RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN TOURNAMENT

RULES AND REGULATIONS

All rules stated below will be in effect for the RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament. All decisions made by the tournament director and/or tournament officials will be final in all matters. The tournament director and/or the tournament officials can make changes when the safety of a contestant is in question or by a unanimous decision by the tournament committee. Any changes to the rules will be posted on the website www.HSJAA.com and communicated to the tournament members in the pre-tournament meeting before the tournaments. Warnings, penalties, and disqualifications will be determined by the tournament officials. A signature on one set of rules and regulations is applicable for any RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament events and may be used as an acknowledgment for such. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Tournament Rules

Applicable Laws

Contestants must comply with all Federal, State, and Local laws at all times. Contestants fishing outside of Texas waters must adhere to the local and state laws of the venue, including purchasing and possessing a valid fishing license for that state effective for the dates of the competition. Violation of any federal, state, and/or local laws will result in the disqualification of the individual and their team from the RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament event and may disqualify, at the discretion of the tournament officials, the individual from the tournament.

Tournament Eligibility

This is an individual effort tournament structure. Contestants must be 17 years or under and must follow all the rules and regulations of TP&W. Contestants must fish with a parent or parent-approved guardian 21 years of age or older. Contestants registered in the Junior Division may fish from the same boat as an adult team but may not register in both adult and junior divisions or use an adult team’s fish for weigh-in. The RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament reserves the right to refuse participation in any event to any individual and/or team at the discretion of the tournament committee.

Sportsmanship

RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament participants are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, and ethics. Unsportsmanlike and unethical conduct will result in disqualification at the tournament committee’s discretion. Please refer to the Texas Boating Safety Rules.

Permitted Tournament Fishing Waters

Contestants may fish in any inshore public water accessible by boat, kayak, pier, or walking in. Inshore for this tournament is defined as the navigable, tide-consumable coastal waters, bays, rivers, and wetlands, extending to the inside of the passes to the Gulf of Mexico.

• No fishing is allowed within 300 yards of the tournament weigh station.
• No fishing is allowed within 500 yards of any ferry landing.
• Contestants shall not fish in any area closed by a governmental agency.
• Wade fishing is allowed, but contestants must remain within 300 yards of the boat or shoreline.
• Participants may not fish within 150 feet of another anchored boat or wade fisherman unless invited.
• The boat anchored first has the right to a 150-foot radius.
• If the boat does not have a trolling motor, the definition of anchored still applies.

Permitted Fishing Methods

All tournament fish shall be taken by rod and reel using artificial, live, dead, or cut bait. Contestants shall not harass fish or corral schools. Contestants may not mark fish or schools prior to or during the tournament. Wade fishing is allowed, but contestants must remain within 300 yards of the boat or shoreline. A wade fisherman must net their own fish. Contestants must be in the boat before the combustion engine is started.

Checkpoints and Inspection

Boats may launch anywhere within permitted tournament waters 30 minutes before sunrise. Boats may be in the water but may not leave the dock before safelight. Tournament weigh-in will occur between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Contestants arriving late will be penalized one-quarter pound per minute. Any contestant more than 15 minutes late will be disqualified for the day. Contestants experiencing issues must contact the tournament director before weigh-in closes.

Polygraphs

By signing the tournament entry form, each contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph test if requested. First-place teams are subject to testing and will not receive awards until cleared. Polygraphs may be administered at the discretion of the tournament committee. Results are final and binding.

Insurance and Liability

Each boat must carry minimum liability insurance. Proof of insurance and a signed waiver must be provided before competing. The RUDY’S JUNIOR OPEN Fishing Tournament assumes no liability for injury or damage. All participants must sign a waiver releasing tournament officials, sponsors, and affiliates from liability.

Entry Fees, Tournament Registration, and Identification

The entry fee is $40 per contestant. Registration is online only and must be completed by midnight the night before the tournament event date. All entry fees are non-refundable and are used for tournament administration and prize calculations.

Tournament Payouts

Prizes will be awarded to the top five winning stringers and for the largest redfish.

Fish

This is a live fish weigh-in. Each contestant may weigh two redfish measuring 20 to 28 inches. Altered or mutilated fish will result in disqualification. A quarter-pound penalty will be applied for each dead fish.

