IGFA Certified Heaviest World Record Red Snapper Catch
1. OVERVIEW
The IGFA Certified Heaviest World Record Red Snapper Catch (“World Record Bounty”) is a special division of the Big Cash Snapper Tournament.
The liability of Big Cash Snapper, LLC is limited to the prize amount payable to the winner, provided all tournament rules, terms, and conditions are fully satisfied.
This Agreement is null and void unless the registration fee is received before the Tournament start.
2. TOURNAMENT DATES & ELIGIBILITY
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. State-water catches remain eligible while open.
All participants must:
• Be fully registered in the Big Cash Snapper Tournament prior to fishing; and
• Be fully registered in the World Record Bounty division before they begin fishing or catch their qualifying fish for it to be considered eligible.
• Complete online registration and payment of 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.
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.
3. PRIZE LIMITS
• Maximum Individual Prize: $100,000
• Maximum Aggregate Prize Limit: $100,000
Coverage applies to one species: Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus).
Only one payout per species applies, even if multiple anglers tie.
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. REGISTRATION
Registration Fee: $20.00
Registration is mandatory for all anglers in the Big Cash Snapper Tournament.
A timestamped registration confirmation will be emailed upon successful payment.
6. TARGET SPECIES & EQUIPMENT RULES
• Target Species: Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus)
• Limit: Two rods per angler
• IGFA Sportfishing rules and regulations apply.
• In a tie by weight, the fish weighed first wins; if weigh-in times are identical, the earliest registered angler prevails.
• Polygraph testing is mandatory for any world-record qualifying claim.
7. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for the $100,000 World Record Prize, anglers must:
• Catch an IGFA-certified heaviest Red Snapper within eligible waters.
• Have the catch certified by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) as the new all-tackle world-record holder for that species.
• Weigh the fish publicly with at least two Tournament Officials witnessing who are unaffiliated with the angler.
• Weigh the fish on Tournament-certified scales accurate to one-tenth (0.1) lb.
• Comply fully with IGFA tackle and weigh-in regulations.
Forfeiture: Disqualified participants forfeit their entry and any claim to prizes.
Ban: Individuals disqualified under these rules may be banned from future Big Cash Snapper events.
8. WEIGH-IN PROCEDURES
All fish must be weighed on official certified scales at one of the Big Cash Snapper weigh stations.
Big Cash Snapper, LLC assumes no liability for any scales being closed or unavailable.
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.
9. REPORTING & PROOF OF CLAIM
Immediate Reporting:
Catches must be reported to Big Cash Snapper no later than the first business day after the catch, or by 7 p.m. CST if caught on the final tournament day.
Proof of Claim Requirements:
(a) Affidavits of two Tournament Officials
(b) Affidavit of Winner
(c) Witness Affidavits
(d) Polygraph Examiner Certification
(e) IGFA World Record Certification
Investigation:
Big Cash Snapper reserves the right to conduct independent verification, including additional polygraph exams of the winner or witnesses, prior to finalizing payment.
10. PROTEST
Protests must be submitted via email to contact@bigcashsnapper.com no later than 9:00 a.m. CST August 29, 2026.
Each protest must include:
• Protestor’s name and contact information
• Registration number
• Statement of factual and legal grounds
• Supporting evidence or documentation
• Requested resolution
Late or incomplete protests will not be considered.
11. POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
All participants, including minors (through a parent or guardian), agree to submit to a polygraph upon request.
Failure to take or pass the examination will result in disqualification.
Participants are responsible for travel expenses related to the examination.
12. DISQUALIFICATION
Grounds for Disqualification:
• Violation of any federal, state, or local regulation
• Violation of any Tournament Rule
• Dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation
• Unsportsmanlike conduct
• Failure to comply with polygraph testing
Director’s Discretion:
The Tournament Directors reserve the right to disqualify any participant for any reason deemed plausible or necessary to protect the integrity of the Tournament.
Disqualified participants forfeit all fees and prizes and may be banned from future Big Cash Snapper events.
13. FINAL DECISIONS & TAXES
All decisions by the Tournament Rules Committee and Director are final and binding. Prize winners are responsible for all taxes and will receive IRS Form 1099.
14. RELEASE & INDEMNITY
By registering, participants agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Big Cash Snapper, LLC, its officers, sponsors, affiliates, and weigh-station owners from all claims or damages arising from participation, including negligence.
Parents/guardians assume liability for minors.
Winners must sign a release prior to receiving prizes.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. SEVERABILITY
If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force and effect.
19. 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.