Fall n Tide XX
December 6, 2025
| Free – $95.00EVENT INFORMATION & OFFICIAL RULES
It’s that time again! Fall n Tide 2025 is back at Delta Marina in Empire, LA. Don’t miss a weekend of great fishing, good food, and big prizes.
REGISTRATION & ENTRY
ENTRY FEE: $85 ($95 after Friday, November 28, 2025)
Registration will be open online until 8:00pm Friday, December 5, 2025. Anglers should register and pay BEFORE 11:59pm on November 28, 2025. Starting on November 29, 2025 there will be a $10 late fee added to registrations.
We will be hosting a White Elephant gift exchange following Friday’s Captain’s Meeting. If you wish to participate, bring a wrapped gift valued at $25-$30. Gifts should be family friendly.
***Because we have to order shirts well in advance, you must register before Sunday, October 26, 2025 for a guaranteed t-shirt.***
SCHEDULE
Sunday, October 26, 2025
- Last day to register for guaranteed Fall n Tide shirt
- Last day for Additional Short Sleeve Orders
Friday, November 28, 2025
- Last day to register without a late fee. Registrations between November 29 and December 5 will incur an additional $10.00 late fee.
Friday, December 5, 2025
- 6:00 PM – Dinner for Anglers & Captain’s Bag pickup
- 7:00 PM – Captain’s Meeting: Followed by a White Elephant Gift Exchange
- 8:00 PM – Tournament Registration Closes
- 8:00 PM til’ – Hangout
Saturday, December 6, 2025
- 12:00 AM – Launch (anytime after midnight)
- 6:00 AM – Lines in (fishing begins)
- 3:00 PM – Weigh in line opens at Delta Marina
- 4:00 PM – Weigh in line closes at Delta Marina
- 5:00 PM – Dinner
- 5:30 PM – Polygraphs for projected winners (must be present at Delta Marina)
- 6:30 PM – Awards followed by raffles
- 8:30 PM til’ – Hangout
LEGAL FISHING TIME & BOUNDARIES
Launch: anytime after 12:00 AM
Lines In: 6:00 AM
You may launch at any time after 12:00 AM Saturday, December 6th 2025, but you must not make your first cast until 6:00 AM.
You may fish any accessible waters on the LA-23 corridor. You must launch from publicly accessible launch locations. There is an exception that an angler may launch from private property as long as it is not further than ½ a mile from the nearest publicly accessible launch location. Combat launches are allowed so long as all anglers have the legal right to launch from that location. Fishing behind gated areas is not allowed unless the angler has arranged for all other participants to also fish the area that day AND has made that possibility known to the tournament director, at least one week in advance, so that they can post the appropriate information or otherwise inform all other participants.
LEGAL TACKLE & BAIT
Artificial, live, and dead bait are allowed. Scent infused baits such as Gulp, etc… are legal. Scented dips, dyes and sprays such as Bang attractant, Pro-Cure, Dip-n-Glo, etc… are legal. Chum is not allowed. All fish must be caught in a sporting manner using a rod and reel setup. Trolling, and the use of up to 2 setups at a time is allowed. Trot lines, jug lines, traps, etc. are not allowed.
DIVISIONS & CATEGORIES
Cajun Slam Category
The contestant who weighs in the heaviest Cajun Slam stringer wins. A FULL THREE FISH CAJUN SLAM STRINGER WILL TRUMP A HEAVIER TWO FISH STRINGER WHICH WILL TRUMP A HEAVIER ONE FISH STRINGER.
A Cajun Slam is:
- One redfish that must be 18” or longer and UNDER 26”. Cannot touch the 26″ line.
- One speckled trout that must be 13” or longer
- One flounder that must be 11” or longer
The length requirements above must be met AT THE TIME OF WEIGH IN. There will be no culling at the weigh in table. You should have your fish culled before getting to the weigh in table.
Species Categories
Heaviest overall weight for each species. Any length requirements must be met AT THE TIME OF WEIGH IN.
- Stud Red: Heaviest redfish that is 18″ or longer AND that is LESS than 26″ long.
