PURCHASE TICKETS BY:

Each angler (adults and children) must purchase a registration ticket by 5:30 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025.

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 pickup at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce Office by calling (707) 374-2700.  The cutoff at this location is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 9.

DEDICATED BAIT SHOPS AND OTHER LOCATIONS:

Select Bait Shops will sell tickets until Thursday, October 10, at their close of business. See the Bait Shops locations page.

Tickets at these locations may not be available until 6 weeks before the event.  The cutoff at these locations is close of business Thursday, October 9.

BASS FESTIVAL WEBSITE CUTOFF: October 10 at 5:30 a.m.

NOTE:  Online tickets purchased after September 30 will not be mailed.  You can pick them up at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce until Thursday, October 9, at 5:00pm, or on Saturday, October 11, at the Weigh Station after 9:00 a.m. 

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Cash, credit cards, and checks are accepted for payment. Derby registration tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.

ADULT TICKETS:  $50.00
Each participating angler must purchase a ticket.  Each adult angler must be 16 years or older. 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 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.

NEW FISHING TOURNAMENT RULES APPLY

The tournament rules have changed and are different from the previous Rio Vista Bass Derby Tournaments. 

2 WAYS TO BE A WINNER

1. “Big Money Prize” &

2. “2nd Chance Raffle”

Anglers may submit up to two (2) fish each day of the tournament (1 per category) for a total of six (3 per category). 

A different slot length will be assigned per category.  

BIG MONEY PRIZES

Each angler may submit one (1) fish per day within the targeted slot length for the Big Money Prizes.    Entries will be ranked by the combined weight of the fish entered meeting the slot requirement.  The three winners will be determined by the greatest total weight of fish entered by each angler.

2nd CHANCE RAFFLE

Each angler may submit one (1) fish per day within the targeted slot length for the 2nd Chance Raffle.  Once the fish is entered, the angler will receive an entry into the raffle drawing.  The drawing will be Sunday, October 12, 2025, after 4:00 pm in front of Rio Vista City Hall.   Must be present to win!

NOTE TO CONTESTANTS

Striped Bass.  The slot length for each category will be announced at the start of the tournament (Big Money and Second Chance Raffle).  Fish will be measured from the tip of the nose with the mouth closed, to the fork of the tail. Then an official weight of the fish will be taken. The winners of the three (3) Big Money Prizes will be determined by combined total weight. In case of a tie in weight, the winner will be determined by the first fish weighed in for the tournament.  Second-chance winners are determined by raffle.  All CA 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 #8.

The two slot lengths will be posted at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025 on the “Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival” Facebook page and this page on our website. All Participating Bait Shops will also post the “Two slot lengths”.

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 Rio Vista. The California Striped Bass Association Isleton Delta Chapter is the official Weigh Master of the 2025 Rio Vista Bass Derby.

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

Each angler may submit up to two Stripers per day (one per category), with a total 6 striped bass for the derby (3 per category). Tickets will be marked accordingly, and all fish will be marked for identification purposes.

The Weigh Master and/or official from the Department of Fish and Wildlife reserve 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 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 CA DEPT of FISH AND WILDLIFE

Regarding 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 Quagga Mussels (QM) and Zebra Mussels (ZM).

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

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

Friday, October 10, 2025  |  9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 11, 2025  |  9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, October 12, 2025  |  9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Official weigh station is located at 1 Main Street – Next to City Hall and a short walk from the Rio Vista Boat Launch. See The Event Map Page

By Car.  When entering Rio Vista on Highway 12, turn south (5th Street) at the Shell Station (5th Street).  Proceed on 5th Street until it dead-ends at Montezuma Street. 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.

ADULT DERBY PRIZES 

“Big Money” STRIPED BASS

1st Place -  $4,000   
2nd Place -  $2,000   
3rd Place -  $1,000

SECOND CHANCE RAFFLE

Raffle Prizes!!!!!

WINNER MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE ALL AWARDS

FISHING TOURNAMENT PRIZES KIDS

Striped Bass

1st Place - $100 Gift Card  
2nd Place - $75 Gift Card  
3rd Place - $50 Gift Card

Catfish

1st Place - $100 Gift Card  
2nd Place - $75 Gift Card  
3rd Place - $50 Gift Card

Additional prizes will be based on donations. The Rio Vista Bass Derby reserves the right to substitute prizes if necessary.

Note: Each year we have been able to offer prizes for almost every entry made into the 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.

WINNER MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE ALL AWARDS

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 on board the vessel must be entered in the Derby.  

Awards are to be presented at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, at the foot of Main Street, in front of Rio Vista City Hall.

Winners will be posted on our WINNERS PAGE

WINNERS MUST BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE THEIR PRIZES.

Rules are subject to change and will be finalized no later than September 1, 2025.

CITY OF RIO VISTA BOAT LAUNCH PASS:

3-Day Pass for City of Rio Vista Launch Ramp. Limited quantity of 25 available. These passes may be purchased (Cash only) at the Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce / Visitor Center Only. Price to be announced by September 1, 2025.

CALIFORNIA STRIPED BASS ASSOCIATION ISLETON

California Striped Bass Association Isleton Delta Chapter is the official Weigh Master of the 2025 Rio Vista Bass Derby & Festival.  The Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce and CSBA Isleton Chapter have the right to disqualify angler contestants who do not follow the rules & regulations.