Anglers of all ages will hit the water April 9 at Millers Ferry starting at 6 a.m. for the fourth annual Wilcox Area Chamber of Commerce Big Fish Crappie Tournament.

The tournament is competitive, organizer Will Malone said, but it is also a great opportunity for a fun day on the water.

“It’s a great family event,” he said. “This is a good opportunity for a husband, wife and children to come out and have a great time.”

As motivation, Malone said there will be $2,000 in door prizes and several opportunities to win.

“We are going to have six hourly weigh-ins and have prizes for the top three fish and the top 10 of the day,” he said. “We’ll also have prizes for the top youth fisherman, which are the ones that are 16 and under.”

The tournament, Malone said, usually draws around 260 fishermen, which makes it one of the larges crappie tournaments in the Southeast.

Hourly weigh-ins will be held at two locations. The main location will be the Millers Ferry Marina and the second will be at Bridgeport Landing.

Weigh-ins will take place at 9, 10 and 11 a.m. as well as noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

The largest fish per hour wins $100, second gets $50 and third wins $30.

The final weigh-in takes place at 3 p.m. at the Millers Ferry Marina.

First place overall wins $1,000 and the largest fish caught by a youth angler takes $250.

There is a $30 entry fee for adult anglers and $15 for youth.

The official rules for the tournament are as follows:

This is an individual competition so anglers can practice anytime.

More than two anglers may fish from the same boat. Anglers do not have to fish from a boat and live bait can be used.

Anglers may weigh one fish per hour for each hourly weigh-in and one crappie for the final 3 p.m. weigh-in.

Anglers may place only once in the overall top 10 competitions.

Fish weighed-in dead will lose .07 pounds.

All fish weighed will become the property of the tournament’s officials.

Anglers may start fishing on any publicly accessible waters on Lake Dannelly at 6 a.m. and fish until 3 p.m.

Crappie must be caught on a pole or rod and hooked in the mouth. No snagging.

All anglers must be checked in at the weigh-in site by 3 p.m.

All crappie brought to the scales must have been caught during the contest hours by the angler bringing the fish in to the weigh-in site.

Winners must agree to take and pass a polygraph or voice stress test.

Polygraph tests will be the final in determining the winners.

No alcohol or illegal drugs will be permitted during contest hours.

Anglers may be disqualified if in the opinion of the tournament officials the angler is intoxicated.

Late entries will be accepted at the main weigh-in site from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. the day of the contest.

Late entries will pay a $5 late fee.

For more information, contact Malone at 525-0462 or the Wilcox Chamber at 682-4929.