Scoring

Winners will be determined by total weight measured in pounds and hundredths. Fish must be transported in official tournament bags and weighed using tournament equipment only.

Ties

If two or more contestants tie, the prize money for the tied positions will be combined and split evenly.

Protest Procedure

All protests must be submitted in writing with a $100 cash deposit within 15 minutes of the final weigh-in. If upheld, the deposit will be returned. Protesters may be subject to a polygraph test.

Permission to be Filmed

All participants grant permission to be filmed, photographed, or recorded without compensation. This includes use of name, likeness, and voice for promotional purposes before, during, and after the event.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

This document is a binding legal agreement and applies to all participants in any activities, events, programs, or related activities conducted by Gulf Coast Tournament Association (GCTA) (the “Sponsor”). This agreement covers all activities conducted by GCTA, whether on property owned or leased by GCTA or at off-site locations, including but not limited to fishing tournaments, events, and related programs.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

I, the undersigned participant, acknowledge that my participation in activities, events, programs, or related activities, whether conducted on GCTA property or at an off-site location, involves inherent risks, including but not limited to serious bodily injury, disability, death, or property damage. These risks may arise from my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others, the condition of the premises, weather conditions, or the negligence of the Released Parties (as defined below). I freely and voluntarily assume all such risks, whether known or unknown to me, and take full responsibility for my participation.

PARTICIPANT'S REPRESENTATIONS

I represent that I am qualified to participate in the activities and events and that I will at all times comply with all rules, regulations, and safety requirements imposed by GCTA. I also represent that I will not consume or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while participating in the activities.

RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY

In consideration for being permitted to participate in activities conducted by GCTA, whether on GCTA property or at an off-site location, I, for myself, my personal representatives, heirs, and next of kin, hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless Gulf Coast Tournament Association (GCTA) and its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives, and other participants (“Released Parties”) from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, or causes of action that may arise out of or relate to my participation in the activities, including but not limited to claims for injury, disability, death, or property damage, whether caused by the negligence of the Released Parties or otherwise.

COVENANT NOT TO SUE

I agree that I, my heirs, personal representatives, and next of kin will not file a lawsuit or make any claims against the Released Parties for any injury, disability, death, or property damage arising out of my participation in the activities, whether conducted on GCTA property or at an off-site location, and whether caused by the negligence of the Released Parties or otherwise.

INDEMNIFICATION

I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, or causes of action brought by any third party arising out of my participation in the activities, whether conducted on GCTA property or at an off-site location, including any claims for personal injury, death, or property damage.

PUBLICITY RELEASE

I hereby grant GCTA the unrestricted right to use my name, likeness, voice, biographical information, and any photographs, videos, or other recordings of me taken during the activities for promotional purposes in any media, without compensation.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY

I acknowledge and agree that I am fully and solely responsible for any of my property and personal belongings that I bring to any event or activity and that GCTA will not be responsible for or provide any security for such property and personal belongings.

NO DUTY TO SUPERVISE

I acknowledge and agree that the Released Parties have no duty to supervise the activities of any participant or spectator at any event or location. The Released Parties assume no responsibility or liability for the acts or omissions of any such persons.

NO REPRESENTATIONS BY GCTA

I acknowledge that GCTA makes no representations as to the condition of any event location or the safety of any structures or equipment that may be used during the event. I accept and shall use such locations and equipment in their “AS IS” condition.

GOVERNING LAW

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, and any legal action arising out of this agreement shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Matagorda County, Texas.

SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

SURVIVAL

The terms of this agreement shall continue in full force and effect even after the conclusion of the activities and shall be binding on my heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, whether written or oral.

WAIVER

No waiver of any term or right in this agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. The failure of any party to enforce any provision of this agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or modification of such provision or impairment of its right to enforce such provision thereafter.

FOR PARTICIPANTS UNDER 18:

If the participant is under 18 years of age, the undersigned parent or guardian certifies that they have legal responsibility for the participant and consents to the participant’s participation in the activities. The undersigned parent or guardian agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all claims that may arise out of or relate to the participant’s involvement in the activities, including any claims for injury, disabilit