How to Set Up Online Registration for Your Fishing Tournament

The days of collecting entry fees at the boat ramp with a clipboard and a cash box are fading fast. Anglers expect to find, register for, and pay for tournaments from their phone — the same way they book a campsite or buy gear online. Setting up online registration for your fishing tournament isn't complicated, but doing it right makes a big difference in turnout, no-shows, and your own workload on tournament day.

Why Online Registration Matters

Every barrier between an angler and your tournament costs you entries. Phone-only registration, cash-only payments, or "message me on Facebook to sign up" methods all create friction that reduces your field. Here's what online registration does for your event:

• 24/7 availability: Anglers can register at 11 PM on a Tuesday when they're planning their weekend — not just during the hours you're available to answer calls.
• Immediate payment: Credit card payment at registration eliminates the "I'll pay at the ramp" problem. Paid entries are committed entries — your no-show rate drops.
• Automatic roster management: Every registration populates your entry list automatically. No manual data entry, no deciphering handwriting, no wondering if you wrote down the right boat number.
• Professional appearance: A clean registration page with your tournament details, rules, and payment processing signals that your event is well-organized.

Step 1: Choose Your Registration Platform

You have options, and the right choice depends on your needs:

• Fishing tournament software (WeighBook, Weighfish, TourneyX, etc.): Purpose-built for fishing events. Registration feeds directly into weigh-in scoring, team management, and season standings. This is the best choice if you want an integrated system.
• General event platforms (Eventbrite, Google Forms + payment link): Work for basic registration but require manual data transfer to your scoring system. Fine for a one-off event, tedious for a recurring series.
• Social media and messaging: Not registration. "Comment to sign up" is a headache waiting to happen — missed entries, no payment tracking, no confirmation system.

Step 2: Create Your Tournament

In your chosen platform, set up the tournament with these details:

• Tournament name and date(s)
• Location — lake/river name, boat ramp, and address
• Species and format — what they're fishing for and how scoring works
• Entry fee — base fee and any optional side pots (big fish, lunker, daily)
• Team format — solo, pairs, or open teams; captain and co-angler assignments
• Registration deadline
• Rules — link to or embed your complete tournament rules
• Payout structure — what the prizes are and how they're calculated

The more information you provide upfront, the fewer questions you'll field before the event.

Step 3: Set Up Payment Processing

For online payments, you need a payment processor connected to your platform. Most fishing tournament software integrates with Stripe, which handles credit card processing securely.

Key considerations:

• Processing fees: Credit card processing typically costs 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. Decide whether you absorb this cost or pass it to the angler as a convenience fee.
• Refund policy: Set clear cancellation and refund terms. Most directors offer full refunds until the registration deadline, no refunds after.
• Multiple payment options: Some platforms let you accept both online payment and on-site payment (for anglers who prefer to pay at the ramp). Track both in the same system.

Step 4: Configure Team and Group Settings

If your tournament uses teams:

• Captain registration: The captain registers and adds their co-angler(s). The system tracks the full team roster.
• Open registration: Alternatively, let individual anglers register and pair them into teams later (draw format).
• Groups: If you run separate divisions within a tournament (Pro and Co-Angler groups, or regional divisions), configure groups so entries are automatically sorted into the right competitive pool.

Step 5: Promote Your Registration Link

Your registration page is only useful if anglers can find it. Distribute the link through:

• Facebook groups: Post in local and regional fishing groups. Include the tournament date, location, entry fee, and a direct link to register.
• Club and trail email lists: If you're part of a league or fishing club, send the registration link to your member list.
• SMS blasts: If your platform supports SMS (WeighBook does), send registration reminders directly to anglers' phones.
• Your website or social media page: Pin the registration link at the top of your Facebook page or website.
• Flyers at tackle shops and marinas: Include a QR code that links directly to the registration page.

Step 6: Manage Entries and Handle Walk-Ups

As registrations come in, monitor your entry list:

• Confirm team rosters are complete (no missing co-anglers)
• Assign boat numbers if your format requires them
• Track side pot opt-ins separately from base entry fees
• Send reminder notifications as the registration deadline approaches

On tournament day, you'll inevitably have walk-up entries. A good platform has a Kiosk Mode or on-site registration flow that lets you add entries quickly without disrupting the pre-registered roster.

Step 7: Close Registration and Prepare for the Event

After the deadline:

• Review final entry list and resolve any incomplete registrations
• Generate boat number assignments and flight schedules
• Send a final pre-tournament notification with check-in time, ramp location, and any last-minute updates
• Export or sync your entry list to the weigh-in system (in an integrated platform like WeighBook, this happens automatically)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• No registration deadline: Without a cutoff, you don't know your field size. Set one and enforce it.
• Incomplete tournament details: If anglers have to message you for basic information (fees, rules, location), your registration page is incomplete.
• No confirmation message: When an angler registers and pays, they should immediately receive a confirmation with all event details. Silence after payment creates anxiety.
• Using multiple disconnected tools: If registration is on one platform, payments on another, and scoring on a third, you're creating data entry work for yourself. Use an integrated system.

The Bottom Line

Online registration is the single biggest quality-of-life improvement you can make as a tournament director. It reduces your workload, increases your entries, and gives your events a professional edge. Set it up once, refine it based on angler feedback, and you'll wonder why you ever ran sign-ups any other way.