All rules included within the “Xtreme Redfish Trail” (XRT) will remain in effect for the 2011 XRT. Interpretation of the XRT Rules and Regulations will be left exclusively to the Tournament Director and XRT officials. All rulings made by the tournament director and/or any XRT official will be final in all matters and is not subject to appeal. XRT Tournament Director reserves the right to modify or amend the rules. All rules and regulations will be provided to the tournament anglers at the pre-tournament Captains Meeting and posted on the tournament website at www.xtremeredfishtrail.com.

Applicable Laws Federal, State and Local laws will be enforced at any and all XRT events. Adherence to all XRT tournament rules is mandatory. Violation of any federal, state, and/or local laws or XRT rule will result in disqualification.

Fishing & Boating Regulations All TPWD Fishing and Boating Regulations will be enforced. Please refer to the TPWD Fishing and Boating Regulations and Publications at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat. Tournament boats may be no less than 16 feet in length and all motors must be a minimum of 25 hp. No airboats are allowed in any XRT tournament. Each tournament angler is required to wear a fastened, U.S. Coast Guard approved, personal floatation device anytime the engine is on. Also, all boats must be equipped with a working ignition kill switch. The kill switch must be attached to the boat 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.

Tournament Entry Fees The entry fee is $400.00 per team, per event. A late fee of $100.00 will be charged to any team that has not pre-registered and pre-paid the team deposit ($200.00) on or before the Wednesday immediately preceding the tournament event date. Events that have fewer than 15 teams registered and pre-paid within 7 days of any tournament event may be rescheduled and/or cancelled. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable unless a tournament event is cancelled. Tournament entry fees may be paid with cash, check or credit card (online via Pay Pal) if paid 7 or more days in advance of the tournament date. A Pay Pal convenience fee will be assessed to all Pay Pal transactions. Captains Meeting payments may only be made in cash or check.  Side pot entries are cash only.

Amount & Places Paid The amount paid back to anglers and the number of places paid is contingent upon the number of paid teams. A minimum of 80% of any tournament’s paid entry fees will be paid back to 20% of the anglers anglers regardless of the number of participating teams. Prize money may be paid to anglers in the form of cash, check or both.

Eligibility All participants are required to submit a signed, executed “Xtreme Redfish Trail Liability Release” and “Xtreme Redfish Trail 2011 Boat Rules & Regulations” to participate in any XRT event. These will be provided on the website and at the Captains Meeting. All teams must include 2 participants. Any team member who fails to submit a signed copy of the aforementioned liability release and/or rules and regulations will be disqualified. Participants under 18 years old must fish with their parent or legal guardian as their teammate. The XRT reserves the right to refuse tournament participation in any event to an individual and/or team at the discretion of the tournament director.

Tournament Fishing Waters Participants may fish any inshore public waters accessible by boat, except areas designated as private or “off limits” by federal, state and/or local law and/or XRT tournament officials. Exceptions: Participants may not fish within 500 yards of a ferry landing or within 300 yards of the tournament site. In addition, participants that have knowledge of an area that has been chummed for the purpose of attracting fish may not fish within 200 yards of the chummed waters. 

Fishing Tackle/Rods Only artificial lures may be used. No live bait, dead bait or prepared bait will be permitted. Only one rod and reel may be used at any one time per angler. All fish must be caught in compliance with TPWD fishing regulations. Please refer to the TPWD Fishing and Boating Regulations and Publications at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat.

Boat Order Each team will be required to randomly draw a number to determine the order in which they will be allowed to begin fishing. Numbers will be drawn at the pre-tournament Captains Meeting. Upon drawing a number, the number may not be exchanged with any other team. It is the responsibility of each angler to know their take off number, official take off time and check-in time. Check-in stations will be announced in the pre-tournament Captains Meeting. Anglers will be required to check-in between 2:30 and 4:30 pm unless otherwise specified in the pre-tournament Captains Meeting. Participants that do not check in at or before their designated check in team will be penalized one-half pound per minute for every minute that the team is late. The penalty will be deducted from the team’s total fish weight weighed in. Teams checking in more than 10:00 minutes late will be disqualified. All teams are required to check in. If a team is unable to check in, the team is responsible for contacting the Tournament Director.

