Each Adult Derby participant must be 16 years of age or older and

Kid’s Derby participants must be 15 years of age or younger. Each participant must purchase a Derby registration ticket by 5:30am on Friday, October 2, 2026.

Ticket Purchase Locations:

Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce: By mail or in person:
Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce, 33 North 2nd Street, Rio Vista, CA 94571. Tickets may be reserved for pick up at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce

Office by calling (707) 374-2700.

Cut off at this location is 2 pm on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Dedicated Bait Shop Other Locations:
Select Bait Shops will be selling tickets until Thursday, October 1,

2026 at their close of business.

See www.bassfestival.com for locations.
Tickets at these locations may not be available until 6 weeks before the event. Cutoff at these locations is close of business Thursday, Oct 1, 2026.

Online: www.bassfestival.com.
Cut off is October 2, 2026 at 5:30 am.

NOTE: Online tickets purchased after September 23 will not be mailed. You can pick them up at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce until Thursday, October 1, at 2:00 pm; or, on Friday, October 2, at the Weigh Station after 9:00 am.

Cash, Credit and Debit Cards, and Checks are accepted for payment. Derby registration

ADULT TICKETS: $55.00 - Each participating angler must purchase a ticket. Hats are limited to the first 300 – first come, first served.

KIDS TICKETS: $10.00 – Each angler must be 15 years of age or younger and can weigh-in Striped Bass or Catfish. The first 50 ticket holders are eligible to receive a “Kids” Derby Hat.

The Striped Bass must be a minimum legal size of 18” and not over 24”.

Winning fish to be closest to 24”. Catfish can be any size, fish with the top weight & length will be the winner. All other Rio Vista Derby rules and regulations apply. All entries must be caught by the child angler. Adults may not catch the entry and have a child turn it in.

Kids are NOT eligible for participation in the Adult Derby. Kids tickets must have the approval of a parent or guardian and be accompanied by them at the Derby while fishing. All participants are required to wear a US Coast Guard Certified Life Jacket while fishing in the Derby.

The Striped Bass must be a minimum legal size of 18” and not over 24”.  Winning fish to be closest to 24”.  

Catfish can be any size, fish with the top weight & length will be the winner.  All other Rio Vista Derby rules and regulations apply.  

All entries must be caught by the kid angler. Adults may miss the entry and have a child turn it in.

Kids are NOT eligible for participation in the Adult Derby.  Kid tickets must have the approval of a parent or guardian and be accompanied by them at the Tournament while fishing.  

All participants are required to wear a US Coast Guard-Certified Life Jacket while fishing in the Derby.

Striped Bass:
The “Target Length” will be selected at the start of the tournament. This measurement will be somewhere from 24 inches to 30 inches measured from the tip of the nose with the mouth closed, to the fork of the tail. Each adult angler may enter only ONE Striped Bass in this category. The adult angler who enters the Striped Bass closest to the specified length without going over will win First Place. In case of a tie in the length, the winner will be determined by greatest weight, if that’s the same then by the first Striped Bass weighed in. The “Big Money” prize winners will be announced on Sunday, October 4, 2026 after 4:00 pm in front of Rio Vista City Hall. Must be present to win!

2nd Chance Striped Bass Raffle prize:
Each adult angler may enter ONE Striped Bass EACH DAY of the 3-day tournament in this 2ND Chance Category. Once the fish is entered you will receive an entry ticket into the raffle drawing. The 2ND Chance Raffle drawing will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2026 after 4 pm in front of Rio Vista City Hall.

Salmon:
Each adult angler may enter only ONE salmon in this category. The adult angler who enters a salmon of the greatest weight will win First Place. In case of a tie, the winner will be determined by the first salmon weighed in. Anglers must keep the first legal fish captured up to the legal daily bag limit. The Salmon category winner will be announced on Sunday, October 4, 2026, after 4 pm in front of Rio Vista City Hall.

Must be present to win for both types of fish!

Each year the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce has been able to offer additional prizes in the Adult Striped Bass and Salmon money categories in the Derby because of generous donations from our sponsors and supporters. Additional prizes are to be determined pending the number of donations received.

All California Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations apply!

Anglers may fish from San Francisco Bay to Sacramento. All fish must be weighed in at the Official Weigh Station at 1 Main Street, in Rio Vista.  Check the weigh in times below in paragraph #9!

The “Target Length and 2ND Chance Slot” will be posted at 6 am on Friday, October 2, 2026 on the Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival Facebook page, “Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival” and the website: www.bassfestival.com.  You may also tune into California Sportsmen with Sep Hendrickson Radio Show ???   1140 am Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 6 am.  All participating bait shops will also post the “Target Length and 2ND Chance Slot.”

