West Bay Big Trout Tournament

When:
Saturday, January 25, 2025

Fishing Hours:

6:30 AM –4:00 PM

Weigh In – Confirmation

2:30 PM –4:00 PM

West End Restaurant & Sand Bar

21706 Burent Dr Galveston, TX 77554

(Sea Isle Subdivision)

Rules & Regulations
1. All Federal and State rules and regulations will apply. Violations will result in disqualification of the entire
team.
2. $100 / per Angler
3. A maximum of two (2) anglers per team. No exceptions.
4. All paid participants that check in with us at the marina during the weigh-in & polygraph / awards will
receive a gift card for use at the marina.
5. You can launch your boat, personal watercraft, or kayak from anywhere & anytime you want prior to 6:00
AM the day of the tournament. You can stage at the end of a no wake zone but must remain behind the
nearest no wake zone if using a public / private launch. If you are already on the water in a slip, residing at
private residence without a no-wake zone (house is literally on the bay) and you can legally go full throttle
from your dock, you may not leave your dock until 6:00AM.
6. If you are walking in from a public access point with no boat or kayak, you may enter the water at 5:45AM.
Please wear a light during early morning hours for your safety.
7. Anglers must stay within the stated boundaries during tournament hours.
8. Guides allowed.
9. Captain’s Meeting – FishStix 12408 Hwy 6 Santa Fe, TX 77510 – January 23, 2025 – 6 PM CST – One
member of each team must be there with their tournament scale so that it can be calibrated.
10. Wade fishing is permitted within sight of another team member (200 yard max).
11. Fishing hours will begin at 6:30 a.m. January 25, 2025 and all contestants must be back at the marina
no later than 4:00 p.m. to obtain your official weigh slip, confirm your attendance, approve the results,
polygraph(s) & awards at West End Restaurant & Sand Bar (Sea Isle Subdivision – 21706 Burnet Dr.
Galveston, TX 77554).
12. Artificial bait only! Tipping of hooks w/ dead bait, chumming or any other methods to attract fish are
strictly forbidden and subject to disqualification. All fish must be caught on a rod and reel.
13. No team is permitted to approach nearer than 50 yards to any other boat, watercraft, wader(s) or kayak
unless permission has been granted. Permission shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned, or delayed
by either team. Mutual respect is appreciated & understood. PWC must stay within 50 yards of each other
at all times.
14. No fish may be accepted from or given to another team or outside source.
15. No communication between tournament anglers. Contacting outside sources by phone or radio for purposes
of finding fish is strictly forbidden.
16. Boat, Personal Watercraft, Wade or Kayak fishing is all permitted within the stated boundaries.
17. Heaviest trout stringer will win (max of 3 trout per team)
18. Boundaries: http://goo.gl/maps/NmhMu
19. All participants will be subject to polygraph testing. Protest fees are $300.00 and will be paid by the
protesting team for the use of a 2nd polygraph. Protest fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome.
20. Anglers must have all video weigh-in submitted to tournament officials no later than 4:00 p.m.
21. All fish weighed in must meet the minimum length requirement set in place by TPWD. Any undersized fish
that are turned in for weighing that are not within regulations will disqualify the team. 15” or greater!
22. In case of a tie, weigh in time will determine the winner.
23. All Weigh master’s rulings are FINAL
24. Sponsors and organizers are not responsible for any accident or injury, nor loss, damage, or theft to any
property.
25. Check or Electronic payout to the top 5 teams (see below) ** This can be expanded if we have a great
turnout **. Payout is processed upon successful polygraph which is administered at our events. In rare
occasions we must postpone payout to the next day or Monday to accommodate our examiner & examinees
schedules.
26. Side Pot: (Optional) – $20/ angler “Big Trout” the heaviest trout will win – 60% / 30% / 10% cash payout.
In the event of a tie earlier submitted weight of fish will win. Side Pot is an individual category not a team
event. If one member on your team is in the side pot, by rule you both must be entered, no exceptions.
27. Trophies: 1st – 5th place teams will receive a plaque, 1st -3rd in the Side Pot as well.
28. Fish from your three fish heavy stringer can be used in the side pot.
29. VIDEO SUBMISSION – Videos of catches will be sent by the participant(s) as soon as possible but in no
event later than 4PM, directly to the Tournament Director. Tournament Director will acknowledge receipt
of video(s). Tournament Director and Weigh Master will confer on all submissions that they are valid, the
proper code word is heard and that the scales are zeroed and/or locked on the final weight. Your video(s)
must show a zeroed scale prior to fish being weighed and a locked in weight as part of the video
submission along with the audible code word. The video should clearly show the scale, the entire fish while
being weighed and then once the weight is locked in, the final weight both read aloud and confirmed and
visible in the video along with a successful release. Teams can submit more than 3 videos. The
tournament director & weigh master will take the top three as your score.
30. Landing, Handling & Release Procedures – Angler(s) shall make reasonable efforts to quickly dehook
and place their fish on a Boga or other similar device. The angler that catches the fish must immediately
cease fishing and promptly go and weigh their fish. No additional casting is allowed by the angler who
caught this fish until the fish is properly weighed, recorded & released. No exceptions. Anglers must
release all fish submitted for weigh in.
31. Audible Code Word – This will be announced on our website & event page, Friday evening the day before
the event.
32. Official Tournament Scale- Catch Commander – Please visit their website and use code “WestEnd” for a
discounted scale. No other scale will be allowed to be used by tournament participants.
33. Awards & Drinks: 4:30 PM, January 25, 2025 at West End Restaurant & Sand Bar 21706 Burnet Dr.
Galveston, TX 77554 (Sea Isle Subdivision).
34. Tournament Series Participants / TOY: If you are fishing the Tournament Series (4 events), the overall
Team of Year (TOY) winner will be determined by the total weights over the four events. To win the TOY
an angler(s) or team must fish all four events. The series entry is $200 / angler or $400 for a team of two.
This is a one-time payment and must be paid prior to the start of the first event.
35. TOY Substitute Angler – We are limiting the team of the year participants to two (2) man teams only.
However, you can add a substitute to any event should your original partner be unable to fish. The
substitute must pay an additional $200 series entry prior to them fishing their first event. A substitute may
only be used for ONE (1) event only.
36. Video submissions will be sent to 713-59Four-Four25Two.
37. IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER, THIS EVENT WILL BE RESCHEDULED, IF FOR ANY
REASON EVENT CANNOT BE HELD ALL ENTRY FEES WILL BE REFUNDED