2025-26 Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science

Official Rules

October 13, 2025 – September 13, 2026

Organizer: MyCatch Mobile App

Host: Port Royal Sound Foundation

Registration: Angler’s Atlas

Participants and Anglers are those who have registered to participate in the 2025 Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science (11 months)

1.  General Information

• This is a Catch-Photo-Record fishing tournament being held in the Port Royal Sound area of South Carolina, where fishing is legal. Refer to the map attached to this event for the official boundaries.

• The 2025-26 Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science is an online event run through the Angler’s Atlas website and the mobile app MyCatch. ALL fish caught during the tournament must be recorded through the MyCatch app for approval.
• Eligible fish must be caught in open navigational waters and estuaries. Inshore fish are not permitted to be caught from impoundments, salt ponds with dams or dykes, neighborhood lakes or areas with man-made restrictions to boat traffic.
• Anglers may record trips and fish from October 13, 2025 – September 13, 2026.
• All fish entered for this event must be caught via angling methods using hook, line, rod, and reel, live, or artificial bait. At no time will fish caught by non-angling methods (i.e. use of traps, trap nets, or cages) be allowed to be entered. Fish cannot be caught by snagging, netting, gigging, spearing, or any other method. The usage of a landing net to land a hooked fish is allowed.
• The Reel Science tournament is based on registered anglers starting trips and recording catches using the MyCatch app. Each valid trip and each fish submitted via the MyCatch mobile app counts as one entry in a monthly drawing.

2.  Registration

• To register, each individual angler must first create an Angler’s Atlas account by completing the following sign-up: https://www.anglersatlas.com/sign-up.  If you already have one, you can skip this step.
• Next, anglers must register for the Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science and pay the entry fee online HERE using a credit card or PayPal. The cost of registration is included in the registration for the 2025 Port Royal Sound Inshore Slam Tournament. Otherwise, the cost for registration for this tournament is $20 per angler. Your spot is not reserved until payment has been received. If you need help with the registration process, please watch this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o3PzcIoGo4. Anglers will then need to download the free MyCatch mobile app. The app is available for both iOS (Apple App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). Set up your account on the MyCatch app using the same login email and password that you used to set up your Angler’s Atlas account. For catches to be sent properly, you must use the same login email and password for both the Angler’s Atlas website and the MyCatch app. Here is a link to some helpful videos to familiarize yourself with the app.
• If you already have the MyCatch app, we suggest checking for any updates or simply reloading the app and making sure the login email and password match with Angler’s Atlas.
• You will receive an automatic email confirming that you have entered the event and that your payment has been received.
• Due to the nature of tournament fishing, no refunds will be issued, no exceptions. This is at the discretion of the Tournament Organizer.
• It may take up to six hours for a new account to be activated, during which time anglers may not be able to submit their fish for entry.

3.  Angler Qualifications

• The 2025-26 Port Royal Sound Reel Science Fishing Tournament is open to all skill levels and ages.
• It is recommended that anglers 15 and younger fish with an adult.
• By law, anglers 16 years and older must have a valid South Carolina Saltwater fishing license or otherwise be exempt from needing one.
• By participating in this event, your name, photos, and or videos may be publicly visible.
• Protecting anglers’ privacy is a priority, and any location data collected during the event will not be released to the public. Our promise to anglers is “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret”. See below for further details.
• Anglers can only submit catches they have caught themselves. This is an individual tournament, so you cannot enter as a partnership or team, and under no circumstances can you share fish with any other angler. Anglers are free to fish alone or with other tournament or non-tournament anglers, but each registered angler may only enter their own fish on their own app.
• All SCDNR Rules and Regulations must be followed. Each Angler is responsible for their own conduct. For up-to-date regulations and identification of South Carolina saltwater fish, use the Fish Rules App http://fishrulesapp.com. You can also find SCDNR’s saltwater fishing regulations at https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/fishing/finfish-size-catch-limits.

