SCYAK Tournament Rules & Regulations

PLEASE READ AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU COMPETE

General Rules:

  • Open to traditional kayaks and SUPs (Paddle, Pedal, Motor).

  • Entry Fee: $40 + TourneyX fees ($10).

  • Big Bass Fee: $5

  • Small Bass Fee: $5

  • Entering AOY and BBOY: $20 (See Angler of the Year (AOY) below for more details).

  • Identification cards are not required. The code must be legible.

  • All sonar options, including multiple screens, are permitted.

  • Portage within the same body of water is permitted.

  • The Blaine Standard (NEW): The fish’s mouth must be 100% fully closed. Any gap at all results in a ½” deduction.

  • THE HENSLEY RULE: All fish must be submitted alive. At no point are you allowed to bring fish to events. Submitting a dead fish or transported fish will result in immediate disqualification from the event and a permanent ban from SCYAK.

Measuring Boards:

  • Any one-piece, non-hinged measuring boards are allowed for fish submissions. Acceptable boards include:

    • Ketch Boards

    • Hawg Trough Boards

    • YakAttack LeaderBoard

  • All boards must be marked and readable to ensure accurate measurement. Collapsible or multi-piece boards are not permitted.

  • If a competitor wishes to use a board not listed above, use “Get in Touch” to submit a board for approval before the tournament. If approved, the rules will be updated, and the board will be considered legal for use.

Safety:

  • Equipment: We are required to use Coast Guard safety equipment matching Coast Guard Safety Equipment Regulations.

  • Whistle: You must have a whistle on your vessel during events.

  • Kayak Orb Light: You are required to use a 360 orb light if launching before safe light.

  • PFD: A USCG-certified vest-style PFD must be worn and fastened.

Weather Conditions:

  • Wind: Winds (gusts included) EXCEEDING 30 mph likely will result in a rescheduled event.

  • Lightning, Hurricanes, and Tornadoes: These conditions warrant rescheduling or cancellation.

  • 2025 SCYAK Weather Source: https://www.weather.gov/gsp/

  • Rescheduling: The safety of our anglers is SCYAK's top priority. Events may be rescheduled due to lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical weather, or excessive winds ( wind and gusts of 30+ mph or more). Anglers should assess their comfort level when fishing in conditions approaching these criteria. SCYAK recommends that only experienced anglers participate in winds over 20 mph and strongly advises against anchoring in such conditions, encouraging the use of motors instead.

    If conditions necessitate a rescheduling, anglers will receive push notifications via TourneyX and email updates by 8:30 PM EST the night before the event. Refunds will be processed within 24 hours, and rescheduling details will be announced within 7 days of the original event date.

Fish Limits & Scoring:

  • Five-fish limit, minimum size 12 inches.

  • Scoring: 100-point scale, with 4 points per slot for dropped places.

  • Big bass provides 5 AOY points.

  • Small bass provides 2 AOY points.

  • Small Bass Rule (NEW):

    • One or two fingers may touch the fish.

    • No covering the fish (head, body, or tail).

    • Fish must be laid out straight — no unnatural bends.

    • Any covering of the fish = rejection.

  • Touch Rules (unchanged otherwise): Don’t cover eyes/mouth; tail can be touched; no gill insertion; mouth and board contact must be visible.

Are you new to TourneyX:

TourneyX has great information here - https://tourneyx.com/app/help/

along with their YouTube videos.

Angler of the Year (AOY = Club Membership):

  • The $20 entry fee covers both AOY and BBOY.

  • 100% payout: All AOY (Angler of the Year) payments are to be divided 60% to AOY and 40% to BBOY (Big Bass of the Year). Example: If 5 anglers enter, resulting in $100 in club membership fees, AOY will receive $60, and BBOY will receive $40.

  • Top four scoring events will qualify for AOY.

  • The cutoff for entry will be the start of event 5.

  • Payments are made on this page to the right.

  • Best four event scores determine AOY.

SCYAK Tournament Schedule 2025

  • Event 1 – Feb 21 – Lake Keowee

  • Event 2 – Mar 28 – Lake Hartwell

  • Event 3 – Apr 25 – Lake Jocassee

  • Event 4 – May 30 – Lake Russell

  • Event 5 – Jun 27 – Lake Greenwood

  • Event 6 – Jul 25 – Lake Murray

  • Event 7 – Aug 29 – Lake Clark’s Hill

  • Event 8 – Sep 26 – Lake Jocassee

  • Championship (Invitational) – Oct 24–25 – Lake Russell

Competitor Conduct:

  • Adhere to high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, integrity, and safety. Treat all anglers how you would like to be treated.

  • Report any infractions.

  • Respect all tournament rules and decisions.

    Sportsmanship is tough to define, but you know what it is. If you have to ask yourself, “Am I doing something wrong?,” play it safe in the name of sportsmanship. You cannot go wrong this way!

Disputes & Appeals:

  • Follow outlined procedures for disputes and appeals.

  • Any appeals regarding fish judgments, disqualifications, or experiences with events should be handled in person at the weigh-in for the event.

  • Disputes and appeals will not be addressed after the weigh-in has started. You MUST dispute ASAP.

Refunds:

  • Event rescheduling/cancellations due to weather will be fully refunded if requested. Rescheduling will happen within 48 hours of the event being postponed.

  • Event refunds can be requested up to 1 hour before the scheduled launch time.

  • Disqualifications (incidental or deliberate) will not be refunded.

  • Refunds should be requested from TourneyX. Expect entry, big bass, and small bass entries that were entered to be refunded. TourneyX fees can only be refunded by contacting the TD.

  • AOY/Club Membership cannot be refunded if any event is competed in after paying the $20 membership.

Waivers & Releases:

  • Competitors grant rights for the use of their likeness and agree to waivers of liability. This includes video, photos, statements, and safety waivers signed when registering through TourneyX.

SCYAK Specific Rules:

  • Dual Motors Allowed: One motor may be mounted on the bow and one on the stern. All electric motors are permitted.

  • Safety Standard: As long as the vessel meets reasonable safety expectations, it will be permitted to run dual motors. The kayak’s manufacturer-rated weight capacity cannot be exceeded under any circumstances.

  • Custom Setups: Competitors using non-standard mounting or rigging must submit photos and details (including angler weight and fully loaded weight) for approval prior to competition.

Safety Expectations:

  • Check weight capacity, mounting stability, and compliance with local regulations. Refer to SC DNR for more info.

Catch & Release Policy:

  • No keeping fish from the tournament. Disqualifications apply. This club promotes bass fishing by CPR (Catch, Photograph, Release) rather than keeping. A photo can be used by some taxidermists to recreate your exact fish if measured and photographed appropriately.

Payouts

We use Public Access Points:

  • What is a pubilc access point?
    Access Points: SCYAK tournaments permit the use of all public, constructed access points for launching vessels. An access point is defined as a publicly available, constructed location intended for water access, including designated boat ramps, parks, and other identified sites meant for public use. SCYAK does not allow launching from locations not designed as official access points, such as roadsides, bridges, or other informal paths that lead to the water but lack proper facilities or accessibility features. Using unauthorized or self-created entry points, even if accessible to the water, is strictly prohibited.

  • Have questions but don’t want to disclose?
    Use the "Get in Touch" buttons at the top or bottom of the screen to verify a ramp’s eligibility privately. As long as the ramp meets SCYAK’s criteria, it can be approved for use. Launch locations will be validated at check-in and check-out via TourneyX. Approved access points will not be publicly announced, as SCYAK maintains only a recommended list and encourages anglers to explore access pints that, while open to the public, may be less commonly known.