Most fisheries when there's a closed season not only can't you have C&R tournaments you can't target the species period. Doing so is considered fishing for them during the closure and subject to some heavy fines. No different than people in salt water trying to fish over the 3 mile line for stripers or small mouth fishing in NY at Lake George before the season is opened. If you're caught targeting, your fined whether you have possession or not. You're fined in NY even if you never had a hit but it appears you're targeting smallies before the opener. I was at Lake Hopatcong two weeks ago and stopped at Lake's End marina. There had to be 10 bass boats fishing that cove! Asked the owner and he said there's bass tournaments just about every week. Don't agree with NJF&G on this one. If the season is closed. especially during the spawn, it should be closed to everyone.