- Mule Trout: Heaviest speckled trout that is 13″ or longer.
- Saddle Flounder: Heaviest flounder that is 11″ or longer.
- Leopard Red: Redfish with the most spots. NOTE: If any part of the black inner spots is touching, it is counted as a single spot. There must be a visible break between the black portions for spots to be counted as individual spots. All final spot counts and rulings are at the discretion of the weigh-in team, whose decisions are final.
MAIN DIVISION
The Main Division includes 5 categories, the main Cajun Slam Category and all of the Species Categories. Contestants will be allowed to win only one category in the Main Division. The weigh-in team, utilizing our computer software, will determine if your submission will place better in the Cajun Slam category or one of the Species Categories.. An individual angler can submit up to 4 fish – one of each species to enter the Cajun Slam category and an additional redfish to enter the Leopard Red Category. If an angler’s heaviest redfish is also a multi-spotted redfish, that redfish can be used as best benefits the angler to put him/her in a position to win the biggest single prize for which he/she might be eligible.
SENIOR DIVISION
The angler who is 60 years of age or older (on the day of the tournament) who catches the heaviest Cajun Slam wins a bonus prize. This angler also remains eligible to place in any of the Main Division Categories listed above.
LADIES DIVISION
The female angler who catches the heaviest Cajun Slam wins a bonus prize. This angler also remains eligible to place in any of the Main Division Categories listed above.
JUNIOR ANGLER DIVISION
Kids 12 years old and under (on the day of the tournament)
Junior anglers can participate in the Jr. Angler Division for free. An adult who is a paid participant must accompany them. The same rules as our regular Cajun Slam Division apply. Kids age 12 and under who have elected to pay and register to fish the Main Division will compete at the adult level and will not be eligible to fish the Jr. Angler Division. Kids fishing the Jr. Angler Division are permitted to ride and fish in a kayak with another angler, however any fish caught must be kept separate or clearly and plainly marked so as to make them readily distinguishable from the other anglers catch. Simply put, do not store all the fish in the same ice chest or ice bag unless they are placed on separate stringers or otherwise marked so that each angler can clearly identify his/her catch. Use of different colored zip-ties is a popular method of marking fish.
PAYOUTS & PRIZES
Prizes may include kayak, gift cards, cash or other items of value. $20 of each entry fee will be paid out to the cash prizes. The remainder of each fee pays for expenses related to hosting the event (Dinner for Friday and Saturday, Tournament Shirts, Table and Chair Rentals, etc.) Thanks to our AMAZING sponsors, payouts will be a minimum 100% value payback of entry fees.
MAIN DIVISION
Cajun Slam Category Prizes
- 1st Place Cajun Slam – TBD
- 2nd Place Cajun Slam – TBD
- 3rd Place Cajun Slam – TBD
- Remaining Cajun Slam Places (Total 10% of registered anglers) – Cash and prize payouts based on entry fees.
**Minimum value of any prize is $50.
Species Category Prizes
Prizes will be awarded to 1st – 5th for each species category. Prizes TBD, with a minimum $50 monetary value
SENIOR DIVISION PRIZE
1st Place Cajun Slam – $50 monetary value (cash or prize)
LADIES DIVISION PRIZE
1st Place Cajun Slam – $50 monetary value (cash or prize)
JUNIOR ANGLER DIVISION
1st Place Cajun Slam – $50 monetary value (cash or prize)
RAFFLE
Our highly esteemed raffle is returning with LOTS of great stuff to be won! We’re VERY fortunate to have AWESOME sponsors and the raffle table is ALWAYS filled with great prizes. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5.00 each and will be sold online.
CAPTAINS MEETING
The Captain’s Meeting will begin at 7:00 pm Friday, December 5, 2025 at Delta Marina, Empire, LA. Attendance at the Captain’s Meeting is optional. At the meeting, we will go over the rules, boundaries, restrictions, and whatever concerns we feel should be addressed. Depending upon the availability of our wonderful volunteers, you may also pick up your shirts and captain’s bags that night.
