All rules stated below will be in effect for the 2026 Rudy’s Pro Series. 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 a change 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.rudysproseries.com and communicated to the tournament members in the pre-tournament meeting before the tournament. Warnings, penalties, and disqualifications will be determined by the tournament officials. Each participant (“contestant”) must read and acknowledge the following rules and indicate so by acknowledging online. A “team” shall consist of one or two contestants.

1. Applicable Laws Federal, State and Local laws shall be obeyed by contestants at all times. Contestants choosing to fish outside of Texas waters shall adhere to the local and state laws of the venue in which the contestant is fishing, including purchasing and possessing a valid fishing license for that state, effective for the dates of competition. Violation of any federal, state and/or local laws (including harboring fish in nets, crab traps, cages, boxes, or other holding device) shall result in the automatic disqualification of an individual or a team from any and all Rudy’s Events.
2. Tournament Eligibility In order to participate in the Tournament, individual angler or both team members must be in good standing with the Rudy’s Redfish Series and/or its assigns. Team contestants under 18 years old must fish with their legal guardian as their teammate, or another adult approved by the minor’s legal guardian. No individual angler may fish the series as a single angler team that is not 21 years of age. The Tournament reserves the right to refuse participation in any event to any individual and/or team at the discretion of the tournament committee. Each team may designate an alternate participant for use in the event of a teammate’s absence, provided that the alternate is designated on or before the first event of the series. However, in the event that a team member or the alternate is unable to compete as a team member in one or more of the events, a registered team member may fish the event as a single angler, and the alternate cannot be used as a single angler for any reason. An individual fishing the series as a single angler may not substitute an alternate for any event in the series.
3. Alcoholic Beverages and Illegal Drugs Consumption of any alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs during tournament hours is prohibited and shall result in disqualification. Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs may not be in the possession of any team member or on board a participating boat during the hours of tournament competition.
4. Sportsmanship 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. This includes, but is not limited to, cutting off or impeding other tournament boats, waking or traveling through an occupied area at excessive rates of speed, flats or other waters that are occupied by other tournament anglers, and similar conduct.
5. Permitted Tournament Fishing Waters Contestants may fish in any inshore public water accessible by boat. “Inshore” for this series 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. This rule does not preclude anglers from traversing the Gulf to get to an inshore fishing location. Contestants may not fish in any private water not equally accessible to all other anglers, or in any body of water owned or controlled by a third party who will not permit every public angler, including non-tournament anglers, access to the area. A warning by the water area owner to exit the area is a violation of this rule whether the angler is cited, ticketed or arrested or not, and the contestant is subject to automatic disqualification of the day’s weight and/or the tournament event in this instance.
   • No fishing is allowed within a 300 yard radius of the tournament site.
   • No fishing is allowed within a 500 yard radius of any ferry landing.
   • Contestants shall not fish in any area which has been closed by a governmental agency or other third party owner or operator.
   • Participants are not allowed to fish within a 150 feet (50 yards) radius of another anchored boat unless they are invited in by the anchored boat. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by an anchor, a weight, push pole, PowerPole, Talon, Stake It Stick, or other anchoring mechanism.
   • If an anchored boat invites another team into the inviting team’s 50 yard area, any tournament participant is also allowed within the waived area.
   • The boat anchored in an area first has the right to a 150 feet radius of the area.
   • If the boat does not have a trolling motor the definition of anchored still applies.
6. Permitted Fishing Methods All tournament fish shall be taken by rod, reel, and artificial tackle only. Only one rod and reel may be used at any one time per angler. No live or dead natural creature, or its parts, secretions, bodily fluids or derivative is allowed to be used as bait. Prior to and during the tournament, contestants shall not cork or otherwise mark fish or schools of fish by artificial means for identification for the purposes of locating fish during tournament hours. Wade fishing is not allowed. Each day of the contest, contestants must leave from and return to the official checkpoint, and fish the entire contest in the team’s boat. While fishing during tournament hours, participants may not leave the boat to net or land a fish. Contestants may exit their boats while refueling, and/or in the case of an emergency or other necessary non-fishing purpose. During pre fishing or tournament hours there will be no chumming or baiting or loading spots. Anglers cannot go bait a pond hoping fish will stay around until tournament day.
