Below you'll find the Official Pennsylvania State Championship Fishing Tournament Rules and Regulations. A printer-friendly version can be found by clicking the pdf icon to the left.
| 1. The General Chairman and Committee shall be the sole interpreters of the Fishing Tournament rules. Their decision shall be final. The rules shall remain unchanged during the tournament hours. We reserve the right to revise these rules from year to year. | 6. By submitting fish for weigh-in, contestant verifies that he/she caught and entered fish in strict compliance with tournament rules and regulations. The contestant thereby consents to being interviewed by and cooperate with the tournament rules and regulations. |
| 2. All fish must be taken from the Allegheny reservoir (pa waters) Allegheny river (Kinzua dam to hunter station) Tionesta lake 7 creek (dam to Kelletville bridge) Brokenstraw creek and Conewango creek (pa waters) beginning at 12:01 am September 26 until 8:00 pm September 26. Weigh-in closes 8:00 pm sharp. | 7. Sundays contest: total weight of combined catch will determine the Champion Angler. There is a 6 oz. Penalty for each dead fish. Each qualifier will fish with a referee starting at 5 am and must be to the scales by 2pm. No exceptions. Referee changes must be approved by the fishing regulations chairman. Crowning of the Champion Angler will be Sunday at 3 pm. |
| 3. Catch and release rules will be followed. Make every attempt to keep your fish alive. Fish must be brought to the outside weigh station in water filled containers between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. No dry bags, no hand carried between the hours of 8am and 8pm only. Total weight per category will qualify the contestant for Sundays contest. There will be a 4 oz penalty for each dead fish. Qualifying will be in a single category only. Only one weigh-in per day. | 8. Disqualifications: any fish determined by the committee not to have been caught during tournament hours, any fish not brought to weigh station in a water filled container, or the contestant has not otherwise made a reasonable effort to keep their catch alive. Any contestant reasonably believed by the PA Fishing Regulations Chairman and Committee to have violated any PA Fish and Boat Commission (PAFBC) or US Coast Guard laws. Any person determined by the Fishing Regulations Chairman to be intoxicated and/or disruptive to tournament procedures or any person violating tournament rules. |
| 4. Registration and waiver/liability form is required before any fish will be weighed in. Pre-registration is appreciated. Registration can be done at weigh station Thursday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm; Friday 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm on tournament grounds. Mailed registration forms must be postmarked by September 15. | 9. Since the tournament is for valuable prizes, intentional violation of the rules may subject the violators to civil liability and/or criminal penalties including fines and/or possible imprisonment. |
| 5. A Pennsylvania fishing license is required for all contestants 16 years of age and older. Persons 9 through 15 years of age are eligible for the Junior Champion Angler trophy and prizes. The Junior Champion Angler will be crowned on Saturday evening. |
