Texas Bluewater Championship

    May 24th - Sept. 1st, 2008

Texas Coast

Location: This tournament will be held along the Texas Coast with headquarters at Tops-N-Towers in Seabrook, Texas. Tops-N-Towers will keep the OFFICIAL LEADER BOARD with the daily weight standings. Please call tournament headquarters at 281-474-4000, between the hours of 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday – Saturday, to check the leader board before each fishing trip to prevent taking non-qualifying blue marlin or swordfish.

Tournament Information: Participants are not required to enter the Blue Marlin category. The tournament entry fee is $250 per boat. Once entered, contestants can choose what categories they would like to compete in. For any category, the winner(s) will be determined by single fish weight, largest fish in each category. Multiple places may be paid, depending on how many boats enter a category. See Scoring System. For the Blue Marlin category, the minimum weight is 400 lbs. For all categories, entries must also meet the current state and federal minimum lengths. Boats may fish anytime between May 24^th and Sept. 1^st. The tournament fishing area is considered the Texas Coast and adjacent waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Boats must leave from, and return to, a Texas port to qualify. No stops in non-Texas ports for any reason are allowed.

     Tournament Rules:

Contestants are boats.

 A boat may win only one place in each category.

By entering the tournament, all participants agree to abide by all rules and decisions.

All committee decisions are final.

Fishing begins at 5 AM, Saturday, May 24, 2008 and ends at 6 PM on Monday, September 1, 2008.

 No fish weighed after 6 PM September 1, 2008.

Weigh Stations are:

Galveston Yacht Basin – Galveston, Texas / 409-762-9689 / 409-762-3168

Bridge Harbor Yacht Club – Freeport, Texas / 979-233-2101

Fisherman’s Wharf – Port Aransas, Texas / 361-749-5448

Or  a Major Tournament Weight Station

It is the responsibility of all participants to contact weigh stations for open hours.

CALL YOUR NEAREST WEIGH STATION FOR HOURS OF OPERATION

-                     Tournaments: Any boat registered in this tournament may enter a fish caught and weighed in any major Texas Fishing Tournament. The entrant will be responsible for supplying documentation of weighed fish including photographs, weight, total length and short length.

-                     Jungle Rules – There are no angling rules other than the fish must be caught on an IGFA conventional rod and reel and boated by hand or gaff. Anyone may handle the fishing rod. No shooting, explosives, entangling devices, nets, longlines or other non-sporting devices may be used.

A boat must be entered in the tournament before catching a qualifying fish.

No transfer of catch from one boat to another.

No mutilated or frozen fish will be accepted.

A picture of the fish must accompany all weigh station information. Weigh stations and participants must both verify catch.

-                     Polygraph: All participants agree to submit to a polygraph test, if requested by the Tournament Committee. Failure to submit to such an exam will result in the disqualification of the entrant, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

All fish must be caught in accordance with all state and federal laws.

     Scoring System

The largest fish in each category wins. Depending on the number of boats entering a category, the tournament may pay up to three places. See below:

The Tournament will pay up to three places, depending on the number of boats entering a category. 1-10 boats / 1 place, 11 –20 boats /2 places, over 21 Boats / 3 Places. Payout is: 

                                 Number of Places                         3           2             1       

                              1^st Place                             50%      65%      100%

 2^nd Place                            30% 

3^rd Place                            20%

In case of tie, length prevails. If still tied, the fish weighed first prevails.

Winners in each category will receive a trophy as well as prize money.

100% payout on all categories.

         CHECK CURRENT FEDERAL LAW FOR MINIMUM LENGTH

PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELEASE ALL OTHER NON-QUALIFYING FISH.

Categories:

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 Blue Marlin – cost $2,000 per boat

Optional Captains Pot – cost $250 – One place only, heaviest blue marlin.

Optional Mates Pot – cost $250 – One place only, heaviest blue marlin.

Legal Blue Marlin over 400 lbs. are the only fish eligible.

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Yellowfin Tuna  – cost $500

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Wahoo – cost $500

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Dorado – cost $500

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Swordfish – cost $500

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CHECK CURRENT FEDERAL LAW FOR MINIMUM LENGTHS

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After May 24^th any boat may enter the tournament at any time, however, they may not weigh a fish until 72 hours after they have registered, unless approved by Tournament Director. This rule is designed to prevent someone from catching a large fish and then trying to register and enter it in the tournament.

Awards: Winners will be notified of the tournament results after Sept. 1^st. Winners will receive prize money and trophies by mail or in person at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

Registration: To enter, send completed registration form and entry fee to Tops-N-Towers  2321  Nasa Road One  Seabrook, Texas   77586  PH#281-474-4000. Or you can come by Tops-N-Towers and register during regular store hours.

                  Make checks payable to: Texas Bluewater Championship.

Tournament Director:   Capt. John Cochrane / 409-739-4817

Tournament Committee:   Bobby Byrd, Hefner Appling,     

Tournament Headquarters:  TOPS-N-TOWERS / 281-474-4000

Dedication:  This tournament is dedicated to the memory of Edward R. “Fast Eddie” Harris of Houston, Texas and Connie Jo Lyons of Texas City, Texas. They loved Blue Marlin Fishing and their spirit inspires all of us who knew them.

Fox Yacht Sales

Tops-N-Towers

Riviera Yachts Texas

Fisherman’s Wharf

Texas Saltwater Fishing Hall of Fame

  Byrd & Cochrane

  www.byrd-cochrane.com          

For More Information Call:  

Registration Headquarters: Tops-N-Towers   281-474-4000

2007 Tournament Results

427 lb. Blue Marlin - El Cazador

51.25 lb. Yellowfin Tuna - Hot Rod

48 lb. Wahoo - Matiduke

29.5 Dorado - Booby Hatch

98.3 Swordfish - Booby Hatch

Past Winners

2000 – Chupacabra – 548 lbs. 

    2001 – Akela – Ed Bass – 653.5 lbs

   2002 – Akela – Ed Bass – 489.5 lbs

                       - Pass it On – Mike Hopkins – 421 lbs

        2003 – Nunzio – Mark Martino – 479 lbs.

                                 - Gitcha Sum – Byron Kahla – 403 lbs             

2004 – Akela – Ed Bass – 579 lbs.  

                 - El Cazador – Bobby Ricks – 413 lbs.

2005 – No Qualifying Fish.               

  2006  -                

                   2007 – El Cazador - Bobby Ricks – 427 lbs.                 

Granders

Statistics

Order

Photos