7. Checkpoints and Inspection Each tournament event will have designated checkpoints. Each boat must go through a checkpoint in the morning in a pre-selected order. The checkout point and times will be communicated to the teams at the pre-tournament captain’s meeting. All tournament boats must be inspected by a tournament official at the official tournament site before they are released to fish. Flight numbers will be drawn by each team at the mandatory registration the day before each tournament begins. Once a flight number is drawn, it may not be changed, traded or sold to another team. It is the contestant’s responsibility to know his flight number, official tournament time and check-in time. Failure to go through the checkpoint will result in disqualification. Every boat must go through the checkpoint at the conclusion of the day’s fishing regardless of if the team has fish to weigh in. Once a boat has checked in, that team will not be allowed to return to fish during the day’s competition and that team’s day of fishing shall cease. Check-in times will be between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Contestants who are not at the official checkpoint area at the appointed time will be penalized at the rate of one-half pound per minute, which will be deducted from the team’s total day’s weight. Any contestant more than fifteen minutes late will be disqualified from that day’s weight entry. Teams who are not able to check in due to equipment failure or other unforeseen circumstances are responsible for contacting the tournament director before the official check-in is over in order to determine an acceptable solution.
8. Polygraphs By signature on the official tournament entry form, each contestant agrees to submit to a polygraph test and be bound by its interpreted results and conclusions. The first place team in each event, and any other team as chosen by the Series directors, shall be subject to a polygraph examination and will not receive any award until the test has been administered and determined to be non-deceptive. Polygraph tests may be issued at the discretion of the tournament director or committee for any reason, and each contestant hereby acknowledges and consents to the examination. The results and interpretations of the polygraph are final and each contestant hereby waives any review of the test result, including any judicial process seeking to overturn, amend or otherwise negate the finding of the test administrator.
9. Insurance and Liability Each boat entered into any Tournament event shall have a minimum of $100,000.00 liability insurance coverage to be maintained throughout the entirety of the series or for every event fished. It is the responsibility of the boat owner to carry liability insurance covering the vessel. The Series will not issue liability coverage for its events. A current copy of the team’s insurance policy and each member’s signed Declaration, Waiver, Release, and Hold Harmless Agreement shall be given to the Series administrator before a team may compete in any Series event. All tournament participants are required to sign a waiver absolving all tournament officials, officers, participants, sponsors and co-sponsors from any responsibility for damage or personal injury sustained as a result of the contestant’s participation in the tournament or its related activities. The language of the waiver is incorporated herein for all purposes, and the contestant’s signature on this form shall constitute an alternate release in the instance the member fails to sign the official Declaration, Waiver, Release, and Hold Harmless Agreement.
10. Pre-Tournament Captain’s Meeting At least one member of each team shall attend the captain’s meeting. If an alternate is used in the tournament, they must be present at the captain’s meeting to sign a release form, unless a release was already signed prior to the tournament. Participants may be excused from the captain’s meeting if arrangements are made with the Tournament office. Participants must have documentation from the Tournament office and present it upon registration if the participant is excused from the meeting. If a contestant fails to attend the registration and pre-tournament meeting without permission from the Series office, a one pound per fish per day penalty will be assessed against the team’s fish at weigh-in, both days.
11. Communication There shall be no information, whatsoever, whether obtained by paying a third party, or volunteered or free of charge, which is garnered from a non-tournament participant inside of 10 days prior to the Series event and through the event’s conclusion. This includes, but is not limited to, information obtained via social media, magazines, newspaper, blogs, text, phone, face-to-face, onboard or guided trips, websites, and other periodical sources. Participants may not use drones, helicopters or other aerial surveillance to locate and target fish. This rule does not prohibit the use of Google Earth or similar charting or mapping tools. During tournament hours there may be no communication regarding or pertaining to fishing between competing teams. No communication whatsoever regarding fishing will be allowed from outside during the tournament via face-to-face, hand signals, multimedia methods, social networking, cell phone, radio, pager, computer, e-tablet, or any other method or device intended to communicate a thought or idea, except in the event of an emergency, including equipment or mechanical failure. If a team has an emergency, a mechanical problem, or needs immediate assistance, teams may contact local authorities, emergency services, the Coast Guard or the tournament director. Teams must notify the tournament director immediately if these circumstances exist.
12. Entry Fees and Tournament Registration
    The Rudy’s Pro Redfish Series is a three (3) stop tournament series. Series entry constitutes entry into all three stops. Individual stops are not sold separately. The total Series entry fee is $6,000 ($2,000 per stop), plus applicable registration and sign-up fees. The entry fee for the Tournament is $2000 per tournament event in the series, per two-person team or single angler. Teams must have the entry paid for the first two events in the series by February 7th 2026 online or by mail in full or there will be a $500 late fee on top of the entry and registration fee. Teams that do not make the payment deadline can pay by the captain’s meeting of the first event. All fees are non-refundable. Teams must pay $4,000 (Stops #1 and #2) by February 7, 2026, or a $500 late fee will be assessed. Stop #3 registration will open after the completion of Stop #2 and must be paid in full by August 31, 2026. Teams may choose not to physically fish a stop; however, entry fees remain due for all three stops.
