Big Cash Snapper Tournament Rules & Information

1. Introduction

The Big Cash Snapper Tournament ("Tournament") is a competitive fishing event organized by Big Cash Snapper, LLC ("Organizer"). The Tournament is open to eligible participants who agree to abide by these Official Rules and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

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. Central Standard Time (CST) on June 1, 2025, and conclude at 12:01 a.m. CST on August 31, 2025 ("Tournament Period"). Only fish caught within the tournament period shall be eligible for prizes. In the event that the Federal recreational private Red Snapper season is closed early, the Tournament period will be adjusted accordingly to coincide with this closure date. If the Federal recreational private Red Snapper season closes early, you can still fish if the State waters remain open for Red Snapper fishing.

4. Tournament Boundaries

The Tournament shall be conducted within the territorial waters of the State of Texas, including the common boundary waters of Texas and Louisiana as defined by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and the extension of Texas borders seaward up to 200 nautical miles. Any fish caught outside these boundaries shall be ineligible for entry (https://bigcashsnapper.com/map/).

5. Tournament Categories and Prizes

● Prize: $50,000
● Awarded to the participant who catches the heaviest (by weight) Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) during the Tournament Period.
● Minimum Weight: 20 lbs.
● Minimum length: 30 inches from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail

6. Eligibility and Registration

● 6.1 Age: Participants must be at least six (6) years old as of June 1, 2025.
● 6.2 Fishing License: All participants must possess a valid Texas fishing license appropriate for the waters in which they are fishing.
● 6.3 Participants Legal Guardian: Participants must complete the official Tournament registration form prior to fishing in the Tournament; this can only be done by paying and registering online, a time stamped registration number will be issued to you by email. Any fish hooked or caught prior to time stamp will not be eligible to be entered in The Big Cash Snapper Tournament. The entire responsibility of the validity of the entry status falls solely on the participant(s).
● 6.4 Registration Fees:
- Big Cash Snapper: $25 plus applicable taxes
- World Record Snapper Bounty: $15 plus applicable taxes
- Captain's Cash Prize: No Fee
- Junior Big Cash Snapper: No Fee
- Registration Link: https://tournaments.bigcashsnapper.com/big-cash-snapper- 2025/registration/
● 6.5 Multiple Registrations: Participants may register for both the Big Cash Snapper and World Record Snapper Bounty categories but must pay the respective fees. Participants may only be linked to one Captain. In the case of multiple registrations by the same angler, the first Captain linked on the initial registration will be eligible for the Captain's Cash Prize. If no Captain is linked on the first registration, no Captain's Cash Prize will be awarded.
● 6.6 Captain Eligibility: Captains may register for the Big Cash Snapper and World Record Snapper Bounty categories, subject to registration fees being paid. Captains are ineligible to link themselves, or another Captain, to their own registration for the Captain's Cash Prize. Therefore, if registered to another Captain, NO Captain Referral Cash Prize will be awarded if a Captain catches The Big Cash Snapper and/or World Record Snapper Bounty. Captain’s will be issued a registration number by email upon registering, to verify your information is correct.
● 6.7 Employee Exclusion: Employees of Big Cash Snapper, LLC, including salaried and commissioned employees, are ineligible to participate in the Tournament.
● 6.8 Minors: If a participant under eighteen (18) years of age wins a prize, the prize will be awarded to their parent or legal guardian.
● 6.9 Non-Transferable: All Tournament entries are non-transferable and non-refundable.
● 6.10 Responsibility for Accuracy: Participants are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their registration information. Big Cash Snapper, LLC is not responsible for errors in anglers registration information . A time and date stamped registration number will be sent to you by email from each prize pool registered in, check this information to make sure it is correct.