WEIGH-IN
Scale Opens: 3:00 PM
Scale Closes: 4:00 PM
DO NOT BE LATE! You must physically appear in line with your fish and sign in no later than exactly 4:00 PM, not a second past. The official time will be determined by the cell phone of the appointed timekeeper. Weigh-ins will continue for all participants who are in line by 4:00 PM. Any entrant not in line by this time will be considered late and will not be allowed to weigh their catch or qualify for awards or points. Proxy sign-ins are not allowed.
There will be no culling fish at the weigh in table. You should have your fish culled before getting to the weigh in table.
Only authorized persons will be allowed in the weigh-in station. Please try not to distract these volunteers while they go about their tasks. Weighed / Entered fish may or may not be returned as per the weigh-master’s discretion.
Preservation of Fish
All parts of all fish should be placed on ice and maintained for freshness. Fish will only be accepted for the weigh-in if they are in a cooler bag, ice chest or other appropriate container that also contains ice. The entire fish should be in the container. Do not appear at the weigh-in with fish that are on a stringer and are not iced in a proper container or bag. Practices such as "air drying" fish or parts of fish, or using salt in your fish bag, are strictly prohibited.
Measuring Fish
Fish will be bent, loosened and manipulated before being measured with a pinched tail laid flat on the measuring board. Tails of trout and flounder will be manually pinched to obtain maximum length as per the instructions found in the Louisiana Fishing Regulations, 2026 pamphlet. Tails of larger redfish will be pinched using the standardized tool attached to the measuring board, which, if needed and used, will be moved to the 25.50” line to pinch the tail of larger redfish.
Over/Under Sized Fish
Anglers possessing a legal fish that does not meet the size requirements of the tournament will be granted an opportunity to replace that fish with an alternate fish that does meet the tournament size requirements. If the second fish also fails to meet the tournament size requirements the angler will be disqualified.
All fish must be legal, as outlined in the 2026 LDWF Fishing Regulations Brochure, AT THE TIME OF WEIGH-IN. Anglers possessing illegal fish will be disqualified. KEEP IN MIND that iced fish will shrink. A just barely 18″ redfish might be a 17.8″ redfish when you get to the weigh-in.
Tie Breaker
In the event of a tie, the first angler to have signed in will be considered the winner while the other angler will be dropped to the next position.
GENERAL RULES
PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY
Participation is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Minors are eligible to participate with a parent or legal guardian signature on the release form. All participants represent that they are physically and mentally competent and fit and able to participate. By entering, all participants agree to assume all risks of personal injury, death, and damage to or loss of property and further agree to indemnify and hold BCFKC, its officers, members, agents, and sponsors harmless from and against any and all claims, liabilities, and causes of action resulting directly or indirectly from participation.
FISHING LICENSE
All anglers must possess all licenses and permits required by law to catch or harvest any species eligible in this tournament.
KAYAK/WATERCRAFT REGULATIONS
ALLOWED PROPULSION METHODS: Paddle, pedal, pole and electric motor. See additional requirements for motors below.
MOTOR ELIGIBILITY: Only one electric motor may be attached to the kayak. It must be attached to the kayak in a safe manner for operation and meet the following criteria:
- Maximum of 3 HP or 155 foot-pound thrust.
- Dual-prop motors operated by a single power source are allowed if manufactured and sold as a single unit.
WATERCRAFT ELIGIBILITY: Must be a vessel the manufacturer identifies and sells as a kayak, including: inflatable kayaks, modular kayaks, stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) and canoes. Catamaran-style personal fishing vessels are allowed if they comply with all other regulations. Other watercraft may be approved by the BCKFC Board prior to competition.
PROHIBITED WATERCRAFT: The following are NOT allowed: soloskiffs or vessels marketed as skiffs, homemade kayaks, sailboats, jon boats, pirogues, coracles, rowboats, dinghies, skiffs, float tubes, inflatable rafts, rigid inflatable boats (e.g., Zodiac), pontoon boats, pontoon-style pond boats, twin-hull watercraft, or similar.
WATERCRAFT SIZE RESTRICTIONS: Vessel must be at least 9 feet and shorter than 18 feet.
ANCHOR SYSTEMS: Both manual and motorized anchor systems are permitted.
