Our Rules
Clear rules keep the Ludington Big King Bonanza fair and fun for every angler.
Ludington Annual Big King Bonanza 2025 Rules and Derby Format
• The 2025 Bonanza will consist of Two Segments. The first will run from Saturday May 10th and conclude on Thursday July 3rd. The second will begin on Monday July 7th and conclude on Saturday August 30th.
• The entry fees will be $125 for Non Charter Boats per segment OR $200 for both segments. The cost for Charter boats will be $225 per segment OR $400 for both segments.
• Sign ups and Registration forms with entry fees MUST be paid in person at Captain Chuck’s II
NEW THIS YEAR
Tyler Reed of Parkdale Auto Service in Manistee has decided to allow the Bonanza to use his Business as an alternative weigh in Location for this Year’s derby. Also, Manistee River RV Resort & Marina (formerly InstaLaunch) has agreed to be a third weigh in location. All three weigh-in locations have identical Scales that weigh in sync. The initial registration paperwork AND fee must be paid in full at Captain Chucks, but after that, you may choose to weigh in fish at either of our two Manistee locations, if that is more practical for you. If weighing a fish in Manistee, please do so during their posted business hours unless you make other arrangements ahead of time with either location.
• The acceptable fishing locations are ALL of Lake Michigan and adjoining Lakes and Tributaries
• For the Big Salmon Pot, the payouts will be done as a percentage of the Pot
First Place: 35%
Second Place: 20%
Third Place: 15%
Fourth Place: 10%
Fifth Place: 8%
Sixth Place: 6%
Seventh Place: 4%
Eighth Place: 2%
• Tie Breakers will be determined by the date of the weigh in. The fish weighed in earliest in the derby will win the disputed spot over a fish weighed in later in the derby. If both fish are weighed in on the same day, the prize money will be split evenly amongst the contending parties
• Our Tournament committee reserves the right to properly inspect any weighed in fish for unnatural items intended to artificially increase the weight of the fish
• In addition, we reserve the right to decline any potential weigh in if we determine doing so is necessary to preserve the integrity of the Tournament
• Cash payouts will be done through Captain Chucks. The first Segment winners will be paid out during the weekend of July 5th, and recognized during our end of the year awards banquet on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend (August 31st). Unlike past years, we will not be doing a banquet at the conclusion of the First Segment, so that everyone can enjoy the Holiday Weekend with Friends and Family
• Upon Entering for the Big King Bonanza. Registrants will be automatically entered into the Big Fish competition for the three main trout we target here, Steelhead (rainbow trout), Lake Trout, and Brown Trout.
• The biggest of each of these fish entered in each segment, will be awarded $500 Cash. That means an additional $3,000 in cash prizes awarded above and beyond what you pay for when entering the Bonanza. Tie Breakers for this category will be done in the same way as the Big Salmon category described above.
• Each entered Boat is allocated ONE spot on the Big Salmon Board. You may upgrade that position as many times as you can, however only one cash payout will be allocated to each participating boat. It is possible to win a Big Salmon prize plus one or more offspecies prizes.
• All participating individuals must have Legal Fishing Licenses if they are of age, and abide by all rules attributed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. If fishing Lake Michigan in another State, all rules and licensing required by that State is mandatory as well
• Remember that you register for this derby by the boat, not by the individual angler. So once your boat is signed up, it is covered regardless of who comes and goes from that vessel. This is why we take a boat name, length, and Captain Name upon registration
The 24-Hour Rule
Upon making your registration, the exact date and time (to the minute) will be noted and Marked by the weigh master. At that time begins a mandatory 24-hour kill period, where no weigh-ins by that boat are allowed until 24 hours after the vessel’s initial registration. This Rule is necessary to discourage cheating and thus preserve the integrity of the Derby for all contending parties.
