Contest Rules

International Game Fish Association (“IGFA”)

Important:

• Big Fish Daily is not affiliated with or endorsed by IGFA.
• IGFA All-Tackle Length Records are published annually on January 1.
• The IGFA All-Tackle Length Records published on January 1 remains the official scoring baseline for the entire calendar year.

A fish is eligible if:

1. It has an official IGFA All-Tackle Length Record.
2. It is legally catchable in U.S. waters.
3. It is not federally or state protected.

Important:

• A list of Eligible Species and the IGFA world record for each Eligible Species are listed in ADDENDUM 2.
• Big Fish Daily does not impose a measurement cap — eligibility is determined by IGFA record structure.

• Unlimited submissions permitted.
• Unlimited species entries permitted.
• Only the highest Contestant Score per angler per month counts toward championship standings.
• All entries must be submitted through the official Big Fish Daily platform.
• Entries must include valid geolocation metadata. This data is for verification, and is not shared with the public
• Entries must include images of the gear used

8.1 Integrity Standard

Big Fish Daily maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward competitive cheating.

Any individual who has been formally disqualified, suspended, or banned from a fishing tournament due to verified rule violations or cheating is not eligible to participate.

Any individual who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony involving a crime of moral turpitude, fraud or dishonesty or been held civilly liable for fraud is not eligible to participate.

8.2 Definition of Verified Violation

A “verified violation” means:

• A public disqualification issued by a recognized tournament organization
• A formal suspension or ban from competitive participation
• An official finding of cheating or fraud by a tournament governing body

Rumors, accusations, or unproven claims do not qualify.

8.3 Participant Certification

By entering Big Fish Daily, participants certify that:

• They have never been formally disqualified for cheating or fraud in a fishing tournament.
• They are not currently suspended or banned from any recognized fishing tournament organization.

Failure to disclose prior disqualification may result in immediate and permanent removal.

8.4 Right to Review

Big Fish Daily reserves the right to:

• Review publicly documented tournament disqualifications
• Conduct eligibility audits
• Require Polygraph Confirmation (see LEGAL below for more details)
• Deny participation to individuals with documented competitive integrity violations

All eligibility determinations are final.

• The highest verified Contestant Score during the monthly competition period wins.
• Ties are broken by earliest verified submission timestamp.
• Winners may be subject to additional verification review.
• Winners may only win the monthly contest one time every twelve (12) months. In the event a monthly Winner catches a larger fish than their monthly winner, that fish can be entered into the annual contest in place of the monthly winner.

Big Fish Daily reserves the right to amend rules for clarity, legality, or competitive fairness.

Annual IGFA baseline updates occur January 1 of each year.