4.  Measuring & Recording Catches

1. This is a Catch-Photo-Record event.
2. ALL species qualify for the Four Seasons tournament. However, for angler safety, we are NOT including shark and ray species in the prize contentions.
3. We encourage catch and release, but it is not mandatory. However, reporting whether the fish was kept or released is a required question when recording your catch on the MyCatch app (for data purposes only).
4. To collect accurate data (and for the best chance to win prizes), we request anglers record EVERY fish caught. However, for angler safety, we are NOT including shark and ray species in the prize contentions.
5. Each fish may be entered only once.
6. For each catch to qualify, a photograph of the fish with a measuring device must be taken using the MyCatch app (ie, photos cannot be uploaded from a photo gallery or other source). 
7. All anglers must have GPS/ location services enabled on their cell phone for their catches to qualify. Your location data will be protected. For more information, see details below.
8. Fish must be recorded in the MyCatch app as soon as possible after they are caught at the fishing site. Geotagged locations will NOT be made publicly available (see Section 10 for more information).
9. When taking a measurement photo, the hook, your fingers, or any equipment (such as lip grabbers) must not be in the gills or mouth of the fish. Anything in the gills or mouth of the fish will disqualify that fish.
10. All fish must be measured with the right side down.
11. The entry photo must be taken from a bird’s-eye view looking down on the fish.
12. Use Total Length to measure your fish (with the exception of those regulated by Fork Length – see image for reference). Total Length is measured from the tip of the snout or jaw of the fish (with the mouth preferably closed) to the tip of the tail, with the tail pinched (excluding any filaments) to the width of the measuring board.

1. Fork Length species typically caught in South Carolina include tarpon, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel.  Fork length (FL) in fish refers to the measurement from the tip of the snout to the fork (or center) of the tail fin.

13. The nose or jaw of the fish must align with the start or 0” mark on all measuring devices, and the total length is recorded where the longest part of the tail crosses the measurement line on the measuring device. It is recommended to position a solid edge or “bump” lined up with the 0″ mark on the ruler to clearly indicate that the measurement starts at 0”.
14. Measuring Rules:

1. The fish’s mouth is preferably closed, with the snout or jaw of the fish visibly touching the bump.
2. The fish must be placed on top of the board/ surface.
3. The fish tail is pinched (naturally)
4. The head AND tail of the fish must be visible in the measurement photo.
5. The photo should show beyond the head and tail; do not cut them off.

15. Measuring Devices:

1. It is recommended that you use a commercially sold ‘bump board’ that clearly shows the length of the fish.
2. You can also use a SC DNR 37” fish ruler sticker adhered to a flat surface with a solid edge or “bump” lined up with the 0″ mark on the ruler. SCDNR fish ruler stickers and measurement instructions will be available at the Captain’s Meeting.  
3. If you use a metal tape measure, the tape measure must be beside the fish — not under or on top of the fish. As well, the fish’s nose and the start of the tape must be aligned by placing both against a solid edge.
4. Fabric/ Soft/ Flexible measuring tapes are not allowed in this event
5. Sliding/ Expandable bump boards are NOT allowed if the fish passes the expandable section.

16. The Tournament Organizer reserves the right to adjust entries to ensure the accuracy of data.
17. A photo that does not clearly show the overall length of the fish as described will be excluded from the science data. More than one attempt to get a valid scoring photo is allowed. The app will prompt you to either accept or retake each photo.
18. You MUST also record if you released or kept the fish in the entry procedure. This will be prompted near the bottom of the entry screen and will be titled “Released – Yes  No”. To complete this, click on the appropriate Yes or No field. Catch and release is encouraged but not required.
19. Hero Shot: During the entry process, a second photo called the ‘Hero Shot’ will be prompted. This is an optional field for a photo of the angler holding or releasing the fish using proper handling techniques. The Hero Shot is optional, but there is an associated prize category.  Photos are encouraged for the Tournament Organizer and Host to share on social media.
20. Video Release: You will be prompted with a third option to submit a video of the fish release. This is also an optional field, but there is a related prize category. The video must show the fish being safely released using proper handling techniques and swimming away. 

5.  Submitting your Recorded Catches

• During the event, the app will function without Wi-Fi or cell service. If you submit a fish without a strong enough signal, the app will notify you that the fish has been recorded and will sync up to the server once you return to cell service. Every fish you log (whether in good service or not) will appear in your app’s Log View (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If you have fish “awaiting sync,” it will indicate this here. The submissions will come through on their own once you return to cell service, but you can help speed up the process by “manually syncing” those pending logs once you’re within service (see how here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU-AwLc8OLY). The logs are time, date, and location stamped to the moment they are taken, so even if the submission is delayed, the time on that submission will still be accurate. All catches must be synced no later than September 13, 2026, at 12pm EDT.
• Recorded and submitted fish DO NOT appear on the leaderboards until the Organizer has approved them, so don’t expect to see them reflected on the leaderboard immediately. If you want to ensure that your fish was recorded successfully, check the Log View of your app (2nd icon from the left at the bottom). If your fish is there, it logged successfully. The Catch Approval Team (OR The Approval Team) reviews and judges all fish. Once a submission has been approved, it will appear on the appropriate leaderboard(s).
• Fish will be approved for length only to the last physical mark crossed. Event organizers reserve the right to adjust entries.
• IMPORTANT: Arguing against or trying to attribute a reason as to why any of the above rules could not be followed will have ZERO bearing on the ruling of a rejected fish. NO exceptions will be made. It is the angler’s responsibility to review their photo thoroughly and submit an acceptable one following the above rules.
• A great resource on how to complete an entry is this MyCatch video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS65wMakQHA