DEPTH FINDERS: Depth finders and fish finders are allowed.
WADE FISHING AND BANK FISHING: Contestants may wade fish or fish off the bank only if they remain within 100 feet of their launched paddle craft. “Launched” means the kayak is partly in fishable water (not in a parking lot puddle).
PROHIBITED ACTIONS: Mother-shipping, tethering, holding, or any transportation coordination with non-competitors is strictly prohibited.
KAYAK INSPECTION: By entering the tournament, contestants agree to have their kayak inspected by BCKFC personnel.
WATER COURTESY / ENCROACHMENT
Do your best not to disturb someone else’s fishing area, by encroachment, or noise. An angler officially establishes his/her fishing area by having their craft anchored in place. If you come upon an angler in an egress area, as quietly as you can, ask which side he or she would like you to cross at. A good rule of thumb is that if you can both cast to a common point you’re too close. Respect others and use the golden rule.
PROTESTS
All protests must be written and submitted electronically (text/email/direct message from social media) within 30 minutes of the conclusion of “weigh in” to be considered. The tournament director is the final authority on deciding the merits/outcomes of a protest. All anglers are encouraged to report cheating.
CHEATING/FOUL PLAY
All anglers are encouraged to report violations. Cheating and contest fraud in a fishing tournament is a felony crime in the state of Louisiana. Bayou Coast will enforce a zero-tolerance policy with regard to cheating.
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
All participants, by signing up, agree to take a polygraph examination if requested. Any participant can be asked to submit to a polygraph examination. No explanation shall be required from the hosts of the tournament as to why a specific individual is asked to submit to a polygraph examination. Refusal to submit to or failure of a polygraph examination will result in disqualification from the tournament, forfeiture of any and all prizes / awards, and potential banishment from all future Bayou Coast events. No refunds for tournament fees will be granted for person(s) refusing to submit to or failing a polygraph examination.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE
A waiver, release of liability, and covenant not to sue are part of the entry form. It is required that all contestants take responsibility for themselves while participating in event activities. Please DO NOT let your competitive nature push you into doing dangerous things. You must agree to the Waiver to participate. The Waiver is in the online registration page linked below. BE SAFE, BE SEEN, AND WEAR YOUR PFD!
COMMUNICATION
No electronic communication with non-registered anglers during tournament hours, unless not fishing related (your spouse/kids, work, etc). No pre-arranged coordination with any non-registered anglers on the water for the purpose of scouting or locating fish during tournament hours.
PFD REQUIREMENT
You must properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while afloat in your watercraft during all Bayou Coast events. PFD’s must be worn outside of the angler’s outermost layer of clothing. Failure to comply with this rule during competition could result in disqualification from the tournament. Disqualification will be determined by the Tournament Director based on investigation of any specific incident. PFD’s may only be briefly removed on the water for the purpose of adding, removing, or adjusting clothing while an angler is stationary and not actively fishing.
RULE CHANGES
Interpretation of rules is exclusively left to the Tournament Directors and Bayou Coast Officers. The decisions of this group are final in all matters and are not subject to appeal. Please do your part in not providing a reason to place them in a position where they must make rulings, decisions, etc. Keep it simple, keep it clean, and when in doubt…do the right thing.
CATCH REQUIREMENTS
Each participant must catch their own fish. You may not give fish to another participant. You may not net a fish for another (adult) participant. Youths should hook and retrieve their own catch. A parent/guardian may net fish for them and may handle the fish once it is netted (including pictures in CPS events). In CPS events, anglers (participant or not) may not aid in taking pictures of fish in any way.
DRONE/UAS USAGE
Tournament participants are not allowed to use unmanned aircraft systems (drones) during the tournament day(or official practice days) to scout for fish, spy on other anglers, or any other means that may be viewed as benefiting/advancing their fishing.
WEATHER
Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left totally to the discretion of the Tournament Director. A 4-hour period shall constitute a day of fishing.
REFUND POLICY
There will be no refunds available. Should the event date change for any reason, an announcement will be made, and a refund grace period allowed for anglers who cannot make the new date.