National Freshwater Spearfishing Championships
2023 Big Mac Shootout
Lake McConaughy, Nebraska
REGISTRATION
$150 per team if signed up before March 31, 2023
$200 per team if signed up after March 31, 2023
Fee includes a shirt each and a few meals for you and your crew. Extra shirt orders at $20 each.
Please be sure to sign NFSA and PRSD waivers. Complete and provide a 200-word bio and a photo of your best catch. This program will be posted on social media, sent to our sponsors, and distributed in magazines. We ask that each diver put their best foot (images) forward.
Please go to the 2023 Big Mac Shootout National Freshwater Championships and complete the registration online.
EVENT SCHEDULE
July 19th - There will be a briefing the night before the tournament starts at 7-8pm at the Main Campgrounds Headquarters—TBA
July 20th - Game Fish + Drum Day – Be at the boat ramp beach to check in by 7:15 AM. Tournament dive times are from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM and back on the beach no later than 3:00 PM for scoring. All legal limits on game fish and drum allowed. No blue gill or crappie.
July 21st – Carp Only Day - Be at the boat ramp beach to check in by 7:15 AM. Tournament dive times are from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM and back on the beach no later than 3:00 PM for scoring. Dinner, awards, and raffle will being after the weigh in.
Awards
Awards will be given to the top Teams and Individuals in the following categories:
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Men’s Division
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Women's Division
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Mixed Doubles
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Master’s Division
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Juniors under 18
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Biggest Fish (Men’s & Women’s)
***If each division doesn’t have at least 4 teams then it will be combined with another division. For example, the master’s division might have to combine with the men’s division and women's division might have to combine with mixed doubles.
2023 FRESHWATER SPEARFISHING NATIONAL RULES
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2 divers per team (boat tender/captain recommended and is not considered part of the team)
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All teams need to be on the same boat. No splitting teams between multiple boats. You may have more than 2 divers on a boat
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No chumming at any time before or during the event
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No sharing fish. All fish much be kept in separate well marked containers or stringers.
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All game fish are to be kept on ice. There must be ice on your fish as you come to the weigh in.
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No shooting fish in the lake a week before the event. All fish must be shot the day of the event
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You may dive scuba, or freedive, at any time.
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All Spearos must have a current Nebraska fishing license.
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Any violation of state rules or laws events rules will result in immediate disqualification
All spearfishing must be carried out in accordance with Nebraska Game and Parks fishing and boating rules and regulations, it will be the spearfishermen responsibility to be informed of local regulations. All Spearfisherman must possess a valid Nebraska fishing license. Licenses will be checked at the July 19th mandatory meeting.
Species limits and Scoring
Game Fish Day + Drum - 2 point per fish and 2 point per pound
Carp Day - 1 point per fish.
Weigh your biggest fish each day for big fish awards. Big fish also breaks ties for teams and individuals.
Unlimited Carp, Sucker and Drum
All black bass combined max 5, min size 15”
Walleye max 4, min 15”, one over 22”
Blue cats max 1. Any size
Channel cats max 5. Any size
Flatheads max 5. Any size
Northern pike max 3. 1 over 34”
Striper, White bass, Wipers combined max 15. 1 over 16”
** this may change in 2023 watch the regulations.
ABSOLUTELY NO FISH IN DUMPTERS! PRSD will dispose of all rough fish.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CARE FOR YOUR FISH PROPERLY CONTACT A PRSD CLUB MEMBER CLUB MEMBER AND WE WILL ASSIST YOU.
BOAT RENTAL/LODGING
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Boats can be rented at skipatrol-lakemac.com/
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or Scuba Steve’s Outdoor Toys -> 308-284-4292
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Several Lodging options can be found if you Google Lake McConaughy Cabin Rentals (Hotels are available in Ogallala but that is about a 20 minute drive out to the lake)
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Camping is offered at https://nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica.com/welcome.do
If you would like a reserved camp spot with electricity. Also camping is permitted at the lake space permitting. ilovelakemac.com is another great site for maps, lake information and everything Lake McConaughy!