I. General Contest Rules 2026

1. It is expressly understood that all registered anglers and their companions, crew members and observers (the “Participants”) participate in the Big Fish Daily (“BFD”) Contests at their own risk. The Participants hereby indemnify and agree to save harmless BFD, and its respective officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, partners, members, and/or attorneys (collectively the “Contest Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims that arise from or in connection with any negligent act or omission of the Contest Indemnified Parties. All persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of BFD Contests whether an individual, a corporation or other type of entity, shall have no liability whatsoever for any special, incidental, consequential, punitive, exemplary and/or any other damage including, without limitation, any damages arising from libel, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death. The Contest Directors reserve the right to refuse entry to any person. Participants specifically agree and consent to the use of any photograph or video in which they appear, and/or audio recordings of such participants, by the Contest for any purpose whatsoever including, but not limited to, resale, advertising and promotional material without compensation or restriction of any kind. This liability Release shall be binding upon the Participants and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns.
2. By registering in BFD Contests, Participants acknowledge that they have read these Rules and the Liability Release. As a condition for the entry into BFD Contests, all Participants hereby agree to be bound by all the Rules, and by the Liability Release.
3. All-tackle I.G.F.A. rules apply unless otherwise noted. In the event of any conflict between BFD Contests Rules and the I.G.F.A. Rules, BFD Contests Rules apply. The I.G.F.A. should be contacted directly with questions regarding their rules.
4. Participants are assumed to have all necessary permits, licenses and/or registrations required by law. However, it is not the responsibility of the Contest officials or directors to verify that all required permits, licenses and/or registrations are acquired by anglers participating in the Contest. Failure of a winning angler to have obtained any or all required permits, licenses and/or registrations shall not be the basis for a protest to be filed under the General Contest Rules, or for a fish to be disqualified.
5. All protests will be given to the Contest judges. That decision is final. If the judges rule in favor of the person(s) that filed a protest, the award money will be paid to the protestor. No protest will be accepted after two (2) days of each Contest.
6. Protests should be carefully considered by contestants as they delay or interfere with the awarding of prizes to the Contest winners. Unjustified protests in recent Contests could cause expense, turmoil, and unfavorable and unacceptable conditions with respect to the bona fide winners of prizes receiving their awards. Any person filing an unsuccessful protest will reimburse BFD Contests for all costs and fees incurred by BFD Contests, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, relating to the protest and/or any litigation involving the same subject matter as the protest. In the event of a successful protest, the person who was the subject of the protest shall pay BFD Contests $1,000 and reimburse BFD Contests for all costs and fees incurred by BFD Contests, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, relating to the protest and/or any litigation involving the same subject matter as the protest. Reasonable attorney’s fees include, but are not limited to, providing legal advice, and investigation of legal matters in conjunction with any protest as well as legal fees for any litigation which results. In no event shall BFD be liable to any person for any attorneys’ fees or costs.
7. Each winning angler must complete a Prize Money Distribution Form before any award checks will be issued. Forms will be available online at www.bigfishdaily.com. Social security numbers or Federal Tax ID numbers are required for all parties receiving prize money. Prize money checks will be mailed within 5 business days of the Contest. Minors’ prize money checks will be made payable to their parent or legal guardian, who must complete a Prize Money Distribution Form.
8. No angler is permitted to win the Monthly Contest more than one (1) times in any calendar twelve (12) month period. In the event a monthly Winner catches a larger fish than their monthly winner, that fish can be entered into the annual contest in place of the monthly winner.
9. If a polygraph examination is required by the Contest Directors, the angler will be notified by a Contest Director. If an angler fails to take any polygraph at the time requested by the Contest Directors, that angler will be disqualified. If an angler wishes to dispute an unfavorable polygraph result, the angler may have a second polygraph conducted within 10 days by a qualified polygraph examiner at the angler’s expense. This polygraph must be administered by an examiner who is a member in good standing of the American Polygraph Association. The Contest Directors will decide, based on the polygraph examination (s), whether the angler is eligible for the prize money. The decision of the Contest Directors is final.
10. In the event of any dispute concerning prize money, BFD reserves the right to file an interpleader and/or declaratory judgment action in court, seeking the court’s determination of the dispute.
11. In the event of any litigation regarding prize money, whether filed by Big Fish Daily, Inc. or by a Participant, BFD shall be entitled to its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, to be paid out of the prize money in dispute. If the prize money in dispute is insufficient to pay BFD’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, each Participant in the litigation shall be jointly and severally liable to pay BFD’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In no event shall BFD be liable to any person for any attorneys’ fees or costs. In any litigation, the Court may order that any BFD attorneys’ fees or costs paid out of the prize money be reimbursed by any Participant who has taken a position in litigation that is contrary to a final decision made by the Contest Directors.
12. Any Participant in violation of any Contest Rule may be disqualified. By participating in the Contest, all Participants acknowledge that all Contest Rules are material and that disqualification is a permitted and appropriate sanction for any violation of any Contest Rule(s).
13. BFD Contests Rules have been established for the best interest of all concerned. In the event of necessity or extraordinary circumstances, any rule may be altered at the discretion of the Contest Directors.
14. Decisions regarding the interpretation of Rules, violation of Rules, penalties, the suspension of any Rules or penalties, the alteration of any Rules, and the calculation of prize money will be made by the Contest Directors in their sole and absolute discretion. All decisions by the Contest Directors are final.
15. All disputes involving the Contest shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to choice of law rules. Any litigation relating to the Contest shall be filed and resolved (1) in the courts of the State of Maryland located in Worcester County, Maryland, or (2) in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland (if that court has jurisdiction), and all Participants in the Contest irrevocably submit to venue and personal jurisdiction in such courts. BFD Contests and all Participants further agree that service of process will be effective if it is either served in accordance with Maryland law or sent by a recognized overnight delivery service.