2026 REDFISH WORLD SERIES RULES & REGULATIONS
2026 REDFISH WORLD SERIES Rules & Procedures
Rules & Participation Agreement
RULES, REGULATIONS, COVENANTS, AND PROCEDURES
Team, Invitation, and Entry Fee
Qualified Anglers are invited to the RWS as a Team, a Team consists of two anglers. Either member of the team can sign, be responsible for, and bind his/her partner to all communication and agreements, including the weigh slip. At least one member of the team must be 18 years of age.
After the payment is confirmed no changes may be made to the members of the Team except in the most extreme of circumstances and only with the approval of the RWS.
The team entry fee for 2026 is: Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) and must be paid in full on or before the due date for all Qualified Teams, non-qualified teams can participate with an higher entry fee of Four Thousand Dollars ($4000.00):
The due date / deadline is 12:01am Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The deadline is irrevocable. Entry fee may be paid by credit card (convenience fee will be applied to credit card payments) and is available for purchase at professionalredfishleague.com. Alternative payment methods must be arranged with PRL administration, prior to registration.
If the entry fee is delinquent or a check is returned for insufficient funds both team members will be disqualified from RWS competition for the 2026 RWS and their position will be filled.
Side pot registration will take place at the Captain’s Meeting and is payable by cash only, credit card payment will not be accepted.
Optional Side Pots (All side pots are paid out 100%):
Day 1 & 2: Daily Big Fish $500 buy-in ($250.00 per day) Days 1 & 2 only and $500.00 Calcutta paying out 3 places 50%, 30%, and 20% of final results at the conclusion of day 4. All side pots are paid out 100%.
The entry fee is nonrefundable. If a team member withdraws from the field at any time after acceptance of the Official Invitation, both team members will be ineligible to compete in the 2026 RWS.
2026 RWS winners will be awarded prize money according to Matrix.
Boat numbers will be assigned by random order drawn at the Captain’s Meeting. Boat numbers will be used for Day 1 & Day 2. Day 3 launch order is determined by standings at the end of Day 2– boats will be released in standing order. Day 4 launch order is determined by Day 3 final standings – boats will be released in standing order.
Off Limits, Information Sharing, Official Practice Period, and Prohibited Techniques
There will be no restriction to the number of days anglers may practice up to and including Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Lines out of water at 2:00 PM on Tuesday September 22, 2026, and you must start heading back to boat ramp, pre-fishing stops at 2:00 pm.
However, for the Official Practice Period* beginning at 12:01am Sunday, September 6, 2026, and continuing through the conclusion of the 2026 RWS, anglers agree to abide by the following covenants:
There will be no restriction to the number of days anglers may practice up to the day of the Captain’s Meeting. All anglers must be off the water by two (2 PM) the day of the Captain's Banquet.
During the Official Practice Period anglers may not enter the tournament waters with anyone including, but not limited to, a professional guide, state or federal wildlife agency employee, or any other person deemed an ‘expert’, on the tournament waters by the RWS Official(s). We do not restrict anglers from fishing another PRL tournament or another third party tournament prior to the RWS even if it falls within the 10 days leading up to the RWS. Fishing an additional tournament during official RWS tournament days or after 2:00 PM on the day of the RWS Captain’s meeting is prohibited.
For the Official Practice Period beginning at 12:01am Sunday, September 6, 2026, and continuing through the conclusion of the 2026 RWS, anglers agree to abide by the following covenants:
During this period anglers cannot share, give, or receive information including, but not limited to, lures, techniques, location of fish, and/or navigational information with any person or persons that is not their teammate, or a paid-in-full participating Team.
Anglers cannot give or receive ANY information from non-participants, or other teams effective 9:00pm September 22 through the duration of the Tournament. Anglers cannot talk fishing with other teams, anything fishing related is strictly prohibited beginning at 9:00pm September 22 through the duration of the Tournament. You can talk about anything but fishing.
During this period anglers cannot loan a boat, or be loaned a boat, with navigational equipment on board that is not removable or that does not have the ability to be disabled. Navigational equipment of any kind may not be “loaned” to anyone else and then returned to the angler. Navigational equipment with any data pertaining to any area within a 200-mile radius of the RWS tournament launch site may not be given, obtained, or shared.
During this period anglers must either fish alone, with their designated partner. No other person will be allowed on the boat during this time period except for approved persons such as a cameraman, sponsor representative, or family member provided that the person(s) do not regularly engage in redfish competition events AND have prior approval from the RWS Producer or RWS Tournament Director.
