Tournament rules

Amistad Champion’s Series Official Rules 2027

1. Decisions by the tournament director are final and not subject to appeal. All protests must be made in writing within 10 minutes after the scales close.
2. Participation is open to all anglers. Anglers under the age of 18 must have parental consent. A valid Texas fishing license is required. A valid Mexican fishing license is required to fish in Mexican waters.
3. A team shall consist of no more than 2 registered anglers in one boat. Anglers may fish alone. Only registered participants are allowed in the boat. One (1) partner substitution is allowed per season. Registering with a different partner in multiple events will form a new team for AOY points and Championship qualification purposes.
4. There is no pre-tournament off-limits period on the host lake. The official practice day is the Friday before the event. Participants must be pre-registered to fish on the practice day. Official practice hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5. Registration will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Two Guys Marine the evening before the tournament. All pre-registered teams must check in at registration to receive a team number.
6. All local and federal boating regulations must be observed. A U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket must be worn with the kill switch attached while the boat is on plane.
7. Only artificial lures are permitted. Pork trailers and Berkley Gulp are permitted. Only one rod per angler may be used at a time. Trolling with the main engine is prohibited.
8. Anglers are required to follow a high standard of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, and conservation.
9. During hours of competition, anglers may not receive fishing information from non-competitors or participate in "hole sitting."
10. All boats must have required safety gear and a suitable aeration system to keep fish alive. Horsepower may not exceed the maximum set by the manufacturer.
11. Contestants may fish anywhere on tournament waters accessible by boat from the main lake, except in "Off Limits" areas designated by state or federal officials, or by the tournament director.
12. The use of drones or aerial photography is prohibited during tournament hours. The use of raised platforms higher than the gunwale of the vessel is prohibited during tournament hours.
13. Trailering is permitted and contestants may use any open public ramp. All anglers must be at the weigh-in before the cutoff time.
14. Scoring will be determined by pounds and ounces of largemouth, smallmouth, redeye, or spotted bass. All bass must be at least 14" in length. Undersized fish will not be weighed. Fish will be measured with the mouth closed and the tip of the tail in any position. Weigh-ins are held on the U.S. side of Lake Amistad. All fish presented for weigh-in must comply with applicable Texas fishing regulations. The tournament weigh-in limit is five legal-size fish per team, including teams with only one angler.
15. A half-pound penalty will be deducted for each dead fish. Any team that weighs a dead fish for Big Bass will have a half pound deducted from the weight. Culling dead fish is prohibited.
16. Any late contestant will have 1 pound per minute deducted from their total weight.
17. Ties for 1st place will be resolved by a one-hour big-bass fish-off. All other ties will be resolved by splitting that place and the next place's winnings.
18. All anglers are subject to a polygraph at the request of the tournament director.
19. Official start time is 7:00 a.m. Anglers may be on the water at 5:30 a.m. but may not begin fishing before the designated start time. All anglers must have lines out of the water by 3:00 p.m. and at weigh-in before the designated cutoff time to be determined at the tournament meeting.
20. All fees must be paid before competitors are allowed on the water and contestants must obtain a team number. Entries will not be accepted after the start of the tournament.
21. Participants must be present to receive door prizes. Participants are not required to be present to receive placed tournament winnings.
22. By signing your entry form, you release Champions Series, LLC and its sponsors from all liability claims for damages or losses caused or incurred and agree to abide by all rules listed or face disqualification or any penalties issued by the tournament director without refund.