Fishing Tournaments FAQs

The department strives to provide good fishing opportunities, which means we need to keep a pulse on fish populations and manage them to assure they stay healthy. To do so, we need data on the fish and the fishing. Tournaments are a source of such information. The permit program allows the department to obtain tournament reports and to know when and where tournaments are taking place, so that biologists can visit and obtain additional data.

Yes. A tournament may not be held unless the Fish & Wildlife Department has issued a permit. Tournaments are defined as contests where anglers pay a fee to enter and compete for a prize based on the quality or size of the fish they catch.

Yes, but this type of tournament is exempt from the permit fee.

Yes, but this type of tournament is exempt from the permit fee.

If there is an entry fee and a prize based on the fish caught, then you need a permit.

Assuming the practice day does not by itself meet the three permit criteria (Vermont Statutes Annotated, Title 10 §4613(b)), it does not require a permit. Tournament organizers should simply include the practice days as part of their permit application for the subsequent tournament. One overall event, one permit.

Yes, it is a criminal violation that is subject to a fine up to $1000 and 5 points.

Sometimes angling clubs hold informal contests in which members compare their catch, but no entry fees are charged or prizes awarded. Such a contest is not a tournament under Vermont law and does not require a permit, but we recommend contacting the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department to minimize conflicts at access areas.

A Vermont tournament permit is required if the tournament will include Vermont waters lying east of the deep water boundary between the Vermont and New York. Vermont and New York have reciprocal fishing license laws that address fishing license requirements.

A Vermont tournament permit is required if the tournament will include Vermont waters. Vermont waters extend to the ordinary low water mark on the Vermont side. Since fishing is likely to include the entire width of the river, Vermont waters are likely to be included. So, a Vermont tournament permit will nearly always be needed. Vermont and New Hampshire have an agreement on Connecticut River fishing licenses and regulations, but this agreement does not extend to the need for tournament permits. Contact the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game about their tournament permit requirements.

No. Bass angling from the second Saturday in April to the Friday before the second Saturday in June is catch-and-release only, and all bass caught must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. Therefore, it is not legal to hold or transport bass during this period.

Increased interest by many angling groups to hold season long tournaments has led the Fish & Wildlife Department to define conditions for a season long tournament that ensure all groups are treated equally. For your multiple day events to be considered a single tournament these two conditions must be met:

• A Single Entrance Fee for the tournament (Individual or Team).
• A final prize is awarded (Angler of the Year, All Season Award, etc).

On the application the 'Total Awarded Value' represents an estimated total of all prizes awarded. If you are organizing tournaments on multiple days and you do not meet the above conditions you need to apply for a permit for each day.

See Organizing a Fishing Tournament

Yes, there is a fee of $50 for each tournament, with two exceptions. Tournaments that limit the entrants to people less than 15 years of age or tournaments held as part of a special olympics program are exempt from paying the fee.

You must submit your application no less than 30 days before the date of the tournament.

Permits are typically issued no later than two to three weeks before the scheduled tournament. This can vary depending on office workloads. Tournament dates are checked when applications are received, to be sure that permits are issued in time.

Contact anr.fwfishingtournamentpermit@vermont.gov or call (802)-878-1564

If you are applying for a permit for a fishing tournament to take place at a State Park, you will need to contact the Park Regional Manager in the location of the State Park prior to the tournament. The Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation requires a Special Use Permit in order to use a State Park location. The fee for this permit is $50.00. Get more information about applying for a Special Use Permit

The department's policy is to accommodate this use of its access areas as much as possible, as long as that use does not interfere with normal use. Large tournaments staged at a fish and wildlife access area may require an access use permit.

• If the tournament's sole use of the access area is to park and launch boats for fishing purposes, no special use permit is required.

• If the tournament weigh-in headquarters or winnings ceremony is held at the access, a special use permit is required.

The tournament permit application asks about your intended use of department access areas, allowing the department to deal with both permits through this application. You do not need to apply for multiple permits.

No, we are not set up for e-filing at this time. You can download the documents you need but your application and check must be mailed or otherwise delivered to our Essex Junction office.

A list of scheduled tournaments is included on this website and is updated as new permits are issued.

The contact information for tournament organizers is included in the listing of scheduled tournaments.

This information is updated from our database daily. Please keep in mind that permits are not issued immediately after the department receives the application. Permits are typically issued no later than two to three weeks before the scheduled tournament, and will then appear in the listing.