Observe conservation etiquette regarding our coastal environments and aquatic vegetation that holds the marine creatures that attract redfish.
Compliance with Applicable Law
Anglers participating in any RWS event are required to follow all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and laws. Any violation of such regulations and laws and/or other tournament rules may result in the imposition of a fine, daily weight penalty, fishing time penalty, disqualification from a tournament day, disqualification from the entire tournament, disqualification from all future series events, or any combination thereof as decided by RWS officials.
Modification of Tournament Rules
The rules and procedures for the RWS may be modified in the case of oversight or omission of tournament rules or procedures that, in the opinion of the tournament officials, would need to be added, changed, or omitted in order to ensure fair competition and the safety of all competitors.
Extreme Weather
In the case of severe weather, the start of any or all days of the RWS may be delayed and tournament hours lengthened or shortened at the RWS official(s) discretion. Launch decisions will be made by RWS officials with the best information available at the time and with the safety of the competitors at the forefront of all decisions.
Should any day(s) of competition be cancelled due to extreme weather or the threat of extreme weather, the remedy for the day(s) cancellation will be the following or a variation thereof:
•Day 1 canceled – all teams fish starting on Day 2 and extend the event thru Sunday Day 4.
•Day 2 canceled – all teams fish day 3 with the top 20% of overall field moving into the Championship Division for Day 4.
•Day 3 canceled – The Top 20% of overall field from Day 2 standings will move on to the Championship Division on Day 4 for the Championship.
•Days 1 & 2 cancelled – All anglers fish Day 3 and the top 20% of overall field move to the Championship Division for Day 4
•Days 1 through 3 or 1 through 4 canceled – If at least two days of the RWS cannot take place over the scheduled 4-day period, the event shall be rescheduled at the earliest reasonable date.
Insurance and Registration
Current liability insurance and boat registration are required for each participant in all PRL events. It is the angler’s responsibility to maintain this coverage and ensure registration is up to date. Any boat not complying with state, federal, and local laws governing equipment requirements, registration numbers, decals, and their proper display, cannot be used in competition. If such a boat is placed in competition either intentionally or unknowingly, the angler’s catch using that boat for the day(s) it was used will be disqualified regardless of the reason.
Creel Limit, Size, and Possession
All fish accepted for weighing at the RWS will be a minimum of 20 inches and must not exceed 28 inches in length.
Day 1 – Up to three (3) fish 20 - 28 inches – must weigh-in, a minimum of one (1) fish but can weigh-in a max of three (3) on Day 1 (If you zero Day 1, you are still permitted to fish Day 2, but the max you may bring in on Day 2 is 4 fish). Release by boat number Low to high.
Day 2 – Up to four (4) fish 20 - 28 inches, if you weigh one (1) fish Day 1, and have no other fish bumped Day 1, you can weigh in a max of four (4) on day 2.
Release by reverse boat number. Cumulative weight, converted to points placement and added to Divisional points to determine Divisional Team of the Year.
Cumulative weight over day one and two placement, plus regular season points determines the Divisional TOY
Any Teams that have not fulfilled their (5) “Legal” 20-28” slot fish bag for the first (2) Days will be eliminated, and will not move to Day 3.
Day 3 – Up to Three (3) fish 20 – 28 inches
Weight back to zero. Release by standing order. Top (20%) of overall teams after Day 3 advance to Day Four
Example: We will field 1:6 Teams into the final: (24) Teams, 20% will be 5 Teams, (30) Teams, 20% will be 6 Teams that will advance to Day 4 or (36) Teams, 20% will be 7 Teams that will advance to Day 4
Day 4 – Up to Four (4) fish 20 – 28 inches
Weight back to zero. Release by standing order.
If a fish dies while being held in captivity on your boat or in your possession, that fish cannot be returned to the water and culled. A dead fish penalty of 8 ounces or 1⁄2 pound will be applied for each fish called dead at the scale. No culling of fish in the basin once you are checked in all culling must take place before you reach checkpoint.
Anglers will weigh in the designated number and size fish each day of the competition but may have as many legal fish onboard the boat at any given time throughout the tournament day as allowed by law. However, anglers must possess only the creel limit for that day’s competition when they enter the final no-wake zone to return to the launch for weigh-in.
