I'd like to run a few online bank fishing tournaments this year and since I've never done this before, I wanted to get some feedback on the best way to verify fish entered into the tournament.

In the past I've seen "photos of the fish along with today's newspaper" being used. But with technology being what it is today, I'd like to go a step further and have them create a short video showing the fish being held, the newspaper, and more importantly the fish being released back into the water. I'm guessing that entire sequence could be done in around 15 seconds or less.

Do you think mandating the video would limit participation? If you have any other ideas, would love to hear them. Thank you.

use the i-angler app and right before the tourney's start time, text/email a specific identifier out. they can have the identifier on paper or write it on their hand with a marker. that's how some of the kayak tourney's are done.

It doesn't sound like a horrible idea but I do think it would shrink your potential applicant pool. I only have a phone for video so I would be doing everything one handed...

Thx for the comments. I will research I Angler, I like the idea of an identifier to use. I agree the 1 handed phone/video is going to limit...well....probably everyone. lol.. The ideas is to also get some media for the tournament by making everyone submit videos. But that's an obvious problem, thx for bringing it up. hmm ....

in the kayak tourneys i do, we do use one hand to take the photo, but we are also using a hawg trough measuring board. the fish lays on the trough, you hold it with one hand and take photo with the other. you can take muiliple photos in case you don't get the entire fish in the photo, the fish's mouth moves from the end of the board, it flops, etc. you then choose the best photo and submit that one.

Thx addicted, that Hawg measuring board is sweet. Is it mandatory in your tournaments for everyone to use one of those?

Im sure the Bassgrabbers guys could offer some good advice they have bank tournaments.

dmunsie - if you fish the KATS series that austin canoe & kayak put on, http://fishkats.com/ , you do have to use the hawg trough. some of the other tourneys allow you to use other brands but the HG is the most popular. it's also a good idea to take a sharpie and highlight all the ruler markings, like every 1/8" for example.

Thx for the comments. I should have pointed out, that the tournaments being "online only" will mean it will be available to anyone statewide, on any body of water, for the duration of the tournament. The only issue I'm still (probably over thinking...) struggling with is the idea of cheating by submitting a fish that was caught before the tournament start date. But if "that guy" shows up, there's probably not alot you can do.

is this a multi species tourney or just for bass?

We're going to run several tournaments this year. Each event will be for a particular species of fish. Trying to get the first one organized now. Thanks for all the comments.

I ran competitive sunfish contest on the Bluegill section for three years with HUGE successes and results. I posted basic rules along with the TPW fishing and game laws. I had a different contest every month from January to December with a fish off in Mid December! I posted a different pass word on the first day of each month and every person who was submitting a fish had to show a picture with the length of the fish being clearly shown for all to see. Also with the fish a piece of paper with the date of the catch and the monthly pass word needed to be included in the picture of the submitted fish. At the end of the month the angler with the longest fish was the winner. I had gift certificates awarded to the top five. There was also a junior division 16 yoa and younger and a kids contest 10yoa and younger. There was a lot of work monitoring the thread on a daily basis and responding to each submitted post making it an official entry. Had no problems at all and the contest were well received by everyone who responded and entered the contest. Saw lots of super fish. The gift certificates were mailed out within five days after each contest. I did not have the time anymore to supervise the contest and the liability factor played an important part in the discontinuing of the contest. Hope this helps out some.


Side Note: In the event of tie a fish off was held for five days at the start of the new month. This did not interfere with the ongoing current contest.