Big cash snapper Tournament Rules & Information

The Big Cash Snapper Tournament (“Tournament”) is a competitive saltwater fishing event organized by Big Cash Snapper, LLC (“Organizer”).
Participation signifies agreement to these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

2. TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS

• Brian Costley: (281) 932-6803 — brian@bigcashsnapper.com
• Caila Vu Beers: (832) 387-9256 — caila@bigcashsnapper.com
• Kelly Cook: (713) 263-4781 — kelly@bigcashsnapper.com

3. TOURNAMENT Dates

The Tournament shall commence at 12:01 a.m. CST on June 1, 2026, and conclude at 11:59 p.m. CST on August 28, 2026. All fish must be weighed by 11:59 p.m. CST on August 28, 2026, and must not have been caught more than 24 hours prior.

Only fish caught and weighed within the Tournament Period are eligible for prizes.

If the Federal recreational private Red Snapper season closes early, Tournament dates will adjust accordingly to align with that closure. State-water catches remain eligible while open.

Legal Harvest Requirement

All fish must be legally harvested during an open state or federal season at the time of catch. A fish caught prior to a season closure but weighed afterward remains eligible only if harvested while the applicable season was legally open and weighed within twenty-four (24) hours of capture.

4. TOURNAMENT BOUNDARIES

Eligible waters include the State of Texas territorial waters, the common boundary waters shared with Louisiana (per TPWD), and seaward extensions up to 200 nautical miles.
Fish caught outside these boundaries are ineligible.
Official map: https://bigcashsnapper.com/map/

Any fish caught outside of the defined Tournament Boundaries or outside of legally open waters at the time of harvest shall be deemed ineligible.

5. CATEGORIES & AWARDS

5.1 Target Species

Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)

• Minimum Weight: 20 lbs
• Suggested Minimum Length: 30 inches (overall; advisory only for fish > 20 lbs)
• Measurement: Tip-to-tail with mouth closed and tail compressed.

5.2 2026 Prize Distribution

Place

1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th

Awards

$25,000
$8,000
$7,000
$6,000
$5,000
$500 Sponsor Gift Card
$500 Sponsor Gift Card
Cooler
Rod
Knife

Note:

Winners may be asked to provide GPS coordinates of their catch; data will remain confidential with Tournament Owners.

5.3 One-Placement-Per-Angler Rule

Each angler may win only one (1) prize placement in the Big Cash Snapper Tournament.

Once an angler secures a qualifying placement (1st through 10th), that angler becomes ineligible for all additional placements, regardless of fish weight, ranking, or number of qualifying entries submitted.

If an angler qualifies for multiple placements, only the highest-ranking placement shall be awarded, and all lower placements earned by that angler will be forfeited and awarded to the next eligible anglers in rank order.

6. ELIGIBILITY & REGISTRATION

6.1 Age Requirement:
Big Cash Snapper is open to anglers ages six (6) and up as of June 1, 2026.
There is no maximum age limit for participation in Big Cash Snapper. Minors must participate with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
6.2 Licensing:
A valid Texas fishing license is required for all waters fished.
6.3 Registration Requirements:
Anglers must complete online registration and payment of all applicable fees before fishing.

Registration Deadline:
All registrations must be completed no later than August 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST.
A confirmation email with a timestamped registration number will be issued upon successful registration.

Anglers must be fully registered before they begin fishing or catch their qualifying fish for it to be considered eligible.

Entries submitted after fishing or a catch has occurred are ineligible for prizes.
6.4 Fees:
Big Cash Snapper – $30 + tax
World Record Bounty – $20 + tax
Captain’s Cash Prize – No Fee
Junior Big Cash Snapper – No Fee
Registration link: https://tournaments.bigcashsnapper.com/big-cash-snapper-2026/registration
6.5 Multiple Registrations:
Participants may register for both Big Cash Snapper and World Record Bounty, but must be registered in Big Cash Snapper to qualify for the World Record Bounty.
If an angler catches a qualifying fish with a different registered Captain, the Captain listed on the official weigh-in form and registered prior to the catch receives the Captain’s Cash Prize.
If no eligible Captain is registered at that time, no Captain’s Cash Prize is awarded.
6.6 Captain Eligibility:
Captains may compete in all categories but cannot claim themselves as their own Captain for Captain’s Cash Prize purposes.
6.7 Employee Exclusion
Employees of Big Cash Snapper, LLC are ineligible.
6.8 Minors & Accuracy:
Prizes to minors are awarded to their legal guardian.
Entries are non-transferable and non-refundable; participants are responsible for registration accuracy.

7. RULES OF CONDUCT

All anglers must comply with TPWD and federal laws.

Electric reels, electric assist reels, or any motorized or powered retrieval devices of any kind are strictly prohibited, regardless of manufacturer classification or level of assistance.

Only rod-and-reel methods are valid.
Once a fish strikes, the angler must hook, fight, and land it without aid except for leadering, gaffing, netting, or tail-roping.

Transferring fish between participants or unsportsmanlike conduct may result in disqualification.