Any team entering the final no-wake zone or returning to the launch with more fish on board than the number specified for that day will have that day’s total weight disqualified. (Exception can occur as explained under the Mechanical Break Down section)
Tournament Schedule of Events
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 on this day, anglers must be off the water by 2PM.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Captains’ Banquet & Meeting. Attendance is mandatory and will take place at 6 PM at the Captain’s Quarters, Port A Pavilion. The meeting will start at 6:00pm, and conclude at 8pm, Dinner & Drinks will be provided.
Blastoff will be at safe-light or 7AM for all anglers each day unless delayed by weather or other unavoidable instance.
Anglers will launch according to draw on Day 1 of the event and in reverse order on Day 2. Day 3 & 4 will launch in order of standing.
Return times will be announced prior to the event. Failing to return to official check point and checking in with the RWS time official by the appointed time will result in disqualification for that day and a zero-weight recorded.
If you are not weighing in fish, it is still mandatory to check in with RWS Official(s) on both days. Boat numbers are to be returned to the tournament staff.
Anglers cannot return to tournament waters any time after weigh-in prior to the next day’s launch except in the case of wet slip dockage or mechanical issues in which case an angler must have permission from RWS Official(s).
Scoring, Standing Points, and Ties
Scoring for the divisional qualifying events scores based on total points. PRL Divisional Team of Year (TOY) standing points will be reconciled after each divisional qualifier. Divisional TOY is determined by the total points of three (3) PRL divisional events, plus points from the first two (2) days of the RWS finish at the end of Day 2.
Divisional TOY points may be accumulated in as many divisions as a team wishes to participate. Divisional TOY points remain within a specific division only and with the team in each division, plus the first two (2) days of the RWS total points with the highest total weight within that division for that year.
Prize placing ties, “In the money ties”, shall be split evenly between both teams.
Example: Team AB and BC tie for first place. First place prize money and second-place prize money are totaled and split evenly. 1st place $10K & 2nd place $4K total prize $14K divided equally pays $7K to each team.
In the event a tie should occur for any special honors or awards (i.e. TOY); the prize will be split evenly between both teams.
Alcoholic Beverages and Drugs
Any angler consuming or carrying alcoholic beverages or drugs (other than their own current prescriptions or over-the-counter medication) on the boat during tournament hours (which begins at first light and ends at the conclusion of weigh-in) will have that day’s weight disqualified.
Anglers that consume any alcohol prior to a requested truth verification test on the day in which the test is being administered will be disqualified from the tournament and the team will forfeit any winnings or expected winnings.
Bait and Tackle
Only artificial lures only.
Only artificially produced and commercially available and sold bait attractants may be used.
Only one rod at a time may be used per angler.
A cast must be fully retrieved before another cast can be made by the same angler.
All redfish must be caught alive in a conventional sporting manner and in compliance with all federal, state, and local laws.
Trolling as a method of fishing is prohibited. Anglers must cast, flip, or pitch their lure to the fish they catch.
No snagging of fish and no netting or scooping of distressed, unhooked, surface fish is allowed.
No multi lure rigs are allowed.
Anglers Must Remain in Boat
All angling must be conducted from the boat.
Anglers cannot leave the boat to cast to, catch, or land a fish.
Angler(s) may leave the boat and seek safe shelter in bad weather when danger may be imminent but must continue to follow all tournament rules and procedures during this period.
Anglers may leave their boat to pull / push it out of an area where tides have gone out but cannot leave their boat to gain access to any area.
No jumping berms, levees, landmasses, or any object blocking the entrance to any waterway, either man-made or natural.
Mechanical Break Downs
Anglers experiencing boat or engine trouble have the following remedies:
Anglers can only board the boat of another competitor fishing the RWS in the case of an extreme medical emergency or where there is imminent danger to their persons, i.e. boat sinking, boat on fire, etc..
RWS Angler’s boats experiencing mechanical failure may be towed in by anyone. You must have the boat trailered at the original launch location before you can swap boats. You can have someone bring you parts and replace them if you are towed to a marina, and go back to fishing if repairs suffice.
RWS Angler(s) forced to board the boat of a non-tournament angler may have their catch for the day disqualified depending on circumstances. Must communicate with Tournament Director.
RWS Angler(s) boarding the boat of another RWS team and transferring their catch must keep the fish separate and well-marked. Both RWS teams can no longer scout or fish and must proceed immediately to the launch location.
