2023 Professional Redfish League Kayak Division Rules & Regulations

RULES AND REGULATIONS

All rules stated below will remain in effect for the 2023 Professional Redfish League Kayak Series. All decisions made by the tournament director and/or tournament officials will be final in all matters. The tournament director and/or the tournament officials can make a change when the safety of a contestant is in question or by a unanimous decision by the tournament committee.

A $100.00 per Angler Membership Fee is required for all participants in the 2023 Series. This helps covers expenses for Insurance, contract labor, and other expense to hold these events.

Any changes to the rules will be posted on the website www.professionalredfishleague.com and communicated to the tournament members in the pre-tournament meeting before the tournament.

Warnings, penalties, and disqualifications will be determined by the tournament officials. A signature on one set of rules and regulations is applicable for the PRL events and may be used as an acknowledgement for such.

RULES
Each participant (“contestant”) must read and acknowledge the following rules and indicate so by signing an entry form. A “team” shall consist of (1) contestants, Individual.

1) Applicable Laws: Federal, State and Local laws shall be always obeyed by contestants. Contestants choosing to fish outside of Texas waters shall adhere to the local and state laws of the venue in which the contestant is fishing, including purchasing and possessing a valid fishing license for that state effective for the dates of competition. Violation of any federal, state and/or local laws shall result in the disqualification of the individual and his team from the Professional Redfish League event.

2) Tournament Eligibility: Contestants under 18 years old must fish with their legal guardian, or another adult approved by the minor’s legal guardian. The Professional Redfish League reservesthe right to refuse participation in any event to any individual and/or team at the discretion of the tournament director.

3) Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal Drugs: Consumption of any alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during tournament hours is prohibited and will result in disqualification. Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs may not be in the possession of any team member or on board a participating boat during the hours of tournament competition.

4) Sportsmanship: Professional Redfish League participants are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and ethics. Unsportsmanlike and unethical conduct will result in disqualification. Please refer to the Texas Boating Safety Rules, and TP&W rules and laws.

5) Permitted Tournament Fishing Waters: Contestants may fish in any inshore / offshore public water accessible by boat. “Inshore / offshore” for this series is defined as the navigable, tide consumable coastal waters, bays, rivers, and wetlands, extending to the inside / outside of the passes to The Gulf of Mexico.

Private Waters

PROFESSIONAL REDFISH LEAGUE anglers may not participate in any of the following to navigate, fish, practice, or compete.

1. Lift, unlock, or pass-through gates, chains, booms or other canal or river objects (not including lock systems between public waters) normally closed and used to restrict boat traffic in what is known, or should be known, to be private waters and not open to all anglers equally. Additionally, anglers may not cause any navigable waterway to be obstructed which would or could prevent entry by all other anglers.

2. Any water without obvious vessel restricting objects could still be private and anglers must leave and not return during practice or any days of tournament competition if asked to leave by a person or persons that own the property or are designated in writing as authorized to manage the property. Returning to the same waters after being asked to leave, even if by alternate routes, during practice or the event will result in disqualification.

iii. Anglers may not navigate nor fish any waters where a membership, lease, or agreement is required to be paid unless that membership is made available to PROFESSIONAL REDFISH LEAGUE officials and all PROFESSIONAL REDFISH LEAGUE anglers equally for the period beginning April 1, 2023, of the year of the PROFESSIONAL REDFISH LEAGUE event and continuing through the completion of the event.

1. Anglers are not permitted to cast/fish within 100 yards of a competitor’s Kayak (not separated by land or jetties but in same body of water) which is anchored (an anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a power-pole, talon, line attached to a weight, or other device used for keeping a vessel in place and/or tethered and stationary and has the trolling motor in the stowed position. If the boat does not have a trolling motor, the definition of “anchored” still applies to stationary boats held in place by the manner herein described.

No fishing is allowed within 200 yards of any ferry landing.

• Contestants shall not fish in any area which has been “closed” by a governmental agency.

• Wade fishing is NOT allowed.

