Rules of the Carp Team Invitational 2026
The Lucky 7
Dates: Friday–Monday, June 5–8, 2026
Headquarters: Middletown Harbor Park (Check-in & Awards)
Venue: Designated pegs in 3 sections – A, B, C (see it below)
Hosts: Carpy Commando & OrientRods USA
Capacity: 8 Teams (48 anglers total)
Entry Fee: $1,800 per team ($300 per angler)
Payback: 100% of entry fees minus tournament expenses returned as prizes.
Breakdown TBD. Special prizes in addition: TBD.
Tournament Format & Scoring
Team Structure
- Each team consists of 6 anglers and optional runners (1 per pair max).
- Runners cannot participate in the fishing aspects of the competition.
- Runners may assist only with netting fish, weighing fish, and campsite duties.
- Teams will have one two-angler pair assigned in each section (A, B, C).
- Pairs will draw pegs
Scoring System
- Only Cyprinus Carpio (Common Carp) species count toward the prizes.
- The minimum fish weight is 17 lbs.
- Within each peg/pair, only the 7 largest fish by weight are recorded and count toward that pair’s total.
- Pairs are ranked within their section based on total weight.
- Points assigned in each section by finish: 1st place = 1 point, 2nd place = 2 points, 3rd place = 3 points, etc.
- A team’s final score is the sum of all three section points combined.
- Lowest combined total decides who will win the title of the Carp Team Champion.
- In case of a tie with points, the total combined weight of the entire team decides. For example, between two teams with the same final points the highest total weight will win.
Pegs & Conduct
- Mandatory team participation during the 2:00 PM Awards Ceremony at Middletown Harbor Park
- Permits with the Connecticut State Department endorsement must be visible for bystanders at each peg (handed out upon registration).
- No pre-fishing allowed between Enfield and Gillette Castle pegs for all participants from one week prior to the tournament until the start of the event.
- Must follow all local fishing regulations.
- Respect for fellow competitors, bystanders, boaters, and park guests is required.
- Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in penalties or disqualification.
- Intoxication on the bank is grounds for immediate disqualification (DQ).
- No littering. Leave pegs cleaned up.
- No cutting down trees.
- No open fires.
- No camping trailers.
- No verbal or physical abuse toward non-tournament anglers. Will result in immediate disqualification.
- Parking zones assigned.
- Peg boundaries will be marked. Must remain within peg boundaries
- Only the team drawing the peg is allowed in the peg draw area. No outside help.
- Anglers cannot leave their pegs and visit other pegs during the event, except for weighing fish.
Live Fish Transport and "Tanking" Prohibitions
- Zero Tolerance Policy: The transport of any live fish (including "tanking") during or after the Carp Team Invitational is strictly prohibited.
- Legal Compliance: In accordance with CGS Sec. 26-57, transporting live fish without a state permit is a Class D Misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in prison and/or a $250 fine per fish.
- Federal Consequences: Moving live fish across state lines is a violation of the Federal Lacey Act, which involves federal prosecution by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
- Tournament Sanctions: Any participant or team found in violation of these laws will be immediately disqualified. Furthermore, any individual involved will be permanently banned from all future CT Carp Team Invitational events and reported to CT DEEP/DNR, which may result in a state-wide tournament ban.
Tournament staff reserves the right to use photographs and video footage of anglers and the event for marketing purposes, including media, advertising, and social media.
Equipment & Fish Safety
- Fish must be released in good health and excellent condition to be counted.
- Tripods and weigh slings must be available on the peg for weighing procedures.
- Keep sacks required to hold fish (maximum 2 fish per sack).
- All sturgeon must be released immediately if caught and are not to be removed from the water.
Boats & Electronics are prohibited
- No boats or kayaks are allowed.
- Bait boats, castable fish finders and electronics are not allowed.
Bait limits
- Maximum 100lb boilies/pair
- Chum/bait comprised of seeds, pellets, grains, method mixes max 100lb combined weight in dry form
Baiting methods allowed
- Spombing/spodding
- Method blasting/baiting spoons
- Slingshots/catapults
- Throwing sticks
- Hand feed
Rigs & Tackle
- One single hook per rod.
- 2 anglers – 6 rods per pair. If one angler is away from the peg, (running for coffee, bathroom, weighing fish), the one angler remaining on the peg can only fish with 3 rods.
- Only fish safe end-tackle permitted. Running rigs, Lead-clip or helicopter systems with safe ejection required.
Fish Care (Mandatory)
- Unhooking mats required
- Carp-friendly nets required
- Weigh slings required
- Proper handling at all times
Weighing & Verification
A peer-marshal system will be in place. An angler from a nearby opposing team peg must weigh, witness and verify the weight of every catch.
- Documentation: You must provide a photo of the marked weigh sheet and every fish weighing over 27 lb.
- Recording Details: Ensure the sheet includes the time of catch, the weight in pounds and ounces, and the names and signatures of both the angler and the peer-marshal.
- Reporting: Results must be forwarded immediately to your team’s Facebook Messenger group chat, as well as a quick upload to the Online Keepnet.
- Witnessing: A peer-marshal must witness all fish releases.
- Equipment: Each team must use mandatory certified digital scales, which must be verified and calibrated at registration before the event.
- Materials: Official weight recording sheets and carbon copy slips will be provided.
-Weighing fish between midnight and 6:00 AM is not allowed.
-Central scoring and leaderboard will be available through The “Online Keepnet” (link and instructions will be provided), as well as on our Facebook pages throughout the event.
-After midnight on Sunday we are going in blackout, so final results will only be revealed at the awards ceremony.
Event Schedule (EST)
Friday – June 5, 2026
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Distance Casting Clinic with Terry Edmonds and tournament team registration
Location: Middletown Harbor Park
4:00 PM
Peg Draw followed by teams moving to their pegs. No bait in the water before 7:00pm.
7:00 PM
Tournament Starts with chumming, fishing lines in
Monday – June 8, 2026 12:00 PM
Fishing Ends
2:00 PM
Awards Ceremony (Mandatory to all teams)
Location: Middletown Harbor Park
Tournament expenses: Insurance $455, Trophies $1100 (Email me for proof if interested)
Contact & Information
For rules clarification or event details, please contact:
Attila Agh
orientrodsusa@gmail.com
We look forward to an exciting, competitive, and sportsmanlike event.
Tight lines and good luck to all teams!