10th ANNUAL 2025 EZ3 CATFISH Tournament

This year the Pro Division Entry has been reduced to $150.

This year we will be having 3 separate Divisions, we will be having a Pro Division, The Classic Division, and The Ladies Division.  

Each Division will have the same rules but different entry fees and payout scale, they will also have different side pots anglers can enter for a chance to win more money.   

The Lady’s Division is for BIOLOGICAL WOMEN ONLY. 

A Person MAY ONLY COMPETE IN ONE Division.  

Anglers can only enter the side pots of the division they have entered.  The Exception is the TRASH FISH which is opened to all.

We are excited to announce RIVER OUTDOOR APPAREL as our new TRASH FISH SPONSOR.

River Apparel Trash Fish Category

·         Open to all anglers signed up for the tournament.

·         $20 side pot (For ALL Division)

·         Biggest Carp, Bowfin, or Gar

·         Does not have to be alive to be weighed in.

·         $300 CASH added to the pot by River Apparel

 4REEL Lady’s BIG PIG Division

The Lady’s Division is back for its 2nd year! Brought to you by 4REEL Fishing!

$20 Entry Fee for 2025

4REEL Fishing will be adding a $250 gift card to 4REELFISHING.COM to the pot!

Winner Take All!

 

Classic Division

$50 ENTRY FEE PER PERSON  

BIGGEST FISH WILL PAY OUT 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD  

Based on 50 Anglers...  

1.     $1250 

2.   $750 

3. $500 

·         SP8 Will also be Sponsoring a Category in the Classic  Division which will be the SP8-28 which is a side pot with a fee of $20 they will payout to the first person to weigh in a Catfish over 28lb (If one is not caught the money will roll over to the next year) Sp8 Concealment will be adding $100 into the pot 

 

·         We will only be doing the Next Cast NC Wild Cat Category in the Classic Division Which Scott Smith owner of NextCast will pick out a random weight at the beginning of each month of the tournament and the angler closest to that weight each month will receive $50 and a prize pack from Next Cast NC 

 

·         If the winner of the division uses Catch The Fever rods they will be Eligible for a $500 gift card to EZ Bait & Tackle Brought to you by Catch the Fever  

 

·         Entrants into the Classic Division will be allowed to sign up 2 youth anglers who are able to fish with the Entrant. (13 & under)  

 

Pro Division

$150 ENTRY FEE PER PERSON 

BIGGEST FISH WILL PAY OUT 1ST,2ND, AND 3RD 

BASED ON 50 ANGLERS… 

1.     $3,750 

2.   $1,875

3. $950 

·         The SP8-48 will return this year with a side pot fee of $50 and will only pay out to the first person to weigh a fish over 48lb (if one is not caught the money will roll over to next year) SP8 Concealment will be adding an extra $200 into the pot. SP8-48 – All rules apply, can be entered anytime.  If fish are at the scales at the same time – biggest fish wins! 

 

·         The Pro Division will also hold the EZ3 Challenge which will be a $50 side pot and be paid out to the person who weighs in the biggest Blue, Flat, and Channel catfish in a combined weight. (The person must weigh in a fish in ALL SPECIES if no one does so the money will roll over to next year) Species of the fish will be determined by tournament directors  

 

If the winner of the division uses Catch The Fever rods they will be Eligible for a $500 gift card to EZ Bait & Tackle Brought to you by Catch the Fever  

The Rules of the Tournament: 

 

•        The EZ3 is a ROD & REEL tournament.  Only fish caught in this manner are eligible.  NON-GAME methods such as “Limb Lining”, trot lines, & nets are not acceptable.   

 

•        Any live bait used to fish in the tournament must also be caught by legal means.   

 

·       ALL ANGLERS MUST HAVE VALID NC FISHING LICENSES (YOUTH ANGLER 

MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY ADULT ANGLER WITH VALID LICENSE PER NC REGULATIONS)  

 

•        The EZ3 is open to the Neuse River (Excluding Wake County) and tributaries of.  Stick to eligible waters! 

 

•        Only fish brought in alive and healthy will be eligible.  Fish that swim funny or are not healthy will not be allowed.  Once a fish is brought in and entered, they become the possession of EZ Tackle and will be released alive back into the waters of the Neuse.  This is a CPR TOURNAMENT! 

 

•        Fishermen are eligible to weigh-in a fish 3 days after signing up (72 hours) and not before!  Anglers who neglect to indicate the time on the registration form will be treated as if they registered close of business that day.  They can sign up anytime during the 2-month time frame OR BEFORE. Weigh-ins will only be conducted at the shop during business hours!  Tournament weigh-ins only occur on dates listed within the tournament dates.  Fisherman will “Sign” for the fish at weigh-in. 

 

•        FISHERMEN ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO BRING IN 3 FISH A DAY PER REGISTERED ANGLER.  THIS RULE WILL MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE YOU KEEP AND INCREASE FISH SURVIVABILITY!! Fish must be brought in a container large enough to completely submerged and room to move (AERATOR IS REQUIRED) 

 

•        If a cat is brought in with a stringer through the gills, or has indications of being strung through the gills it will not be weighed!  This reduces the likelihood of the fish’s survival.  Strung fish must be punched through the bottom lip. 

 

•        TIE-BREAKER rule…. 1st fish weighed takes precedence! 

 

·       Special rules for SP8-48 and SP8-28.  If fish are at the scales at the same time – BIGGEST FISH WINS.  If the fish are the same weight – the winner will be determined by the next largest fish previously weighed in.  If no other fish have been weighed in, the pot will be divided. 

 

•        All participants must possess a valid NC fishing license, and abide by all NC laws.  All NC Wildlife resources rules and regulations must be adhered to!  All winners will be subject to a polygraph. 

 

·       Anglers who are ticketed or warned for any Wildlife or Criminal Violations during fishing the EZ3 MAY be disqualified depending on the gravity of the violation.  This decision will be made by the EZ Crew and Tournament Sponsors directly as it pertains to ANGLER SAFETY and/or FISH SURVIVABILITY.

 

•        The EZ Crew reserves the right to refuse any applicants and cats at weigh-in.  Any protest at weigh-in must be made 20 minutes after the fish is weighed and in writing.  If there is any fighting or arguing over a fish, you will be released from the tournament.  Entry fees are non-refundable! 

 

•        Absolutely no anchoring within 100 feet of another boat.  Give each other some room! 

 

•        It is agreed that the tournament sponsors will not be held liable for any accidents caused by or to anyone in this tournament, payment of the entry fee constitutes agreement and acceptance of all rules. 

 

•        EZ Tackle reserves the right to open any fish AND TEST THEM AS THEY SEE FIT.  All fishermen are subject to a POLYGRAPH test.  Failure to submit to the test will result in disqualification.

 

•        All participants must sign a code of conduct and disclaimer indicating they have read the rules and will abide by all requirements. 

 

·         All anglers must follow NC Boating regulations and rules, Any angler that receives a citation during tournament date must report it to tournament officials.

 

·         It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to take a picture and or video of fish when caught. This will help identify time and place of capture.  This will promote continued integrity and angler accountability during the EZ3. 

 

•        All decisions made by the EZ Tackle Crew and/or Tournament Sponsors are FINAL!

Dwayne Bevell