• Participants are not allowed to fish within 100 yards (300 feet) of another anchored Kayak, unless they are invited in by that team. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by an anchor, a weight, push pole, Power-Pole, or other “anchoring” mechanism with the trolling motor in the up position. If a team invites another team into the inviting team’s 100-yard area, any tournament participant is also allowed within the waived area. The anchored boat in an area first has the right to 100-yard radius of the area. If the boat does not have a trolling motor the definition of anchored still applies.

6) Permitted Fishing Methods: All tournament fish shall be taken by rod, reel, and Artificial tackle, only. Contestants shall not “harass” fish. Prior to and during the tournament, contestants shall not “cork” or otherwise mark fish or schools of fish for identification for the purposes of locating fish during tournament hours. Wade-fishing is NOT allowed.

7) Weigh-in times for all divisions will be between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Contestants who are not at the official checkpoint area at the appointed time will be DISQUALIFIED. Teams who are not able to check in due to equipment failure or other unforeseen circumstances are responsible for contacting the tournament director before the official check-in is over.

Ron Henne Jr. 361.438.7572

8) Polygraphs: By signature on the official tournament entry form, each contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph test and be bound by its interpreted results and conclusions. Any team, person, or contestant in each event shall be subject to a polygraph examination and will not receive any award until the test has been administered and determined to be non-deceptive. Polygraph tests may be issued at the discretion of the tournament director/committee for any reason, and each contestant hereby acknowledges and consents to the examination. The results and interpretations of the polygraph are final, and each contestant hereby knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily waives any review of said test result, including any judicial process seeking to overturn, amend or otherwise negate the finding of the test administrator. Polygraphs will be given at each event.

9) Insurance and Liability: It is the responsibility of the Kayak owner to carry liability insurance covering the vessel. The Professional Redfish League will not issue liability coverage for its events. All tournament participants are required to sign a waiver absolving all tournament officials, officers, participants, sponsors and co-sponsors from any responsibility for damage or personal injury sustained as a result of the contestant’s participation in the tournament or its related activities, and the contestant’s signature on this form shall constitute an alternate release in the instance the member fails to sign the official DECLARATION, WAIVER, RELEASE, AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT.

10) Pre-Tournament Captain’s Meeting: Late Tournament Registration for the Saltwater Angler Series will be on Saturday evening before the tournament date between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM. A Mandatory “Captains” pre-tournament meeting will be held following registration at 7:30 PM. Each team shall attend the Pre-Tournament meeting. Participants may be excused from the Saturday night meeting if arrangements are made with the PRL. Participants must have written or email documentation from the PRL office and present it upon registration if the participant is excused from the Wednesday meeting. If a contestant fails to attend the registration and pre-tournament meeting without permission from the Saltwater Angler office, a one (1) pound, per fish, per day penalty, will be assessed against the team’s fish at weigh-in.

11) Communication: No communication via multi-media methods, social networking, cell phone, e-tablet, laptop, radio, pager or any other device will be allowed from outside sources or tournament participants during tournament hours that will give a team or contestant any advantage from data or information regarding fishing the event. Purchasing of information and/or hiring of services from local experts or guides will not be permitted within 7 days prior to the competition. Face-to-face information shared between teams during tournament hours may not be used to give either team an advantage over other teams. If a team has an emergency, a mechanical problem, or needs immediate assistance, teams may contact local authorities, emergency services, the Coast Guard or the Tournament Director Ron Henne Jr. (361)438-7572. Teams must notify the tournament director immediately if these circumstances exist. * in other words, don’t be calling your buddies to find out if they are catching, and where.

12) Entry Fees, Tournament Registration and Identification: The entry fee for the event is $100.00 per Individual Redfish “Kayak” team. $100 Big fish paid in CASH at Captains meeting. $100.00 per angler Membership Fee The entry fee is non-refundable. Teams must have 100% of the tournament’s entry fee paid in full 5 days prior to the event date. A late fee of $50.00 per team will be assessed to teams who pay after the deadline (5) days before event. The entry and late fees can be paid in Cash at Captains meeting in CASH only. All entry fees and deposits are non-refundable and are in consideration for holding a team’s spot and calculation of projected winnings for tournament officials. We will not do Deposits.

Championship:

$500 Entry Per Individual Team, this must be paid within (5) days of event

Individuals must fish (3) events to Qualify for the Kayak Championship, Angler (TOY) will be announced at that time after accruing points through (3) regular events and Championship.

