Rules

2024 Oconee Derby Rules

Registration fee of 200.00 must be paid BEFORE opening day, February 24, 2024  for you and/or your boat to be eligible.  The Derby dates are February 24 - April 7 

 Only  Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass and Crappie caught by hook and line in the contiguous waters of Lake Oconee are permissible.   Fish that are intentionally caught by snagging are not be eligible. 

You may enter a fish another angler  catches from your boat,  but only if you are present on your boat at the time of the catch and the other angler is not enrolled in the Derby.  Also , fish  caught from  the  bank or dock are eligible. For a fish to be eligable for the Bonus Points points, a crappie minimun weight must be  1 pound 8 oz and a striper must be minimum of 3 pounds   

Weigh-ins will be done ONLY during business hours at Sugar Creek Marina. 

Your single heaviest fish qualifies to win! There is no limit to how many times you may weigh in. The leaderboard is updated every evening on the website and social media. Before heading out on a fishing trips you should check The Derby website at www.oconeederby.com  

There are 6 weekly prize segment dates: Week 1 runs from  February 24 - March 3. After that, all weekly segments start on Monday morning and end on Sunday evening for the following 5 weeks. The heaviest fish weighed that week, in either category, wins that weekly segment.  

All fish weighed in are subject to be checked for foreign objects. The weigh-master has the right to inspect, test, open, and photograph any fish that is entered. Any fish that is physically altered, decolorized, filled with ice, or intentionally mutilated in such a manner as to impact the ability of the weigh master to determine eligibility of that fish, shall be immediately rejected and the angler will be disqualified and his registration fee will be forfeited. All fish will be electronically wanded for foreign objects. All fish must be weighed by qualified weigh-masters, without exception.

By paying your registration, you are agreeing to submit to a polygraph before receiving any prizes. Failure to pass the polygraph examination will result in forfeiture of prize monies, and  disqualification from The Derby