10/18/2026
TAUTOG TAVERN BLACKFISH TOURNAMENT
Sunday, October 18th •
7AM- 6:00PM
Entry Fee: $20 per angler
Tournament Rules
1. Registration
- All anglers must be registered and have paid the $20 entry fee before participating.
- Register at Tautog Tavern or by emailing [email protected].
2. Tournament Hours
- Fishing begins at dawn on Sunday, October 18th.
- All tournament fish must be caught during tournament hours.
- Fish must be brought in for official weigh-in before 6PM
3. Eligible Fish
- Blackfish/Tautog only.
- All fish entered must meet all current Connecticut DEEP fishing regulations, including legal size, season, possession, and catch limits.
- Anglers are responsible for having any required fishing licenses.
4. Winning Fish
- The tournament winner will be determined by the heaviest legal blackfish by weight.
- Official tournament scale weight will be final.
- Each angler may submit their single heaviest fish for judging.
5. Catch Rules
- Fish must be caught by the registered angler using a rod and reel.
- No previously caught, purchased, frozen, or commercially obtained fish may be entered.
- Fish must be caught on the day of the tournament.
- Fishing from shore or boat is permitted, provided all applicable laws and regulations are followed.
6. Weigh-In
- All fish must be presented at the designated Tautog Tavern weigh-in location.
- Tournament officials have the right to inspect any fish before accepting it.
- Any fish determined to be illegal, altered, tampered with, or otherwise questionable will be disqualified.
7. Ties
- In the event of an exact weight tie, the fish with the greater length will win.
- If weight and length are identical, the tournament officials will determine the tiebreaker.
8. Sportsmanship
- Good sportsmanship is required at all times.
- Any cheating, falsification, violation of fishing regulations, or unsportsmanlike conduct will result in immediate disqualification without refund.
9. Safety
- Anglers participate at their own risk and are responsible for their own boating, fishing, and personal safety.
- Weather and water conditions should always be taken into consideration.
10. Final Decisions
- All decisions made by Tautog Tavern tournament officials regarding eligibility, weigh-ins, disputes, and winners are final.
Tight lines & good luck!