13) Boat, Motor and Horsepower Regulations:

Kayak Teams must abide by all Coast Guard, Local, State, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Laws. Kayak teams will be allowed to use battery powered propulsion, paddle, and foot peddle. Kayak Teams must have proper tags, lighting, and all safety equipment that is required to operate a kayak in Texas waters.

14) Launch: Kayak Teams may launch from their location of choice.

Kayak Teams cannot have lines in water until specified time given at the captains meeting.

Kayak teams must text launch location to tournament Director, this is for your SAFETY, this information is not shared, and is used only in an emergency.

*This is very important.

15) Safety: Safe boating will be always observed. Each contestant is required to properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal floatation device anytime the combustion engine is engaged, Kayak Anglers are to always wear this device while on the water. Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left totally to the discretion of the tournament director/committee. A 4-hour period shall constitute a day of fishing. It is the competitor’s responsibility to communicate with the Tournament Director if cancellation of the event is suspected. If conditions are not safe on the tournament day, the Professional Redfish League reserves the right to reschedule the tournament on the following day or later date. If conditions are not favorable.

16) Tackle and Equipment: Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait, dead bait or prepared bait will be permitted. Only one rod and reel may be used at any one time per angler in the Boat.

17) Fish: This format will consist of a (2) fish limit. A Kayak Teams tournament weight will consist of a combined (2) red drum (“redfish”), measuring no less than 20 inches and no more than 28 inches in Texas. Cumulatively, in no instance may a team possess a number of redfish over the team’s limit. Live fish may be culled; teams must keep (retain) dead fish, these will account towards your bag limit. Contestants are responsible for keeping their REDFISH alive. Any dead fish tendered for weight will be assessed an eight-ounce penalty per fish. No altered, mutilated, or iced fish will be accepted. REDFISH will be inspected for alterations in size, lengthand weight. Any altered fish shall result in the disqualification of the team weighing the altered fish and may result in a perpetual ban from the PRL and future events.

There will be NO CULLING at the weigh-in.

All fish must be within the TPWD regulations, and LDWF regulations.

18) Scoring: Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the total weight of each team’s catch during the tournament consisting of Two (2) redfish, measured in pounds and 100ths of a pound. Only redfish at least 20 inches in length, but less than or equal to 28 inches in length may be weighed-in, and the size we are going to use for Louisiana will be 20” to 27”. All redfish must be brought to the weigh station in a live weigh-in tournament bag provided by the Saltwater Angler Series. Fish may not be brought to weigh-in on a stringer or in a basket. Redfish shall be weighed with the equipment provided by the Saltwater Angler Series. Winner will collect 200 points, 2nd place 199 points, 3rd place 198 points and so on. Those that zero for the event will receive 40 points less than the last team that weighed in fish. Ex. Last team to weigh a fish finished in 33rd place would receive 167 points, a team that zeroed for that same event would receive 127 points. Points will be used for Team of the Year prizes.

19) Ties: If two or more teams have identical weight in the tournament, it will be considered a tie. In the event of a tie, the prize money from the consecutive places will be combined and split between the teams. For example, if two teams tie for fourth place, the amounts designated to fourth place AND fifth place will be combined, divided by two, then distributed to the teams, equally.

20) Protest Procedure: All protests must be submitted in writing, along with a $250 cash deposit. Protests must be submitted to the tournament director no later than 15 minutes following the weigh-in of the last fish. All decisions will be made by the tournament director and rules committee and are final. If the protest is upheld, the cash deposit will be returned to the person submitting the protest. The protester agrees that by filing a protest, he may be subject to a polygraph test.

21) Permission to be filmed for Television: All participants agree to be filmed, photographed, taped, interviewed, quoted or otherwise revealed, without compensation, by the Saltwater Angler Series or its assigns. This includes but is not limited to the official photographers, writers, hosts, or sponsors of this event under the conditions authorized by the Saltwater Angler Series organizers. Each contestant, by his signature affixed on entry form, hereby gives the Saltwater Angler Series, and it assigns, the right to use (without compensation) the contestant’s name, picture, likeness, quotes, and biographical information, whether audio or visual, before, during and after the period of an individual or team participation in an event.

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