Striped Bass will be measured from the tip of the nose with the mouth closed, to the fork of the tail.

All fish entered in the Bass Derby must be measured and weighed in at the Official Weigh-In Station, located at 1 Main Street, in front of Rio Vista City Hall. The California Striped Bass Association Isleton Delta Chapter is the official Weigh Master of the 2026 Rio Vista Bass Derby.

 Each angler must present his or her own fish for measurement and weigh-in. Each angler must provide the Weigh Master with information as to when and where the fish was caught.  All anglers must present their numbered Derby entry ticket along with their California Fishing License and a Government Issued Photo ID at the time of the weigh-in. 

The Weigh Master and/or official from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to retain any fish in order to make a full investigation in any case where the weight or condition of the fish caught is challenged, or there may have been other violations of the Derby rules or state and federal laws or breaches of good sportsmanship.  The Weigh Master and/or official from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reserves the right to open and inspect any entry.  The Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce shall form a committee for any investigation; the committee will include at least one representative from the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce.  This committee reserves the right to reject any entry.  Their decisions will be final. All anglers must conform to all California Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Coast Guard rules and regulations.  In addition, any controversy or claim rising out of or relating to this contract, or the breach of this contract, shall be settled by arbitration at the participant’s expense. Additionally, all boating shall be done in accordance with the State of California & US Coast Guard rules and regulations. All occupants must wear a life-saving floatation device while fishing in the Derby.

 In case of an emergency call 911 or the US Coast Guard Station Rio Vista (707) 374-2871

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR CONTESTANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH the CA DEPARTMENT of FISH AND WILDLIFE

Regarding Golden, Quagga and Zebra Mussels

Tournament organizations and participants must comply with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and ordinances pertaining to the spread of Golden Mussels (GM), Quagga Mussels (QM) and Zebra Mussels (ZM).

1. On the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, tournament organizations (Permittees) must ensure vessels are clean and free from GM/QM/ZM before the tournament.

2. Anglers in a vessel not clean and dry or with GM/QM/ZM attached cannot participate in  the tournament.

       Friday, October 2, 2026                9:00 am – 6:00 pm

       Saturday, October 3, 2026            9:00 am – 6:00 pm

       Sunday, October 4, 2026              9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Official weigh station is located at 1 Main Street – In front of Rio Vista City Hall, and a short walk from the Rio Vista Boat Launch.

By Car: When entering Rio Vista on Highway 12, turn south at the Shell Station (5th Street).  Proceed on 5th Street until it dead ends at Montezuma Avenue. Turn left. Proceed to Front Street, another dead end. Turn left for 30 feet or so. Turn right into the city launch and parking lot.  Park there (while your fish is weighed in) and walk to the weigh station at 1 Main Street, in front of Rio Vista City Hall.

ADULT DERBY PRIZES

WINNER MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE AWARDS

                                        STRIPED BASS                                    SALMON                                   

                                      1ST Place    $4,000                              1st Place    $1,500                            

                                      2nd Place    $2,000                               2nd Place   $  500                     

                                      3rd Place    $1,000                               3rd Place   $  250                              

Winners are responsible for all state and federal taxes and registration if applicable.

The Rio Vista Bass Derby reserves the right to substitute prizes if necessary.

Additional prizes will be based on donations.

   KID’S FISHING PRIZES

            STRIPED BASS                                     CATFISH

            1st Place  $100 Gift Card                        1st Place   $100 Gift Card

             2nd Place  $75  Gift Card                        2nd Place   $75 Gift Card

             3rd Place   $50  Gift Card                        3rd Place   $50 Gift Card

Each year we have been able to offer prizes for almost every entry made into the Kid’s Derby because of generous donations from our sponsors and supporters.  We want to encourage the younger generation to learn to fish. We do hold them as accountable as adults to be honest and follow the rules & regulations listed.

Fishing is at the participant’s risk.

Fishing guides under charter are not eligible to enter; however, their clients on charter may enter. 

All clients/anglers on board ALL vessels participating in the Derby MUST be entered in the Derby!

Awards are to be presented at 4:00 pm on Sunday, October 4, 2026, at the foot of Main Street in front of Rio Vista City Hall. Winners will be posted at www.bassfestival.com.

Rules are subject to change and will be finalized before September 30, 2026.

3 Day Pass for City of Rio Vista Launch Ramp. Limited quantity will be made available. These passes may be purchased at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce / Visitor Center Only.  Price to be announced by September 1, 2026.

The California Striped Bass Association Isleton Delta Chapter is the official Weigh Master of the 2026 Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival.  The Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce and the CSBA Isleton Delta Chapter have the right to disqualify angler contestants who do not follow the rules & regulations.