Anglers needing or receiving any assistance from anyone should communicate to a RWS official, the boat number(s) of the assisting boat and the time(s) aid was requested, performed, begun, and completed.
Private Waters
Tournament anglers or guest(s) on their boat may not participate in any of the following to navigate, fish, practice, or compete.
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 access by any and all other anglers.
Anglers may not navigate nor fish any waters where a membership, lease, or agreement is required or must be paid unless that membership is made available to tournament officials and all-tournament anglers equally for the period beginning January 1st of the year of the event and continuing through the completion of the event.
Anglers are not permitted to cast/fish within 100 yards of a competitor’s boat (not separated by land or jetties but in the same body of water) which is anchored unless invited into the restricted area. If more than one boat, by invitation, is fishing within the restricted area then all-tournament boats are de facto invited into the same area. 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. Anglers are also not permitted to cast/fish within 100 yards of an anchored non-competitor’s boat.
Live Fish, Measuring, and Weighing
Every effort must be made to keep redfish alive and healthy for release.
A penalty of 0.50 pounds will be assessed per dead fish presented to the fish bumper for measuring. Counting of fish for being alive or dead will be determined at the time of measuring of fish except in the circumstance of an unavoidable delay.
No culling of dead fish is allowed.
Teams will be allowed to bring their days’ catch to the bump tank in the order of their arrival at the check-in dock that day. If a team is not prepared to bring their fish to the tank when called, they will be moved to the end of the line that was formed at the time they were called.
RWS fish bumper and/or tournament officials reserve the right to refuse any redfish deemed to have been altered, (accidentally or intentionally) and/or damaged sufficiently to make determining the exact length of the fish inconclusive.
There are no tail shape restrictions. Fish will not be disqualified due to the condition or shape of its tail. However, intentionally altering the shape or length of the tail or any other aspect of the fish in any way is absolutely forbidden and will result in failure of the polygraph along with a permanent ban from all RWS and PRL sponsored events. Tail Shape, conditions that raise flags will be the full responsibility of the weighmaster, weighmaster has the final say on Live, dead, altered, oversized fish.
Each fish will only be measured with its head to the left of the measuring official and the fish’s belly facing the official’s belly. Fish will be measured on this side only. A fish going over the line very slightly may be removed from the board and allowed to “rest” while other fish in the creel are measured. The “over” fish will then be measured again but only for this one additional measurement. If the fish is deemed to be over on the second measurement it will be disqualified. In the case that there are no other fish remaining in the creel at the time the “over” fish is measured, the “over” fish will be “rested” for thirty seconds and then re-measured. Maximum of two (2) measures unless the additional measure is deemed necessary by the bump official only. Bump official / weighmaster makes call on fish, this call cannot and will not be changed.
Re-weighs of a limit of fish are executed exclusively by the weigh master (not at the request of any angler) and based solely on his judgment of conditions when the automatic scales rendered their final, computer-controlled weight
RWS Anglers will use only tournament-provided forms of transport from boat live wells to fish bumper and/or tanks.
In the event of a delay by the RWS in opening the weigh scales at the designated time, the RWS will make every effort to check the angler’s fish for live or dead prior to being presented to fish measuring official.
All live fish must be kept in a live well. Ice may be added to the water for cooling purposes only to lower the temperature of the live well water. No direct icing of fish is allowed, including artificial ice or ice substitute. Fish must remain in water. No mutilated or iced fish shall be accepted. Any alteration of length or weight of redfish is prohibited and will result in disqualification from any and all future RWS/PRL events.
Dead fish may be kept separate from live fish but only with water, wet towels, or an ice substitute.
All lures, hooks, jig heads, etc. must be removed from fish prior to the final weight being recorded. To keep the fish alive anglers may wait until the fish has been counted live or dead to remove hook or jig. Failure to notify official and having a fish weighed with a hook, lure, jig or other object in its mouth may incur a penalty equal to a dead fish penalty.
Safety, Boats, Motors, and Accessories
Safe boat conduct must always be observed by competitors. During all days of competition, each boat must always adhere to Coast Guard operating regulations and have all required safety equipment on board. The Coast Guard requires that Inflatable PFDs be worn at all times unless there is an equal number of non-inflatable Coast Guard- approved PFDs on board. PFDs must be worn at all times when the big motor is running. When the boat is on plane anglers cannot be on separate platforms. For example, one angler at the helm and one angler on the bow are not allowed due to it being a safety concern.