7. Rules of Conduct

● 7.1 Compliance: All participants must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local fishing regulations, including those set forth by TPWD, as well as these Official Rules and the terms of the Release and Indemnity Agreement (see Section 14).
● 7.2 Fair Angling: All fish must be caught by the registered participant using a rod, reel, line, and hook.
● 7.3 No Electric Reels: The use of electric reels is strictly prohibited.
● 7.4 Eligibility of Vessels: Anglers are allowed to fish Head Boats (Party Boats), Private-for-Hire, and Recreational Vessels. Any Red Snapper caught under the all recreational quota (private angling and private-for-hire quota) will be accepted for weigh in.
● 7.5 Assistance: Once a fish strikes a bait or lure, including if the rod is in a rod holder, the registered angler must hook, fight, and land the fish without the aid of another person, except as specifically permitted herein. Assistance from another person is allowable only for the following: rigging tackle, casting, leadering, gaffing, netting, grabbing, or tail-roping the fish. Any manipulation of the rod or reel by another person after the fish has struck, except to set the hook, will result in disqualification.
● 7.6 No Transfer of Fish: The transfer of fish between Tournament participants is strictly prohibited.
● 7.7 Sportsmanship: All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner. Unsportsmanlike conduct, as determined by the Tournament Director, may result in disqualification.

8. Documentation and Reporting

● 8.1 Immediate Notification: Participants must immediately notify a Tournament Director via text message to (281-932-6803) upon weighing a fish over the 20lb minimum tournament requirement.
● 8.2 Photo Documentation: A photo will need to be taken showing the fish and angler on the scale with the weight clearly showing, also a photo of the scale certification.
● 8.3 Photo Submission: All photos and/or video documentation must be submitted via text message to (281-932-6803) and emailed to all Tournament Directors (Link to Contact Info).

9. Weigh-In Procedures

● 9.1 Official Weigh Stations: All fish must be weighed at an official Big Cash Snapper TX Weigh-in Station on certified scales and verified by a Tournament Weigh Master. See official Weigh Stations here: https://bigcashsnapper.com/weigh-stations/
● 9.2 Weigh-In Deadline: Fish must be weighed within twenty-four (24) hours of being caught. No fish will be accepted for weigh-in after 7:00 CST on September 1st, 2025.
● 9.3 Weigh-In Form: Participants must make sure the official weigh-in registration form is filled out in its entirety and signed by all necessary parties, failure to do so will deem fish ineligible. This form must be completed before the weigh-in deadline. The form is available at the weigh-in station or accessible online (link).
● 9.4 Condition of Fish: Fish must be in good condition, not frozen, spoiled, gutted, altered, or mutilated. The Tournament Director has the sole discretion to determine the condition of the fish.
● 9.5 Official Weigh Stations: (Open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. daily during the Tournament Period)
● Galveston: Galveston Yacht Basin
(409) 765-3000
715 N Holiday Dr, Galveston, TX 77550
● Surfside: Surfside Marina
Santos: 979-418-1768 or (979) 230-9400
827 Gulf Rd, Surfside Beach, TX 77541
● Matagorda: Matagorda Harbor Bait & Tackle
Mark: 979-637-0962 or (979) 863-7620
189 County Rd 213, Matagorda, TX 77457
● Port Aransas: Dolphin Docks
(800) 393-3474
300 W Cotter Ave, Port Aransas, TX 78373
● SPI/Corpus Christi: Roy’s Bait & Tackle
(361) 992-2960
7613 S Padre Island Dr, Corpus Christi, TX 78412

10. Tiebreakers

In the event of a tie in weight, the fish weighed in first shall be declared the winner. If the weigh- in times are identical, the participant who registered for the Tournament first shall be declared the winner.

11. Protest

● Any and all protests must be submitted in writing to the BIG CASH SNAPPER Tournament Director at 509 Northview Drive, Friendswood, TX 77546 by 5:00 pm on September 12, 2025.
● The written protest must include the following:
- Protestor Information: Provide the name, address, and contact information of the protestor.
- Statement of Legal and Factual Grounds: Clearly state the legal and factual grounds for the protest, including a detailed explanation of why the protest believes the Big Cash Snapper Tournament Rules Committee and the Tournament Director’s decision was incorrect.
- Supporting Evidence: Include any relevant documents or evidence that support the protestor's claims.
- Relief Requested: Specify the relief or remedy sought by the protestor, such as the cancellation of the prize awarded or a re-evaluation of proposals.
- Signature: The protest must be signed by the protestor or an authorized representative.

