FISHING TOURNAMENT RULES
TEAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE A SIGNED RELEASE FORM ON FILE BY 5:00 PM, OCTOBER 18, 2024, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
- Start Time 6:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 5, 2024
- Guided boats can have a team of four (4) people (total of five people onboard including the guide).
- Non-guided boats cannot have a licensed guide (within the last two years) as one of the five (5) individuals onboard.
- All fish must be caught on rod and reel, in strict accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife rules, regulations and Game laws (must have valid Texas Fishing License). All fish must be caught the same day as the tournament.
- All fish must be kept in fresh and edible condition. Any fish presented that has been mutilated, gutted or frozen will be disqualified and not accepted. If any fish are disqualified, they can NOT be replaced.
- Tournament fishing limited to public accessible areas of the Galveston Bay Complex which includes: East Bay, Upper and Lower Galveston Bay, Christmas Bay, Chocolate Bay, Bastrop Bay, West Bay, Dickinson Bay, Clear Lake, Trinity Bay, and all adjoining lakes and waterways and the contiguous beachfront from San Luis Pass to Rollover Pass (this includes the Galveston jetties).
- The Team may launch from any location within the boundaries of the tournament listed in Rule 6.
- Live bait and/or artificial lures are acceptable. (Cost of bait is not included in registration.)
- Bring only fish to be weighed into the weigh-in area.
- Minimum length for Speckled Trout is 15” but the max is 20”.
- Redfish will be a slot of 20” to 28”.
- Most Spots on Red entries will be judged by counting spots on one slot Redfish. Spots touching will be counted as one spot. Fish can only be used in one category. Final ruling on count is at weigh master’s discretion.
- This is a team and individual tournament. Please read Rule #14 for stringer and individual category rules. Team stringers will consist of a total of five (5) fish. A combination of reds (max two redfish) and trout or all fish may be trout. Individual categories are single largest speckled trout (15 – 20”); single largest (20” to 28”) slot redfish; most spots on one slot redfish). All fish caught must adhere to TFG laws. Violation of these laws will result in disqualification.
- Guide’s fish may be included in the total stringer weight but may not be weighed in on any of the side pots.
- The Weigh-in will be from 12:30 pm to 1:30 p.m. Each team must be in line with fish “in hand” by 1:30 p.m., NO EXCEPTIONS. The weighing of the fish may extend past “Weigh-In” time, but you must be in line.
- Each fish may only be weighed one time. If the fish is part of the team stringer it may not be used for the individual event, including most spots category.
- Protests must be presented to the Weigh Master within 30 minutes of the final weigh-in.
- If a tie in the weight exists, the earliest weigh-in breaks the tie.
- All decisions of the Weigh Master are final.
- In the event of dangerous weather, cancellation of the tournament will be at the discretion of the tournament committee.
- All boats must be in accordance with all safety standards required by state and federal enforcement agencies.
- The total team must fish from the same boat. There can be no separation of team members into separate boats. Wade fishing is permitted, but all fisherman must stay within 100 yards of each other. No pooling of fish.
- If you have ever been disqualified from a fishing tournament, you will be ineligible to participate in this tournament.
- The Weigh-In will be held at Waterman’s, 14302 Stewart Rd, Galveston, TX 77554
TOURNAMENT DAY
- Both the team and the captain are responsible for bringing a printed set of the rules on board the boat.
- Tip is not included in the registration price. Tip is not required but if the team liked their guide, a tip is encouraged. Average tip is around $15-$25 per person.
- Share with your guide the prize possibilities. This information will be emailed to the person listed as the registration contact on the registration form on the Friday prior to the tournament.
- Bring a cooler to take your catch home from the tournament. If you are going straight to Moody Gardens to attend the Deepwater Operations/Topsides Platforms Hulls Opening Reception – Moody Gardens catering has offered accommodations to chill any fish that will be kept and taken home from the tournament for our attendees.
ALL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO POLYGRAPH TEST