6.  Proper Fish Handling

The following are not rules but suggestions for proper fish handling:

• We strongly encourage the conservation and proper handling of all fish caught. To ensure the best chances of survival for all released fish, all participants should handle fish safely.
• We encourage catch and release, and only take what you need.
• Whenever feasible, keep the fish in the water while handling.
• We encourage anglers to use barbless, non-offset, non-stainless circle hooks to reduce gut hooking the fish, and in the case of a swallowed hook, the hook can break down.
• If a swallowed hook cannot be easily removed, cut the line as close to the hook as possible.
• Have the camera ready before landing the fish to minimize air exposure.
• Hold large fish horizontally and support their bodies to avoid damage to the internal organs. Do not hold or support the fish by its gills, gill covers, or eyes.
• Use wet hands when handling a fish. Handle the fish quickly and as little as possible.
• When releasing a fish, never throw it into the water. Set it in the water and let it swim away under its own power.
• If you’re fishing for adult (bull) red drum, the SCDNR recommends using a short leader and fixed-weight tackle to prevent the fish from swallowing the hook. See an example – https://saltwaterfishing.sc.gov/reddrum/rigs.html 
• For more information about proper fish handling, visit SCDNR’s guide at https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/tagfish/pdf/catchandreleasebrochure.pdf.

7.  Tournament Location and Times

• Tournament water body boundaries are within the water confines of the Port Royal Sound (South Carolina) Area. See the map attached for boundaries.
• Eligible fish must be caught in open navigational waters and estuaries. Inshore fish are not permitted to be caught from impoundments, salt ponds with dams or dykes, neighborhood lakes or areas with manmade restrictions to boat traffic.
• The tournament runs from Monday, October 13, 2025 – Thursday, September 13, 2026 (excludes 10-Day Inshore Slam dates)
• All catches recorded between the start and end times must be synchronized with the Angler’s Atlas server within the event times to qualify. Any fish synced to the app after the event concludes will not be judged. It is the angler’s responsibility to ensure they have full cell service and that all fish are synced before the deadline.
• At the Organizer’s discretion, tournament days may be shortened, postponed, or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. Due to the nature of tournament fishing, no refunds will be issued – no exceptions.

8.  Map

1. This tournament is being held in the Port Royal Sound area of South Carolina, where it is legal to fish. Refer to the map attached to this event for the official boundaries. Rivers and creeks listed below are WITHIN the boundaries unless mentioned otherwise.

• Northern boundary – Dawson’s Landing in the Coosawhatchie River across to the northern end of Bray’s Island, Huspah Creek to the creek fork at the southern end of Bull Point
• Western boundary – includes Knowles Branches, Coles Creek, Euhaw Creek, Hazards Creek, Okatie River, and May River
• Southwest boundary — western end of Daufuskie Island; the saltwater section of the New River
• Southeastern boundary – up to one mile off the shores of Hilton Head, Bay Point, Pritchards, Fripp, Hunting, and Harbor Islands
• Northeastern boundary – includes Whale Beach and the Coosaw River up to Parrot Creek, including Morgan Island, along St. Helena Island, and just outside of Harbor River. St Helena Sound is NOT within the tournament boundary.

2. Eligible fish must be caught in open navigational waters and estuaries. Inshore fish are not permitted to be caught from impoundments, salt ponds with dams or dykes, neighborhood lakes or areas with manmade restrictions to boat traffic.

9.  Awards & Prizes

• Every trip recorded and fish caught and submitted through the MyCatch app counts for ONE entry in a monthly prize drawing.
• The month begins at 12AM ET the first day of the month, and concludes at 11:59pm ET on the last day of the month.
• Prizes:

• Monthly drawing for one prize based on anyone who starts a valid trip and/ or records a fish via the MyCatch App
• Overall drawing at the end of the challenge among anglers who record at least one trip for every month of the challenge
• Overall prize at the end of the challenge for the person with the most trips and/ or catches recorded

• The winning angler will be notified via email by PRSF staff.

