Coastal Redfish Tour Rules

• All anglers fishing must be members of Coastal Redfish Tour (CRT).
• One Angler per team.
• All fish must be caught in the mouth by conventional rod and reel style application. Only one (1) rod per angler may be used at a time. You must have your line fully retrieved and in the boat before casting another rod.
• Artificial Fishing Lures Only. No live or dead baits. Manufactured scents (available for other anglers to purchase) on your lures is ok but no chumming with scents. No putting oils in your live well or dumping scents overboard to help attract fish.
• This is a catch photo release tournament. Be sure the fish head is on “0” belly to belly of angler and tail should be at the full length. Photo must be taken directly over the fish no angle shots to try and make the fish look larger. You may pinch the tail if you like. Using an elastic band will help keep your hands free. A fabric covered band is good to help hold the fish in place when trying to take your picture.
• First photo must contain your kayak at first light. You may not launch until first light. No camping out till first light. Launch must be at a public area at first light.
• Photo must contain you CRT angler number given to you at registration.
• NO electronic communication during tournament hours unless emergency. If you’re broke down and will be getting a tow you must call tournament director first and let them know your situation. If its an emergency that requires a 911 type emergency, then call 911 first!!! Then call your tournament director.
• If an angler is anchored with trolling motor in the stowed position, you must stay 100 yards away. Two (2) or more boats fishing within the 100 yard distance voids this and one boat cannot drop anchor and force the other boat(s) to back off. If you are anchored and let one boat in, then all boats are invited in.
• You cannot fish within 100 yards of another, none tournament angler, that is fishing with bait.
• You must take all possible care to release all redfish in a good manner. This is a Catch And Release tournament. You cannot keep a redfish for taking home.
• Kayak anglers may launch anyplace as long as it is public for any angler to launch. No launching from private property.
• Buy in – if you cannot fish and you want to keep your qualifying chance for the later events you can pay your entry fee and not fish. You will be given points as if you had a no fish catch day. If you start the tournament league late in the season and want to qualify for championships you can pay for the past tournaments in your division and that money will be placed into championships fund. Your other option will be to fish a tournament in another division. Points stay in each division. You cannot carry points from one division to the other.
• Point system: Each angler will receive points based on the position they finish. Points will start at 1000 with 5 points dropping for each position. Example: 1st place = 1000, 2nd = 995, 3rd 990 … so on. All anglers that do not turn in fish will receive 50 points below the last fish registered. Example; if the last place fish turned in was 800 points. All “0” and buy ins will receive 750 points.
• Wading: No wading except Kayak division anglers. Kayak must be in the water with you and attached to you in some way with no more than 20’ of tethered line to you. No staking off your kayak and leaving it to fish.
• No transporting or consuming of any alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during tournament hours.
• Tournament Hours: First light – 4:00 p.m. local time. Once your number has been turned in you are considered done and can no longer fish. Any angler that comes in after 4:00 p.m. will not be allowed to weigh their fish. Any late boats will get points as if “0” fish caught.
• Membership: Each angler must join CRT to fish the tour. Cost is $35.00 per angler and this is to help cover costs to run the tour so that we can do the 100% payback out of entry fees. Membership is valid until the end of the State championship. You will receive a card for your membership. Use this card for discounts from some of our sponsors. Check our sponsors page to find out your discounts from them using your CRT card.
• Captains meeting: A volunteer captains meeting will be the night prior to each tournament. I would recommend coming to this. If you are not able to be at this meeting we will do a recap on tournament morning. Kayak anglers - It is strongly recommended that you come to the captains meeting to register and receive your number so you are not delayed to fish on tournament morning since most of you will not be fishing from the main boat ramp. If you are going out of the main boat ramp you will be released after all boats in position are released for safety.
• Kayak division entry fee for each event is $45.00 and a big fish pot is available for those interested, please check with us at the time of registration. $15.00 from each event is pulled for championship pots. Payouts will be based on $30.00 per kayak entered for each event.
• Qualifications for regional and state championships will be the same as the boat tournaments.