All required photos and videos must be taken at the time of weigh-in and must not be altered, edited, filtered, or manipulated in any way.

8. DOCUMENTATION & REPORTING

• Immediately text a Tournament Director at (281) 932-6803 or (832) 387-9256 upon weighing any fish over 20 lbs.
Text: (281) 932-6803 or (832) 387-9256
• Submit a photo of angler and fish on a certified scale with visible weight.
• Text all photos/videos and completed official weigh-in form to a Director.

9. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES

Fish must be weighed within 24 hours of catch at a certified Big Cash Snapper Weigh Station before 7 p.m. CST August 28, 2026.
The weigh-in form must be complete, signed, and verified by a Weigh Master within 48 hours of the catch.
Fish must be fresh and unaltered

Official Weigh Stations (9 a.m.–7 p.m. daily)

• Sabine:
SGS Causeway Bait & Tackle – (409) 985-4811 – 3897 T B Ellison Pkwy, Port Arthur, TX 77640
• Galveston:
Galveston Yacht Basin – (409) 765-3000 / (409) 539-0508 – 715 N Holiday Dr, Galveston, TX 77550
• Surfside:
Surfside Marina – (979) 418-1768 / (979) 230-9400 – 827 Gulf Rd, Surfside Beach, TX 77541
• Matagorda:
Matagorda Harbor Bait & Tackle – (979) 637-0962 / (979) 863-7620 – 189 County Rd 213, Matagorda, TX 77457
• Port O’Connor:
The Fishing Center – (361) 983-4440 – 1303 Water St, Port O’Connor, TX 77982
• Port Aransas:
Fisherman’s Wharf – (361) 749-5448 – 900 Tarpon St, Port Aransas, TX 78373
• Port Aransas:
Dolphin Docks – (800) 393-3474 – 300 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373
• Corpus Christi:
Roy’s Bait & Tackle – (361) 992-2960 – 7613 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412
• Port Mansfield:
Harbor Bait & Tackle – (956) 944-2367 – 123 W Harbor Rd, Port Mansfield, TX 78598
• South Padre Island:
Gilbert’s Bait & Tackle – (956) 299-4559 / (956) 312-6851 – 803 TX-100, Port Isabel, TX 78578

Weigh Station Disclaimer:
All official Weigh Stations are independently operated businesses.
Big Cash Snapper, LLC is not responsible for the operational hours, closures, or availability of any Weigh Station.
It is the angler’s sole responsibility to confirm weigh-station hours and ensure fish are weighed within Tournament deadlines.

10. TIEBREAKERS

Ties are resolved by earliest weigh-in time; if identical, the earliest registration timestamp prevails.

11. PROTEST

Protests must be submitted via email to contact@bigcashsnapper.com by 9:00 a.m. CST August 29, 2026.

Each protest must include:

• Protestor name and contact info
• Registration number
• Statement of grounds and facts
• Supporting evidence or photos
• Requested resolution
Late or incomplete protests will not be reviewed.

12. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

All participants and their parent/legal guardian agree to submit to a polygraph examination upon request by the Tournament Directors.
Failure to take or pass the polygraph examination will result in disqualification.
Participants are responsible for travel costs associated with the test.
Tournament Directors reserve the right to order a polygraph at any time.

13. DISQUALIFICATION

Grounds include:

• Violation of law or Tournament Rules
• Dishonesty or fraud
• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Failure to comply with polygraph
• Violation of TPWD Chapter 66, Section 66.023 (“Fraud in Fishing Tournaments”)

The Tournament Directors reserve the right to disqualify any participant for any reason deemed necessary to protect the integrity, fairness, or reputation of the Tournament.

Disqualified entrants forfeit all fees and prizes and may be banned from future events.

If a participant is disqualified after provisional or final standings are announced, all affected placements shall be re-ranked and awarded to the next eligible anglers in descending order.

14. FINAL DECISIONS & TAX RESPONSIBILITY

All decisions by the Tournament Rules Committee and Tournament Directors are final. Prize winners are responsible for taxes and will receive IRS Form 1099.

15. RELEASE, HOLD HARMLESS & INDEMNITY

By registering, participants agree to release and hold harmless Big Cash Snapper, LLC, its officers, sponsors, and weight-station partners from all liability or claims, including negligence.
Parents/guardians assume liability for minors.
Winners must sign a release before receiving prizes.

16. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Any controversy arising out of or relating to Big Cash Snapper, LLC or this Tournament shall be resolved by binding arbitration conducted in the State of Texas under the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. This binding arbitration will be the sole and exclusive remedy for resolving any such claim or dispute. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO BIG CASH SNAPPER, LLC, THIS TOURNAMENT, OR ANY PART OF THIS AGREEMENT.

17. ATTORNEY’S FEES

The prevailing party in any dispute arising out of or related to Big Cash Snapper, LLC, or this Tournament is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.

18. GOVERNING LAW

These Official Rules are governed by and construed under the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

19. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Rules is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

20. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Official Rules, together with the Release & Indemnity Agreement and any documents incorporated by reference, constitute the entire agreement between the participant and Big Cash Snapper, LLC and supersede all prior agreements.