13. Boat, Motor and Horsepower Regulations All boats shall be a minimum of 15 feet in length and be equipped with a minimum of 25 horsepower motor. Teams may only use one boat during each day of the event, unless otherwise approved by the Series directors. Teams may not have a second or more boats stashed along the intended route of travel for the event fishing day. Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. In addition, each boat must have a properly aerated live well, which is one that is reasonably likely to sustain the life of three redfish under the circumstances. The Tournament Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is adequate. Live wells will be inspected upon checkout on the morning of the tournament. All boats must be equipped with an operable ignition kill switch. The kill switch device must be attached to the driver’s body anytime the combustion engine is operating. Anytime the combustion engine is operating and in gear, there must be a driver in the driver’s seat in full control of the boat. Any fuel tanks that are not installed by the boat manufacturer are prohibited, including portable fuel canisters. Any additional fuel used during the tournament day must be purchased on that day at a fueling facility open to the public, and added directly to the boat from the fueling pump at the facility.
14. Safety Safe boating will be observed at all times. Each contestant is required to properly wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved, fully functional personal flotation device anytime the combustion engine is engaged. Tournament days may be shortened or canceled due to unsafe weather or water conditions. The decision to shorten or to cancel will be left totally to the discretion of the tournament director or committee. A 4 hour period shall constitute a day of fishing. It is the competitor’s responsibility to communicate with the Tournament Director if cancellation of the event is suspected. Cancellations will be communicated via VHF radios on a channel decided at the pre-tournament meeting. If conditions are not safe on the tournament day, the Series reserves the right to reschedule the tournament or combine the event into one day on the following day, Saturday. If conditions are not favorable the following day, an alternate date will be published on the Series website, www.rudysproseries.com.
15. Fish A team’s weight will consist of three red drum, or redfish, per day, measuring no less than 20 inches, and no more than 28 inches in length in Texas and no less than 18 inches, and no more than 27 inches in Louisiana. A team must retain only three redfish in live wells at any given time. Live fish must be culled on the spot. Teams must keep, retain, dead fish. Anglers may not resume fishing until fish have been culled. Contestants are responsible for keeping their redfish alive. Any dead fish tendered for weight will be assessed a one-half pound penalty. No altered, mutilated or iced fish will be accepted. Redfish will be inspected for alterations in size, length and weight. Any altered fish shall result in the disqualification of the team weighing the altered fish, and may result in a perpetual ban from all Rudy’s Events.
16. Scoring Tournament standings, auxiliary awards and final winners shall be determined by the total weight of six redfish measured in pounds and hundredths of a pound of each team’s catch during the two day tournament. Only redfish or red drum between 20 inches and 28 inches in Texas and 18 inches to 27 inches in Louisiana may be weighed. Fish may not be brought to weigh-in on a stringer or in a basket. Redfish shall be weighed using the equipment provided by the Series, and each team must provide their own weigh bags to bring fish to the scales.
17. Ties If two or more teams have identical weight in the tournament, it will be considered a tie. In the event of a tie, the prize money from the consecutive places will be combined and split between the teams. For example, if two teams tie for fourth place, the amounts designated to fourth place and fifth place will be combined, divided by two, then distributed to the teams equally.
18. Series Points & Team of the Year
    Each stop in the Rudy’s Pro Redfish Series is an independent tournament event with its own payout based on that event’s final standings. In addition to individual event payouts, the Rudy’s Pro Redfish Series operates as a season-long points championship. Series points are earned at each of the three stops. Points from all three stops are combined and accumulated throughout the season. The team with the highest total points after completion of Stop #3 will be crowned Rudy’s Pro Redfish Series Team of the Year. Team of the Year awards and prizes will be presented following the final stop and are based solely on cumulative Series points from all three events.
19. Protest Procedure All protests must be submitted, in writing, along with a $500 cash deposit. Protests must be submitted to the tournament director no later than 15 minutes following the weigh-in of the last fish. All decisions will be made by the tournament director and committee, and are final. If the protest is upheld, the cash deposit will be returned to the person submitting the protest. The protester agrees that by filing a protest, he may be subject to a polygraph test.
20. Permission to be Filmed for Television or Other Media All participants agree to be filmed, photographed, taped, interviewed, quoted or otherwise revealed, without compensation, by the Series or its assigns. This includes but is not limited to the official photographers, writers, hosts, or sponsors of this event under the conditions authorized by the Series organizers. Each contestant, by his signature, hereby gives the Series, and its assigns, the right to use without compensation the contestant’s name, picture, likeness, quotes, and biographical information, whether audio or visual, before, during and after the period of an individual or team participation in an event. Video and media expectations: all anglers must wear a fishing jersey for video and photo opportunities, filmed and photographed by the production crew. This includes on stage presence and all video on boat by the production company. To be included, all head shots and interviews must be wearing a jersey. You are professional anglers being filmed for TV. The Series expects participants to look the part. You can fish in whatever attire makes you comfortable when not in front of camera or film crew.