Boating Responsibility
All anglers certify that they are fully trained and capable of operating their boat(s) in a safe and legal manner. All anglers further certify and agree that RWS, Professional Redfish League, affiliated, and subsidiary companies, the hosts, sponsors and tournament series officials, and any associated vendor(s) have no legal responsibility or control over the operation of tournament boats and that all liability for any injury, property damage, or other infraction on the water is borne fully by the anglers and their personal insurance providers.
When boating in low visibility situations (i.e., fog, heavy rain, etc.) during both practice and competition, competitors must operate their boats at a safe speed and in a safe manner.
Only a single-engine outboard-powered boat can be used in official practice or competition. No airboats, pump-driven, or multiple engine boats allowed for practice or competition. No drones, helicopters, planes or other aerial devices may be used during practice and/or competition. All boats used in competition must be seaworthy and powered sufficiently to be considered safe for operation in all weather conditions that may arise.
RWS officials strongly recommend the use of a kill switch attached to the pilot of the boat at all times the combustion engine is running, following all applicable state, federal, and local laws.
Fuel may be carried only in factory-installed (built-in) fuel tanks or coast guard approved portable containers following all applicable state, federal, and local laws.
Protest and Truth Detection
Any Protest must be submitted, in writing, with a $250 non-refundable payment per protest within 15 minutes of the closing of the weigh scales. Protest must be made in writing and in the presence of RWS official(s) and competitor being protested. The decision of the RWS Official will be final in all protest matters. The weighmaster and/or bump official cannot be protested; the measurement and weight of the fish is final.
Acts not officially protested within 15 minutes after the final angler has weighed in for that day will not be heard. Protest must be made in writing and in the presence of a RWS Official(s) and competitors being protested must be allowed to be present during the discussion.
RWS/PRL acts as a broker when hiring the truth detection administrator and has no influence on procedures, type of test, the amount of time taken, or the results of the testing.
All truth detection results are final and not contestable by any RWS competitor or their proxy.
Any claim or disagreement with truth detection results or the administration of the test must be settled between the angler(s) being tested and the person and/or company administering the truth detection test. PRL, affiliated, and subsidiary companies, the hosts, sponsors, and tournament series officials are not involved in nor in any way responsible for the results of, or methods used, in any truth detection test given.
Sportsmanship
Anglers are bound by the prevailing statutes and regulations of the state of the State of Texas. RWS anglers are responsible for research and knowledge of fishing and boating regulations, including proper registrations and insurance of vessel used in the event, fishing licenses, size limits of catch, private waters, idle and no-wake zones, etc.
No one by any means can attempt to manipulate the length or weight of any fish by any means whatsoever. Over-icing, oxygen shock, dropping of fish on the nose, manipulation of the tail of the fish, adding weight by any means whatsoever, and similar practices if at any time are discovered, or reported to and verified, by the tournament officials will result in immediate disqualification of the team from the current and all future RWS/PRL sponsored events, probable criminal charges, and public exposure of the disqualification and reason for the disqualification in the results of the tournament.
Holding, Detaining, or Stocking fish during practice or competition: Fish may not be penned, detained, or held by line, hook, cage, barrel, box, net, fence, placement in small bodies of water with blocked entrance or no entrance, or any other means of preventing fish from freely swimming with full and complete access to the entire waterway prior to being fairly caught during competition and held in a live well for weigh-in that day.
Angler(s) proved to be displaying poor sportsmanship or violating game or boating laws or the letter and spirit of these sportsmanship rules will be subject to a penalty determined on a case-by-case basis.
Pooling of winnings is strictly prohibited.
Anglers cannot purposely attempt to hurt another angler’s opportunity to catch fish. Any act or action deemed to be intentionally made in an attempt to displace, scatter, or intentionally hurt fish or fishing in an area is strictly prohibited and will result in disqualification from the current and all future events.
RWS Angler(s) receiving a ticket or citation on the water for breaking any state law relating to safety, no-wake zones, etc... will result in disqualification of the day’s catch that the ticket was issued. Failure to disclose receiving a citation/ticket to tournament officials will result in immediate disqualification from the entire event with all awards being forfeited.
Angler Code of Conduct
All anglers are expected to practice, compete, and conduct themselves in an honorable manner and to continually use their best efforts to demonstrate professionalism, ethical behavior, sportsmanship, and integrity in support of the sport of professional redfishing and the values of the PRL sponsored events.