12. Polygraph Examination

All participants, including minors (through their parent or legal guardian), agree to submit to a polygraph examination upon request by the Tournament Director. Failure to take or pass the polygraph examination will result in disqualification. Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses related to the polygraph examination. The Tournament Director reserves the right to order a polygraph test at any time.

13. Disqualification

● 13.1 Grounds for Disqualification: The following actions will result in disqualification from the Tournament:
- Violation of any federal, state, or local fishing regulations.
- Violation of any of these Official Rules.
- Failure to take or pass a polygraph examination.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Any act of dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation.
- Having been charged with or convicted of an offense as defined in TPWD Rules & Regulations or Chapter 66, Section 66.023 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code ("Fraud in Fishing Tournaments").
● 13.2 Forfeiture: Any participant disqualified from the Tournament shall forfeit their entry fee and any claim to prizes.
● 13.3 Ban: Any individual disqualified under Section 13.1 shall be banned from participating in any future Big Cash Snapper tournaments.

14. Final Decisions and Prize Winner Responsibilities

● 14.1 Final Decision: The decisions made by the Big Cash Snapper Tournament Rules Committee and the Tournament Director are final and binding.
● 14.2 Tax Responsibility: Prize-winners are responsible for paying any applicable taxes and the winner will be given IRS form 1099.

The decision of the BIG CASH SNAPPER Tournament Rules Committee and the Tournament Director, in their sole discretion, shall be final on any matter.

15. Release, Hold Harmless, and Indemnity

IN CONSIDERATION OF BEING ALLOWED TO ENTER THE BIG CASH SNAPPER TOURNAMENT, EACH PARTICIPANT AGREES AND CONTRACTS TO RELEASE, INDEMNIFY, AND HOLD HARMLESS BIG CASH SNAPPER, LLC, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND ALL COMMITTEE PERSONS, THE TOURNAMENT SPONSORS, AND WEIGH-IN STATION OWNERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, OR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY MANNER WHATSOEVER CONNECTED WITH THE TOURNAMENT, INCLUDING ITS PLANNING, OPERATION, OR CONDUCT, AND INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL INJURY, WRONGFUL DEATH, SURVIVAL DAMAGES, ECONOMIC LOSS, PROPERTY DAMAGES, OR CLAIMS RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THE AWARDING OF PRIZES IN THE TOURNAMENT. IT IS THE EXPRESS INTENTION OF THIS AGREEMENT THAT EACH ENTRANT IS INDEMNIFYING EACH OF THE FOREGOING RELEASED AND INDEMNIFIED PARTIES FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR OWN NEGLIGENT CONDUCT, WHETHER SOLE NEGLIGENCE OR CONTRIBUTING NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, OUTRAGEOUS MISCONDUCT, STRICT LIABILITY, COMMISSION OF TORT, BREACH OF CONTRACT, AND BREACH OF WARRANTY. THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF ANY MINOR ENTERING IN, REGISTERING FOR, OR FISHING IN THE TOURNAMENT DOES FURTHER CONTRACT AND AGREE THAT THIS RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING UPON ANY MINOR ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT. WINNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE AN ADDITIONAL RELEASE, INDEMNITY, AND HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT UPON RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE.

16. Dispute Resolution

ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TOURNAMENT SHALL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION CONDUCTED IN GALVESTON, GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES OF THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION. JUDGMENT UPON THE AWARD RENDERED MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF.

17. Attorney's Fees

SHOULD LITIGATION OR ARBITRATION RESULT BETWEEN A PARTICIPANT AND BIG CASH SNAPPER, LLC, THE PREVAILING PARTY IN SUCH LITIGATION OR ARBITRATION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER REASONABLE ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS.

18. Governing Law

These Official Rules shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

19. Severability

If any provision of these Official Rules is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck from these Official Rules, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

20. Entire Agreement

These Official Rules, together with the Release and Indemnity Agreement and any other documents incorporated herein by reference, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether oral or written.