BIG BOYZ TOURNAMENT RULES – 2026

  1. Each person by signing an entry form and paying an entry fee acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the rules of this tournament and undertakes to abide by all the rules of the SWOC Tournament and decisions of the tournament officials. SWOC reserves the right to refuse entry (or disqualify once entered into the tournament) anyone who is guilty of an infraction of the tournament rules.
  2. Each person fishing in a boat must be a paid entrant in the SWOC tournament. Boat operators agree to allow tournament judges to inspect their boat at any time to ascertain that all anglers are paid entrants and in compliance with the tournament rules. When entering a fish for measurement, all participants on the boat shall produce their official entry ticket for inspection.
  3. Fishing is restricted to the Canadian waters of Lake Erie. Fish must be legally caught by angling. Ontario Fishing Regulations must be followed, and each participant must have an Ontario Fishing Licence if required by law. The two fish divisions are Walleye (yellow pickerel) and Trout/Salmon (which includes all trout and salmon species present in Lake Erie).
  4. The 2026 SWOC tournament will operate each day from Friday July 31 until Sunday, August 2 from 5am. to 8pm. The tournament will operate from 5am. to 2pm. Monday August 3. No entry tickets will be sold after 10am. Monday August 3 . . FISH CAUGHT OUTSIDE OF TOURNAMENT HOURS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO BE ENTERED.
  5. ALL FISH TO BE ENTERED MUST ARRIVE AT THE WHEATLEY HARBOUR MEASURING TENT BY BOAT BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE BOAT RAMP OR SEASONAL DOCKS. Measuring of whole fish (not gutted, throats and gills intact) will take place from 9am. to 8pm. each day, except on Monday August 3, when measuring will stop at tournament closing at 2pm. ENTRANTS MUST BE IN THE MEASUREMENT LINEUP AT THE MEASURING STATION TENT WITH FISH IN HAND WHEN THE CLOSING DEADLINE EACH DAY IS REACHED.
  6. Only SWOC committee members/judges may touch or handle a fish while it is being measured. Failure to abide by this rule will result in the immediate disqualification of that fish.
  7. ANGLERS ENTERING A FISH MUST BE PRESENT AT THE MEASURING STATION. All fish entered must have been caught by the angler entering such fish. Any attempt in any manner to falsify entries will result in immediate disqualification of that participant and forfeiture of any prize which he/she would be entitled to. Every person entering the tournament shall have only one full tournament entry ticket in their name.
  8. All disputes pertaining to eligibility, acceptability or length of any fish, as well as interpretation of these rules shall be determined by the tournament officials. Any participant wishing to protest the conduct of any other participant in the tournament shall do so in writing by 2pm. Monday August 3 , 2026. Verbal protest or complaints may result in immediate disqualification and forfeiture of any prize to which he/she would have been entitled. Decisions of tournament official are final.
  9. Prize payouts are based on a field of a minimum 300 anglers. Only one grand prize in each division may be won by an individual angler and that prize shall be their highest placing fish in that division. There are NO TIES – the earliest fish entered shall remain in place until beaten by a longer fish.
  10. PRIZE PAYOUTS – Walleye and Trout/Salmon divisions – 1 st to 5 th place – $2,000 * $1,000 * $750 * $500 * $250. There is also a $100 prize every day in each division for the longest walleye and trout/salmon entered that day. All fish entered will be marked by gill plate punch.
  11. Awards will be handed out on Monday August 3, 2026 at the Wheatley harbour measuring tent between 2-3pm. The top contenders are encouraged to keep their fish on ice at the measuring station and present their fish at the awards time for photographs.
  12. The use of drones for fishing is prohibited, except for photography purposes.
  13. Individual tournament entry ticket prices for 2026 are as follows: full 4 day tournament entry ticket $30. There will be no daily entry tickets sold in 2026. Cash only sales for full tournament entry tickets are available at the Wheatley Harbour boat launch area commencing at 5am each tournament day. After 9am., tickets will be sold at the measuring station tent on the east side of the harbour entrance. Other locations for pre-tournament ticket sales will be advertised on the tournament poster and on SWOC Facebook.
  14. Each entrant in the tournament agrees to hold the sponsors, organizers, their agents, and employees harmless from any liability of any nature and kind for any injuries and/or damages suffered during or after the period of the tournament, by entrants.