All anglers are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner while competing at or attending any event of the Professional Redfish League, Redfish World Series, or any other entities that are associated with the aforementioned. Any conduct deemed to violate the Angler Code of Conduct may be brought up to Professional Redfish League Angler’s Committee, where it may be subject to a vote where the following but not limited to will be discussed.
Fines, loss of tournament winnings, bans from future and ALL Professional Redfish League events or its partnering events. All Votes by the Committee are FINAL. Any appeals must be in writing and presented to the Angler’s Committee for review.
Any Angler but not limited to, who does not conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER events will be subject to a vote by the Angler’s Committee.
Any Angler who shows aggression, anger, yells, criticizes, intimidates ANY Professional Redfish League Official, Tournament Director, Weighmaster, Event Coordinators, or any other staff of the Professional Redfish League, where other anglers, spectators, or event sponsors can see or hear will be subject to a vote by the Anglers’ Committee.
Any Angler that uses text, social media (Facebook, Instagram, ETC.) to publicly slander, criticize, or cast the Professional Redfish League or its Partners in a negative light will not be tolerated and will be subject to a vote by the Angler’s Committee. Tournament Director can, and will make decisions without the feedback from the Committee.
All of the above but not limited to is subject to a vote by the Professional Redfish League Angler’s Committee.
Videos, Photography, and Media
As a member of Professional Redfish League, I grant, Professional Redfish League & Redfish World Series, the rights of my image, in video or still, and of the likeness and sound of my voice as recorded on audio or videotape without payment or any other consideration. I understand that my image may be edited, copied, exhibited, published, or distributed, and waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product wherein my likeness appears. Additionally, I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising or related to the use of my image or recording. I also understand that this material may be used in diverse settings within an unrestricted geographic area.
Photographic, audio, or video recordings may be used for ANY USE which may include but is not limited to: Presentations; Online/Internet Videos; Media; News (Press); Video Presentations; Email Blasts; Brochures; Newsletters; Magazines; General Publications; Websites and/or Affiliate & Sponsor media.
I understand this permission signifies that photographic or video recordings of me may be electronically displayed via the Internet or in public settings.
I will not be consulted about the use of the photographs or video recording for any purpose. There is no time limit on the validity of this release nor is there any geographic limitation on where these materials may be distributed.
This applies to photographic, audio, or video recordings collected at any PRL events.
I hereby release any and all claims against any person or organization utilizing this material. I waive any right to inspect or approve finished photographs or electronic media that may be used in current or in the future, whether the use is known or unknown to me, and I waive any right to ownership, royalties, or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the image(s)/media.
RWS Angler Communication Methods
I consent to RWS/Professional Redfish League calling or texting the phone number(s) I supply for any purpose, including the marketing and/or updates of its current and future events. Message & data rates may apply. I agree that these phone calls or texts may be made using any method, including an automatic dialing/testing system or an artificial or recorded voice. Upon my request, the phone numbers I have previously provided will be removed from Professional Redfish League’s phone/text marketing list. I can make this request by calling, texting, emailing, or writing the Professional Redfish League office and asking to be placed on Professional Redfish League’s Do Not Call List. (b) I acknowledge that being included in any state or federal “do not call” registry will not be sufficient to remove me from Professional Redfish League’s phone marketing list. (c) I consent to Professional Redfish League emailing me, at any email address, including that of a wireless or mobile device, that I provide to Professional Redfish League, for any purpose, including the marketing of Professional Redfish League’s current and future Services. If my wireless or mobile provider charges me for receipt of such messages, I acknowledge and agree that I am responsible for paying such charges. I may revoke this authorization insofar as it relates to marketing messages at any time by calling or writing my local Professional Redfish League office.
Certification and Signature of Acceptance
I certify that I have read, understand, agree with, and accept the rules, regulations, procedures, and covenants of the 2026 Redfish World Series Participation Agreement, and by my signature (electronic registration process) herein affixed agree to bind myself and my team partner to the entire agreement and any variations of the same delivered verbally or through electronic device by tournament officials to the field. By paying for your entry fee, you release any and all Liability to the Professional Redfish League LLC, Directors, Staff, Sponsors, venue, and their families.
RWS Pre Weigh-In Process
Measuring & Weighing Procedure Alex Guerra, Weighmaster
1. When team arrives at dock grab a fish bag by the holding tank. Put all fish inside the bag(s) and wait at the holding tank to be called up for weigh in.
