New to kayak tournaments?
Your first kayak bass tournament can feel like a lot to figure out, but a little preparation goes a long way. Arizona Kayak Bass Nation welcomes new competitors.
Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to a board member or another angler and ask for help. Everyone had a first tournament.
You don’t need the most expensive kayak or years of tournament experience to get started. Focus on being prepared, fishing safely, learning the process, and enjoying your time on the water.
Here’s how to get ready and what to expect.
1JOIN THE CLUB AND REGISTER
Visit our Membership page for current membership requirements, the application and waiver, and payment instructions. Complete the required membership and participation documents before competing.
Create a TourneyX account if you don’t already have one. Follow the registration link for your chosen tournament, review the event information, and complete registration before the published deadline.
Make sure you can sign in to TourneyX on the phone you’ll use during the tournament.
2READ THE RULES AND EVENT INFORMATION
Read the complete tournament rules before your first event. This guide helps you prepare, but the official rules and event instructions govern competition.
For each tournament, confirm:
• Tournament waters, boundaries, and off-limits areas.
• Approved launch and take-out locations.
• Registration and fish-submission deadlines.
• First Launch, First Cast or Lines In, and Lines Out times.
• The awards location and mandatory checkout deadline.
• Required fishing licenses, vessel registrations, permits, and access fees.
First Launch and First Cast are different. Permission to launch does not mean you can begin fishing.
3WATCH THE CAPTAINS MEETING
Watch or review the entire electronic Captains Meeting before competition begins.
It contains important event-specific instructions, including times, boundaries, safety information, identifier release time, and checkout requirements.
Do not assume that instructions from a previous tournament apply to the next one. You are responsible for knowing and following the current event instructions.
If something is unclear, contact the Tournament Director before competition.
4PREPARE YOUR EQUIPMENT
Bring a vessel that meets the club’s eligibility requirements and complies with applicable laws.
Your required equipment includes:
• A properly fastened, chest-type U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. It must be worn over your outermost clothing while on tournament water during Official Practice and competition. Belt-style inflatable PFDs are not allowed.
• An audible emergency whistle.
• A 360-degree white light or installed lighting visible from all directions. Use required lighting whenever required by law or event instructions.
• An approved measuring board. Current KETCH Products measuring boards and the YakAttack Leaderboard are approved under the current club rules.
• A working phone capable of taking clear photographs and completing required TourneyX functions.
• Your tournament identifier card with the correct event code.
Check your vessel, propulsion, batteries, lighting, and phone before the event. Make sure your measuring board is readable and unaltered.
A paddle is strongly recommended, even if you use pedal or electric propulsion. Bring drinking water, sun protection, weather-appropriate clothing, and a way to keep your phone charged and protected.
Make a night-before checklist for everything that needs to be charged, packed, and loaded. Before launching, check again that your essential equipment is actually in your kayak.
You don’t need the most expensive setup to get started. Focus on safe, reliable equipment that meets the rules.
5PREPARE YOUR TOURNAMENT IDENTIFIER
Print an identifier card from the club website before the event.
The tournament identifier code is released through TourneyX the evening before the official tournament start. The exact release time will be specified in the Captains Meeting.
Once the code is released, write it clearly on your printed identifier card. Keep the card secure and accessible for fish photographs.
The code must be visible and legible in every fish submission photo. The card must not rest on, cover, or obscure any part of the fish.
6PRACTICE MEASURING AND PHOTOGRAPHING FISH
Before tournament day, familiarize yourself with your measuring board and the TourneyX submission process.
Set up a safe, accessible place in your vessel for measuring and photographing your catch. Practice reaching your board, identifier, and phone so tournament morning is not your first attempt.
For a legal fish photograph:
• Use an approved measuring board.
• Keep the entire fish visible, from the tip of the lip to the end of the tail.
• Close the fish’s mouth completely and position it correctly against the board’s fence.
• Take the photograph directly overhead.
• Make sure the measurement marks and tail tip are clearly visible.
• Keep the lip, eye, and tail end unobstructed.
