Rules

OFFICIAL RULES & REGULATIONS OF THE 2024 ANNUAL SHALLOW SPORT OWNERS TOURNAMENT 

It is the contestant’s responsibility to read, understand, and comply with all of the rules outlined below.  Noncompliance will be grounds for disqualification from the tournament and future barring from activities sponsored by Shallow Sport of Texas, Inc.  By entering this tournament, each contestant agrees to abide by these rules and agrees that any decisions of the Tournament Directors will be final. SHALLOW SPORT OF TEXAS, INC. AND TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE ENTRY INTO THE TOURNAMENT TO ANY ANGLER.

  • All participants in the Tournament must be aware of tournament rules including additions or changes made on or before May 10, 2024.
  • IGFA rules apply. Anglers must have a current fishing license.
  • All participants must fish from a Shallow Sport Boat. Wade fishing is permitted within sight of boat only. No tubes, kayaks, fishing from the dock or remote drop off (not within sight of the boat) allowed.
  • There are 4 divisions: Guided Artificial Only Team, Amateur Artificial Only Team, Guided Open Team, Amateur Open Team, and Individual Youth division. 
  • Youth fish can be eligible towards team stringers.
  • Amateur Division anglers may not be or shall not use professional guides or commercial fishermen to obtain fish. Any boat that has a professional angler on board, or is aided by a professional angler, will qualify the entire team deemed as entered into the guided division.
  • Artificial Only Division anglers shall not use live or dead bait to obtain fish. Any team that has a member who fishes with live or dead bait will qualify the entire team deemed as entered into the Open Division.
  • Each team will consist of a minimum of one angler, and no more than Five Anglers on vessels less than 24’ in length, and Six anglers on vessels 24’ in length and larger, including the captain. Number of anglers on boat must not exceed Coastguard rating. No one is allowed on board the boat if he/she is not registered as an angler of that boat’s team. 
  • Each angler will be registered by boat/team. A number will be issued for each boat/team. Your number MUST be displayed (visibly near windshield) on your boat during the entire tournament.
  • All boats must be in the same area in the bay for a shotgun start on Saturday May 11, 2024 at 6:30 am SHARP!
  • Each team will be allowed to weigh in one Redfish, one Speckled Trout, and one Flounder (one stringer per team, for a total possible combination of 3 fish total per team-NOT COUNTING YOUTH FISH).
  • Winning fish will be determined by heaviest weight. The combined weight of three fish stringer. (One Redfish, One Trout, One Flounder.) In the event of a tie, the winner will be decided by length, and then by earliest weigh-in time.
  • Only one rod per angler is allowed in the water at one time. Fish must be caught on a rod and reel with live, dead or artificial bait.
  • Boats participating in the Tournament should not be in contact during official fishing hours with any other boat, unless approved by the tournament directors.  Contact #s for directors are provided.
  • Weigh-in time begins at 1:00 pm and ends at 3:00 pm, May 11, 2024. The last person in the weigh-in line at 3:00 pm will be identified by tournament staff. Weigh in card must be signed by the team captain when the fish are weighed in prior to leaving dock. Fish will only be weighed one time. Make sure the weights are correct before signing the weigh in card. All fish brought in by land are subject to the same rules.
  • No red drum over 28” will be weighed. No Oversized Fish Allowed at Weigh In.
  • A professional weighmaster will weigh in fish. If in her opinion, the fish was caught outside the tournament time frame or was tampered with in order to alter its weight and/or length, the contestant agrees to take a polygraph test. If the polygraph test confirms this opinion or if the contestant does not take the test, contestant will be disqualified from the tournament and agrees to forfeit all right to winnings.
  • All protests, objections, or suspicions of rules violations must be provided in writing to the Tournament Directors prior to the end of weigh in. Failure to provide written notification will be grounds for dismissal of the objection. It will be the sole decision of the Directors whether to request a polygraph.  All tournament entrants agree to submit to polygraph examination if requested. Top 3 teams will undergo mandatory polygraph at time and location chosen by Directors.