Hook’em & Book’em Presents: Legends of Lake Gaston Catfish Series!

Grab your crew and get ready — this is a team-based (3-man limit) bank OR boat tournament on the beautiful waters of Lake Gaston, NC.

The series runs from January 3rd – December 5th, 2026

The Following are the Rules for this series

1. Review ALL local, state and Federal guidelines.
2. ALL participants MUST follow North Carolina boating and safety guidelines.
3. DRAMA WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. If you’re going to accuse someone of cheating you better have proof or don’t bring it up at all. 
4. These are trailered events but you MUST use a wildlife or town owned ramp.
5. No private ramps are allowed to give everyone equal opportunities. 
6. All fish MUST be caught by ROD AND REEL ONLY. If you’re caught catching/obtaining a catfish using any other method you will be disqualified and banned from future events.
7. Fishing from the bank is allowed but if you’re on a team you must stay within eye distance from each other. No splitting up and fishing different stretches of the lake.
8. If you are fishing from a boat you can’t drop team members off on an island to fish. EVERYONE must stay together.
9. No Stringers will be allowed. Everyone must have a livewell.
10. Anyone 15 and under will fish for free with a paid entry.
11. No catfishing 48 hours on the body of water that the tournament will be held at.
12. Bait fishing is allowed.
13. Hook’em and Book’em tournaments will be a 2 fish weigh in.
14. We will NOT weigh in a dead catfish. Trash fish do not have to be alive.
15. Trash fish include gar, bowfin and carp.
16. If there is a tie the team with the biggest fish wins.
17. No fishing within 100 yards of another anchored boat. The entire lake is open (be mindful of people using planner boards!).
18. If you’re late to weigh in we will have to disqualify your team. We encourage everyone to leave early enough to get back to the weigh in on time. No exceptions will be made.
19. 10 percent will be taken out of the  tournament pot from each tournament entry. 5% will go to tournament needs and the other 5% will go to the championship pot in December. 
20. Your team’s fish will have 15 minutes to swim off. If your team has a fish that does not swim off the weight will be deducted from your total weight.
21. If your team has a fish that is dead please do not bring it to the scales.
22. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, THEFT OR INJURIES DURING THIS TOURNAMENT.
23. No Refunds
24. The most important rule of all is to have fun!!!!
25. One person from each team is required to be at the captains meeting. Even if you pre-register you must be at the captains meeting!
26. Everyone is subject to a polygraph test.
27. NO CHUMMING WILL BE ALLOWED BEFORE OR DURING THE TOURNAMENT
28. No alcohol allowed on the boat during tournament time!