2. When your team is called up to weigh in, bring your bag(s) up to the bump station. Place your bag(s) of fish into the sink.
3. Once all your fish are in the sink, close the lid on the sink to let weighmaster know you are ready. DO NOT leave or walk away from the sink at any time and leave your fish unattended or your team will be disqualified. You will pick your big fish if any.
4. Once acknowledged by weighmaster, he will open the sink lid and call your fish live or dead. At this time, team will identify their Big Fish. Team is allowed to bring a culling beam / digital scale / Boga to the bump station – if doing so, be prepared and bring to weigh station. You cannot leave to recover any aforementioned devices once called to the weigh station. Culling markers/zip ties are a great way to speed up the process and are highly recommended.
5. After selecting your Big Fish, step back behind the marked line on the stage. Teams will not be allowed to talk to/pressure/complain to the Weighmaster once your fish start being measured.
6. If team is in Big Fish, your Big Fish will be measured and weighed first, followed immediately after by the measuring and weighing of the rest of your stringer.
7. Once the weigh in process is complete, you will grab your fish from the red basket by the scale, take a picture with your fish, and then fish will be released into the revive tank, or released back into the baysystem.
RWS Measurement Process
1. Prior to the weigh in each day, the slant board will be set at a minimum pitch of 10 degrees not to exceed 10.5 degrees. The slant board will also be checked daily prior to weigh in for squareness of the bump with a carpenter’s square.
2. Each fish will be placed on to the slant board belly to belly (fish’s belly to weighmaster’s belly), nose in the corner with gills closed (AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE) for each fish. The mouth may or may not be able to close but it will not be held closed or forced down further into the corner to ensure that it is closed. This is not natural for the fish. For dead fish that are stiff due to rigor mortis, we will try and achieve the nose in the corner, but we will not manipulate the fish to get the fish’s nose into the corner of the board. There is no guarantee that a dead fish’s nose will be able to fit into the corner of the board.
3. Pectoral fin on the bottom side of the fish will be tucked in for every fish regardless of live or dead.
4. Fish will be set on the board and the slider will be run to 27” (only for Redfish exceeding 27”). Once the slider is run, the fish will NOT be touched again while the slider is in place.
5. If a fish jumps/kicks/flops off the board and throws the slider, the fish will be removed from the board and completely reset, and the slider run again. This will not count as an extra measurement.
6. Once the slider is run and a fish appears to be oversized, the team will get a 5 second countdown (performed by the Weighmaster). If the fish is still oversized after 5 seconds, it will be counted as over and given a second chance to measure.
7. Second chance measurements are only provided for LIVE fish. If a fish is deemed oversized during the first measurement, the fish will be taken off the slant board, let rest for
30 seconds that will be counted by a timer, and placed back on the board for re-measure. If the fish makes it under or on the 28” mark the second measurement, it will be counted as good. If the fish is over the second measurement it will be disqualified and cannot be replaced with another fish.
8. If a fish is oversized and the tail goes back under the 28” mark at any point during the 5 second countdown, the fish will be considered good.
9. If a fish’s tail is deemed to be over pinched when it is brought into measure, (tail is narrower than the pincher would make it) then the tail will be fanned out and pincher slid to ensure a fair and accurate measurement utilizing the pincher as it was intended.
RWS Key Points
1. The definition of a live fish is one fin movement or one gill movement from the fish. The fish will be given 5 seconds to show a sign of life before it is called dead. Water/slime sticking/wind/movements from other live fish will not be considered when making the live fish call. Anglers cannot touch the fish to try and make it appear live.
2. Once Big Fish is selected and the fish goes on the board it cannot be replaced. If the fish team chose the wrong fish or if the Big Fish is deemed oversized, it cannot be replaced with another fish to be used in the Big Fish pot.
3. If team leaves a lure/spoon/jig head in the fish’s mouth due to not wanting to kill the fish before weigh in, the weighmaster must be notified so it can be removed before the fish is weighed. Failure to notify the Weighmaster will result in a 0.50 lb penalty per fish.
4. Slime on the fish’s tail can be removed prior to measuring at the team’s discretion. Water and slime at the tip of the tail tend to magnify the tip of the tail making it appear larger than it may be. Weighmaster will not be allowed to wipe off slime from fish’s tail after slider is run.
Redfish World Series Contacts
Ron Henne, Jr 361.438.7572 Tournament Director
saltyangler@att.net