One of the first questions anglers ask about a tournament is "what's the payout?" Getting your payout structure right is critical — it drives entries, sets expectations, and determines whether anglers come back for the next event. This guide covers the most common payout models, how to calculate them, and tips for building a structure that works for your field size.
The Three Main Payout Models
1. Percentage-Based Payouts
The most common model for local and regional tournaments. A percentage of the total entry pool is paid out to the top finishers.
How it works:
- Collect all entry fees into a pool
- Subtract any operating costs or house take (typically 0–20%)
- Distribute the remaining pool across the top places
Example: 40-boat tournament, $100 entry fee, 100% payout
- Total pool: 40 × $100 = $4,000
- 1st place (40%): $1,600
- 2nd place (25%): $1,000
- 3rd place (15%): $600
- 4th place (10%): $400
- 5th place (5%): $200
- Big fish (5%): $200
Pros: Scales naturally with field size. Bigger fields = bigger payouts, which attracts more entries.
Cons: Exact amounts aren't known until registration closes. Some anglers prefer knowing the exact payout before entering.
2. Fixed Payouts
Guarantee specific dollar amounts for each place regardless of field size.
Example: Guaranteed payout structure
- 1st place: $2,000
- 2nd place: $1,000
- 3rd place: $500
- Big fish: $300
Pros: Anglers know exactly what they're fishing for. Creates a stronger marketing message ("Fish for a guaranteed $2,000 first place!").
Cons: Financial risk for the director. If fewer teams enter than expected, the guaranteed amounts may exceed the entry pool. You need to set your entry fee high enough to cover the guarantees with a reasonable field size.
3. Tiered Payouts (Scaled by Field Size)
Payout amounts and the number of paid places adjust based on how many teams register.
Example: Tiered structure
| Field Size | Places Paid | 1st Place |
|---|---|---|
| 10–20 boats | 3 | $800 |
| 21–40 boats | 5 | $1,600 |
| 41–60 boats | 8 | $2,500 |
| 60+ boats | 10 | $3,500 |
Pros: Balances predictability for anglers with financial safety for directors. Anglers know the minimum payout; if the field grows, payouts grow too.
Cons: Slightly more complex to communicate. Requires publishing the full tier table.
Side Pots and Add-Ons
Side pots are optional add-on pools that anglers can buy into on top of the base entry fee. Common types:
- Big fish pot: Heaviest single fish wins the pot. Can be per-day in multi-day events.
- Lunker pot: Similar to big fish but sometimes restricted to a specific species or minimum weight.
- Daily pots: In multi-day tournaments, separate pots for each day's heaviest bag.
- Species-specific pots: In multi-species events, separate pots for each target species.
Side pots typically pay out 100% of the pool to the winner or split between the top 2–3. They add excitement and increase the overall prize pool without raising the base entry fee.
How to Calculate Your Payouts
Follow this process:
- Determine your total pool: (Number of entries) × (entry fee) = total pool
- Subtract operating costs: Ramp fees, insurance, trophies, platform fees. This is your "house take." Keep it reasonable — 10–15% is standard for local events. Many club tournaments pay out 100%.
- Decide how many places to pay: A common rule of thumb is to pay 1 place per 10 entries. 30 boats? Pay top 3. 80 boats? Pay top 8.
- Set the distribution: The winner should get the largest share (30–50% of the payout pool). Amounts decrease progressively for each subsequent place.
- Allocate side pot pools separately: Big fish and other side pots are calculated independently from the main payout.
Common Payout Distribution Examples
Small Event (10–20 boats, $50 entry)
| Place | % of Pool | Amount (15 boats) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 50% | $375 |
| 2nd | 30% | $225 |
| Big Fish | 20% | $150 |
Medium Event (30–50 boats, $100 entry)
| Place | % of Pool | Amount (40 boats) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 35% | $1,400 |
| 2nd | 22% | $880 |
| 3rd | 15% | $600 |
| 4th | 10% | $400 |
| 5th | 8% | $320 |
| Big Fish | 10% | $400 |
Large Event (60+ boats, $150 entry)
| Place | % of Pool | Amount (80 boats) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 30% | $3,600 |
| 2nd | 18% | $2,160 |
| 3rd | 12% | $1,440 |
| 4th | 9% | $1,080 |
| 5th | 7% | $840 |
| 6th | 5% | $600 |
| 7th | 4% | $480 |
| 8th | 3% | $360 |
| Big Fish | 7% | $840 |
| 2nd Big Fish | 5% | $600 |
Tips for Setting Payouts
- Post the payout structure before registration opens. Anglers decide whether to enter based on payouts. Transparency builds trust.
- Don't pay too many places. Spreading the pool too thin makes the top prizes unexciting. Better to pay fewer places with meaningful amounts.
- Big fish pots drive entries. Many anglers enter specifically for the big fish pot. Make it worthwhile.
- Use software to calculate automatically. Tournament management software like WeighBook calculates payouts automatically based on your rules, including side pots and multi-day scoring. No spreadsheet gymnastics.
- Be consistent across your season. If you run a league or trail, use the same payout structure for every event. Anglers plan their season around predictable payout expectations.
Season Points and Year-End Payouts
If you run a tournament series (league, trail, or club season), consider awarding points in addition to cash payouts at each event. Points accumulate across the season and determine the year-end champion. Year-end prizes can be:
- Cash from a season championship fund
- Trophies or plaques
- Entry fee discounts or free entries for next season
- Sponsor-provided prizes (rods, reels, tackle, gift cards)
Points-based seasons keep anglers engaged all year — even after a bad tournament, they're still in the running for the season title.
The Bottom Line
Your payout structure is a core part of your tournament's identity. Choose a model that fits your event size, communicate it clearly before registration, and use software to handle the math. The best tournaments make anglers feel like they got a fair shot at a meaningful prize — that's what brings them back.