10. Data Privacy and Fisheries Research

• “Secret Fishing Spots Stay Secret” — This is our primary commitment to anglers who report their catches through MyCatch. So, what does this mean in practice?
• Angler’s Atlas does not release MyCatch GPS data to the public. It is treated as confidential and is provided to fisheries researchers under strict conditions.
• Every research team we work with must sign a data-sharing agreement that sets the terms of use for the data.
• Data is anonymized before it is provided to the researcher.
• Researchers agree not to share the data with anyone else.
• Researchers cannot use the data for any purpose other than the research specified in the agreement.
• Exact location data cannot be published as part of scientific research. Instead, it must be generalized to a larger region so the location cannot be reverse-engineered.
• Angler’s Atlas may release data to a law enforcement agency if compelled to do so under court order.
• These data privacy rules are designed to protect our anglers’ private data, conserve the fisheries, and make sure we maintain a trusting relationship with our anglers into the future. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to Angler’s Atlas President directly by email (sean@anglersatlas.com).

11.  Angler Agreement

• By registering and participating in the 2025-26 Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science, all participants agree to abide by the rules and regulations they have received as set out in these tournament event rules.
• The Tournament Team, hosts, promoters, sponsors, and organizers assisting in the tournament operation are not responsible for the death, injury, damage, liability, theft, fire, or any loss to any contestants/anglers entered in the 2025-26 Port Royal Sound Year-Long Fishing Challenge for Reel Science.
• All questions or concerns regarding the rules of this tournament should be directed to the Tournament Organizer or their designated committee. Their decision will be final in all cases. No other person can be considered a spokesperson for the rules during the tournament. The contact for this event is The MyCatch Approval team, which can be reached by email at events@anglersatlas.com (please include the name of the event in your email).
• The interpretation and enforcement of the rules is at the sole discretion of the Tournament Organizer. The Tournament Organizer reserves the right to change rules up to the start of the event; however, once it is live, no rules will be altered or added. The Organizer may impose sanctions as deemed appropriate, including but not limited to disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, and prohibition from competing in future tournaments. All decisions made by the Tournament Organizer are final.
• Abuse of tournament officials and volunteers will not be tolerated.
• Any angler found to be cheating, breaking the law, or disobeying the rules will be disqualified from the tournament. Failure to comply with any tournament rules may result in disqualification and removal from the tournament, as determined by the tournament officials. The right to refuse sale and/or revoke a competition entry to anyone is hereby reserved. Angler’s Atlas also reserves the right to ban anglers from competing in future events.
• Any angler has the right to protest another angler by contacting the Tournament Organizer via email, and this must be completed and presented within one hour of the tournament’s close. The Tournament Organizer’s decision will be final in all cases. A $100.00 protest fee must accompany the protest. The fee will be refunded if the protest is deemed valid.
• In the event of disqualification, any paid entry fees will be forfeited and not refunded.
• We intend to provide an honest, sportsmanlike tournament. In the interest of good sportsmanship, anglers are reminded that the spirit of the rule will prevail in all judgments.
• All participants are expected to adhere to high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and environmental conservation. Any participant who displays poor sportsmanship, violates these rules, or brings unfavorable publicity to the Port Royal Sound Inshore Slam Fishing Tournament, its Tournament Team, host, organizer, volunteers, sponsors, and/or the sport of fishing, could be disqualified.
• Participants are responsible for their own safety, actions, and property at all times.
• All photo and video submissions may be used by MyCatch, Angler’s Atlas, and the Port Royal Sound Foundation.
• Port Royal Sound Foundation employees are not eligible to participate in this tournament.
  

In consideration of the acceptance of this registration, I, the undersigned by virtue of agreeing, assume full responsibility for any damage, injury or accident that may occur during or related to the event, and I hereby release, hold harmless, and indemnify Angler’s Atlas, Port Royal Sound Foundation, and all sponsors, promoters, or other persons and entities associated with the event from all claims, loss, injury, damage, action, or demands. Further, I hereby grant full permission to any and all of the foregoing photographs, videotapes, or other records of this event.  I acknowledge that I have read and voluntarily sign/agree to this statement.

No. Eligible fish must be caught in open navigational waters and estuaries. Inshore fish are not permitted to be caught from impoundments, salt ponds with dams or dykes, neighborhood lakes or areas with man-made restrictions to boat traffic.

Still need help registering at Angler’s Atlas? Watch this YouTube video.

It is recommended that anglers 15 and younger fish with an adult. But ALL individual anglers must have their own account in both Angler’s Atlas and in the MyCatch app. If the youth is using someone’s mobile device to record catches, they must log in to the app using their own account information. You can switch accounts using the ‘Manage Accounts’ feature in the app.

Watch this series of three videos for more information on using the MyCatch mobile app to record your catches.