away to the team shooting the heaviest fish in each of the decided categories. It is the TEAM’s responsibility to enter their fish into the Big Fish categories!
14. Largest fish taken during the tournament will win the accumulated big fish pot and only those that paid Big Fish entry will be eligible.
15. It will be the responsibility of the TEAM to determine the largest fish from the count to be weighed and measured by tournament officials to be used for tiebreakers.
16. Scouting may be done anytime. Any boat that is on the water with bows, arrows, dip nets, gigs, gaffs in the boat starting 24 hours prior to the start of the tournament will be DISQUALIFIED!!!
17. No baiting or chumming of fish.
18. Teams must assist in the handling and the removal of fish from weigh in area.
19. Fish entries must be taken with bow (compound, recurve, longbow or crossbow) and a single point arrow only.
20. No hollow shaft hunting arrows may be used during the tournament.
21. No fish points or arrows with explosives or other shocking devices allowed.
22. All arrows must have a line attached to it for retrieval and reel attached to bow.
23. No dip nets, or gigs will be allowed in the boats. Gaff hooks with a single hook and total length of no more than 6’ will be allowed for landing big fish.
24. All boats will be subjected to a random inspection by tournament officials 24 hrs. prior to, during, and until the end of the Tournament.
25. Trailering from official tournament site is allowed to any public boat ramp within tournament waters.
26. Fishing is allowed only on navigable state/public waters. Must only use public boat ramps.
27. Tournament officials reserve the right to check any boat to make sure that they adhere to all state and local boating and fishing regulations. All boats must be checked in by 5pm.
28. Each team will be allowed the use of only ONE boat during the tournament. If mechanical trouble requires the use of another boat, that team and boat must return to tournament site and leave from tournament site. All backup boats must be inspected prior to leaving the tournament site. The boat not in use must be left at tournament site.
29. In the event of a break down, any team may tow another team back to a ramp, but no team members may enter or ride in another team’s boat during this process and no transferring of boat contents is allowed, except in extreme emergency! That
team and boat must return to tournament site to retrieve back up boat (see rule #28. No tournament officials or other teams are responsible for towing or retrieving any broken-down equipment. Although sportsmanship is encouraged and applauded, all teams are responsible for making weigh-in time with no exceptions.
30. For safety reasons, a team may drop off equipment and/or fish barrels, provided that ALL team members leave the tournament site and ALL team members and their fish return for the weigh-in. Barrels must have the team number attached to them and are not the responsibility of the tournament officials.
31. Mandatory captains meeting at 5:30 p.m. All teams will leave tournament site in an orderly manner under direction of tournament officials afterwards.
32. Suspected transferring of fish between teams will result in the disqualification of all teams involved. No fish may be transferred
from one team’s boat to another team FOR ANY REASON!
33. NO BOATS ARE TO RUN DRY GROUND OR JUMP LEVEES TO REACH OTHER BODIES OF WATER!!!
34. All BOATS must make OFFICIAL FISH WEIGH IN. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification and forfeiture of all entry fees. No grace period will be allowed. Official time is kept by the tournament officials. You must be on site by or before official ending time.
35. No unsportsmanlike like conduct will be tolerated. Teams must keep a respectable distance between boats, no crowding, and no “owning” a fishing spot.
36. The decisions of the Tournament officials will be FINAL!!
37. Failure to comply with Tournament Rules will result in disqualification, and the entry fee will be FORFEITED!
38. All participants may be subject to a random polygraph test.
39. A formal protest fee in the amount of $75.00 must be made to the officials and posted by 8:00 AM or one hour prior to the awards ceremony, whichever comes first. Protests or disputes will be settled by Polygraph testing and/or majority vote of Muzzy Classic Officials.
40. All participants must check out prior to leaving the tournament.
41. Tournament hosts and sponsors will not be responsible for accidents or lost property.
42. NO AUTOMATIC REFUNDS OF ENTRY FEES
43. All participants will respect the rights and privacy of all non-participants on or around the water. Please be courteous and polite and avoid congested and populated areas.
44. Restricted RED ZONE areas are enforced for this tournament – NO BOATS, SCOUTING, OR FISHING ALLOWED for 7 DAYS PRIOR to and DURING tournament. Violators will be disqualified – NO QUESTIONS! Know where these areas are – it is your responsibility!
45. One class– Airboats, Fan boats, Kicker, and Trolling motor boats.
46. All airboats must have a functioning muffler on engine.
47. All boats must be in compliance with all state and federal regulations pertaining to watercraft.

RED ZONES… red zones could be added at any time by tournament director due to complaints. Remember to be courteous to all home owners and campers.

We will have a few boats being filmed for TV. This will mean a fifth person on the vessel. This person may not aid in fishing in any manner. No driving of the vessel or vehicle will be allowed by the camera person. No holding of fishing equipment or shooting of fishing equipment. Camera person will only be allowed to be a hindrance to the team. (Anyone who wishes to have a camera man onboard has to clear with Muzzy officials one week prior to tournament. We reserve the right to review any and all video captured 48 hours prior or during tournament).

Any questions please contact Jonathan Coggin 256 682 6935

All teams can start shooting at 7pm
June 22 and must be in line by 7am
June 23 for fish weight in