30th Annual Rappahannock River Rockfish Derby (2025)
TEAMS: Entries will be limited to a maximum of 50 teams per day. A team is defined as a team boat, a team captain, and up to seven crew members. The captain must be at least 18 years old and must always be on the boat when fishing. Unregistered spectators are not allowed on a team boat when fishing.
REGISTRATION: Registration fees must be paid by 10:00am before leaving the dock on each day of the tournament. The registration fee is $80 per boat per day for a captain and up to three crew members. There is a fee of $10 for each additional crew member on either day. The registration form and payment must be delivered to Greenvale Marina, 137 Fairweather Lane, Lancaster, Virginia 22503. Checks to be made payable to “Greenvale Marina.”
- Derby Champion ($500) is for the combined weight of up to three rockfish between 19” and 24” long caught and weighed in on a single day (either Saturday or Sunday). Minimum cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100 to be awarded for Derby Champion, 2nd Place, and 3rd place. A team who fishes on both days can win two of the three prizes.
- Youth Champion ($50) is for the heaviest rockfish between 19” and 24” long caught and weighed in by a youth during the Derby. A cash prize of $50 will be awarded. To qualify, a youth must be at least 6 years old but younger than 16 as of November 29, 2025.
- Calcutta Prize ($500) is for the longest rockfish caught during the Derby. A Minimum cash prize of $500 will be awarded. Fish longer than 24” must be photographed and released.
DAILY CATCH:
- Weigh-Ins: Teams may weigh-in up to three (3) rockfish per day that are between 19” and 24” long. The longest rockfish can also qualify for the Calcutta Prize. One of the rockfish can also be designated for the Youth Championship.
- Photographs: Teams must provide photographic evidence for rockfish longer than 24” for the Calcutta Prize. The time-stamped photograph must clearly show: 1) the boat captain on the team boat, 2) a rockfish next to a tape measure, and 3) a display of the word of the day. A time-stamped video including the spoken word of the day is also acceptable.
FISHING BOUNDARIES: Fishing is allowed on the Rappahannock River and its tributaries between the Norris Bridge (White Stone/Topping) and the Downing Bridge (Warsaw/Tappahannock).
FISHING HOURS: 6:00am to 3:30pm – Any boat in Greenvale Creek by 4:00pm and proceeding directly to Greenvale Marina will be eligible to weigh their fish.
WEIGH-IN: The official weigh station is Greenvale Marina, 137 Fairweather Lane, Lancaster, Virginia 22503. Fish must be brought to the Greenvale Marina weigh station on the team boat by way of water unless otherwise authorized by Derby Director. Ties for Derby and Youth championships will be determined by the earliest time weighed in. Ties for the Calcutta Prize will be split equally.
DERBY COMMUNICATIONS: All communications before and during the Derby will be by cell phone or text. The captain or a designated teammate must register a team cell phone number. The cell phone must always be charged and in the boat while fishing.
SAFE & RESPONSIBLE BOATING: Greenvale Creek is a “No Wake” creek. Teams shall proceed through Greenvale Creek and its channel in a safe and orderly manner. Any team traveling through Greenvale Creek excessively fast will be penalized or disqualified.
WEATHER: Participants must make their own judgments on whether to fish under the prevailing weather conditions based on the size and seaworthiness of their boat and their seamanship skills. If the Coast Guard has issued a Small Craft Advisory on the Rappahannock River, fishing will be cancelled for the hours and areas listed in the advisory. Captains are responsible for checking weather and Coast Guard advisories.
CANCELLATION: Only one day of fishing is necessary to make the Derby official. If fishing is cancelled on both November 29 & 30, then a one-day tournament will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Refunds for missed days will be provided.
DISABLED VESSEL: In the event a boat becomes disabled during the Derby), the captain must notify the Derby Director as soon as possible and await further instruction. Good Samaritans who assist a disabled boat will be granted extra time at the Derby Director’s discretion.
SEPARATION OF VESSELS: At no time during Derby fishing hours is a boat permitted to approach another boat unless authorized by the Derby Director or in emergency situations.
PICTURES & PROMOTION: Derby participants consent to the Derby’s use without payment or restrictions, any photographs taken during the Derby, of the captain, teammates, or boat for any purpose whatsoever.
PRIZE POOL: The greater of $1,400 or 60% of registration fees will be placed in a pool for the Derby Champion, 2nd place, 3rd place, Youth Champion, and Calcutta Prize.
BENEFICIARY: The Greenvale Creek Maintenance Association is the beneficiary of the undistributed registration fees.
RISKS & WAIVERS: Derby participants accept the risks and dangers involved in such activity, and they acknowledge that unanticipated or unexpected dangers may occur. Participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless: Greenvale Marina LLC, and Greenvale Creek Maintenance Association including their officers, directors, members, committee members, assigns, sponsors, lessees, agents, and employees from any and all liability for any claim, loss, injury, damage, demands, actions, choses in action, costs, accidents, libel, slander, negligence and/or death suffered by any teammate, boat and/or other persons which may occur during their term of participation in the Derby.
Greenvale Marina 