• Remove fishing hooks, lures, and holding devices from the fish.
• Keep hands and fingers out of the gill plate.
• Show the correct identifier code clearly without placing the card on the fish.
Check your photograph before releasing the fish. Make sure it clearly shows everything the judge needs to see. Keep handling brief and release the fish promptly.
Only original, unedited photographs are accepted. Do not crop, edit, or submit screenshots.
Under the current rules, eligible bass must measure at least 12 inches after any deductions. Measurements are rounded down to the next lower quarter-inch mark.
Review the complete photo criteria and scoring deductions in the official rules. A photograph that looks fine at a glance may still miss something the judge needs to see.
7PLAN YOUR TOURNAMENT MORNING
Choose a legal launch, check travel time and access hours, and allow enough time to unload and prepare without rushing.
Build in extra time for your first event. You may need to adjust equipment, ask a question, or solve an unexpected problem.
You may put your vessel in the water before First Launch when necessary to clear the ramp, but you must remain within the designated staging area or the limits described in the rules. Do not use an early launch to advance toward fishing areas.
Do not begin fishing until First Cast or Lines In.
Know the Tournament Director’s contact information, your take-out plan, and how you will reach the awards location for checkout.
8FISH, PHOTOGRAPH, AND SUBMIT
Our events use Catch, Photograph, and Release, commonly called CPR. Fish are scored by verified length rather than weight.
Handle each bass carefully, take a clear legal photograph, check the photograph, and release the fish promptly.
Submit fish through TourneyX before the published submission deadline. Confirm that your submissions appear in the event, and monitor any judging feedback or requests.
Unless the event specifies otherwise, your five longest verified eligible bass make up your daily score. You can still submit a score if you catch fewer than five eligible fish.
IF YOU HAVE POOR RECEPTION OR UPLOAD PROBLEMS
If poor reception prevents submission, save your catch to the TourneyX in-app Livewell and retain the original, unedited photograph. The Livewell can store your catch on your phone without an internet connection.
Saving a catch to the Livewell does not complete tournament submission.
Once you have internet service, open the Livewell and manually upload each pending catch. Confirm that every catch has successfully submitted before the published fish-submission deadline.
You may need to move to an area with better reception or return to a legal take-out location. Plan ahead and allow enough time to complete your uploads before the deadline.
If you still cannot submit, contact the Tournament Director or designated judge before the submission deadline and follow the event’s alternate submission instructions.
9STOP FISHING AND COMPLETE CHECKOUT
Stop fishing at Lines Out and proceed safely to a legal take-out location.
Unless the Tournament Director announces a modification, competitors must return to a legal launch or take-out within one hour after Lines Out.
Every competitor who launches must also personally check out with the Tournament Director or a designated official at the awards location before the announced checkout deadline.
Returning to the ramp does not complete checkout.
Find the designated official and confirm that your checkout has been recorded. Simply arriving at the awards location or asking another angler to check out for you does not satisfy the requirement.
The current rules impose a 2.5-inch deduction from your final aggregate tournament score for failure to complete required checkout.
In an emergency or exceptional circumstance, contact the Tournament Director as soon as reasonably practical.
You are not required to remain for the awards ceremony after completing checkout, but we encourage you to stay, meet other anglers, and support the competitors being recognized.
10ASK QUESTIONS AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE
Your first tournament is a chance to learn the process, meet the club, and build confidence. Give yourself time to prepare and focus on fishing safely and following the rules.
Don’t hesitate to introduce yourself to a board member or another angler and ask for help. Whether you have questions about equipment, TourneyX, taking fish photos, or what to expect, we want you to feel comfortable asking. Everyone had a first tournament.
For official rule interpretations or event-specific instructions, contact the Tournament Director listed in the event information.
For general club or membership questions, email azkayakbassnation@gmail.com.
You can improve your fishing strategy and equipment setup over time. Start by understanding the rules, completing the tournament process, and learning something you can bring to your next event.
We look forward to seeing you on the water.