Captains Meeting The Captains Meeting will be held at 7:30 pm on the Friday immediately preceding the tournament date at the tournament venue unless otherwise stated on the tournament website. Registration opens at 6 pm, prior to the pre-tournament Captains Meeting. At least one team member must attend the pre-tournament Captains Meeting unless the Tournament Director specifically excuses the team members from attending the Captains Meeting prior to tournament registration. Any team that does not attend the Captains Meeting unless otherwise excused will receive a 30 minute penalty at the start of the tournament.  Any team that has not pre-registered and pre-paid the team deposit ($200.00) on or before the Wednesday immediately preceding the tournament event date will be charged a $100.00 late fee in addition to the team registration fee at the Captains Meeting. 

Official Time The tournament clock will be synchronized with all participants at the pre-tournament Captains Meeting.

Boat Check & Boat Launch Boats will be checked at the time that a team's boat is launched. Boat check details will be announced at the pre-tournament Captains Meeting. All tournament boats must be inspected by a designated tournament official at the launch site prior to team participation in any XRT event. Failure to undergo boat check will result in disqualification. Please have all containers, etc. open to expedite boat check. Boats will be launched at safe daylight as determined by XRT officials.

Boat Proximity to Other Tournament Boats Anglers are not allowed to fish within 100 yards of another anchored tournament boat. If proximity to another tournament angler is in question, the boat anchored first has the first right to the fishing area. An anchored boat is a boat held in a stable position by a rope or chain attached to an anchor, a push pole, a Stake Out Stik, a Power Pole, etc. A boat utilizing a submerged trolling motor is NOT considered to be an anchored boat.

Wade Fishing Regulations Participants are allowed to wade fish in any XRT tournament. Participants wade at their own risk and agree to release XRT and its affiliates from all liability. Wade fishermen may not wade more than 500 yards from their anchored boat. Wade fishermen may not wade within 50 yards of another tournament angler, with the exception of their designated tournament partner. If proximity to another tournament angler is in question, the wader casting and retrieving first has the first right to the fishing area. If wade fishing, the boat engine cannot be started unless both team members are in the boat.

Communication During Tournament Hours No communication will be allowed between other tournament anglers or from outside sources during tournament hours. In the event of a team emergency, boat or engine problem, or medical emergency, teams are permitted to contact 911, the US Coast Guard, and/or the Tournament Director immediately. In the event of such an emergency, teams are required to notify the Tournament Director as soon as possible.

Live Redfish Each boat must have a properly aerated live well. The Tournament Director shall have the sole responsibility for determining whether aeration and capacity is adequate. XRT recommends a minimum of 14 gallons of water per redfish (NOT REQUIRED). Live wells will be inspected at boat check. Participants are responsible for keeping all redfish weighed in alive. If a dead redfish is weighed in, the team will be assessed a ¼ lb. penalty (deducted from their total weight). Altered, mutilated, foul hooked, and/or under or oversized redfish are not eligible for weigh in. No angler may manipulate the weight or length of any redfish with the intent to gain a competitive advantage over other tournament anglers. All redfish will be inspected for length and weight. Only redfish measuring 20” to 28” may be weighed in. Redfish will be measured in accordance with TPWD guidelines. Each redfish will be measured on its side with the jaw closed. The tail will be pinched to obtain maximum overall fish length. Refer to http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/annual/fish/tag_measure_release/index.phtml#two. All redfish must be brought to the weigh in station in a live weigh in tournament bag provided by XRT. Ties will be broken by the earliest weigh in time.

Team Scoring A team is comprised of 2 anglers. Each team fishing the XRT will receive points (with the exception of disqualified teams). Teams will receive a minimum number of points (20 points per event) for each tournament that the team participates in. In addition, points will be awarded based on the team’s total weight multiplied by a multiple of 10. Any additional points earned for the team's total weight will be added to the team's participation points. For example, if a team weighs in 16.2 lbs of redfish, the team will be awarded 162 points in addition to their 20 participation points, etc. Team points will remain with the team captain in the event of a team "break-up".

Alternates Each team is required to list a designated alternate for each team member at the beginning of any XRT annual season. For purposes of the "Team of the Year" points totals, the alternate angler(s) scores will be counted. Failure to name an alternate or use of an additional alternate (not previously named) will result in the team's score not being counted in the "Team of the Year" points total. Only team members' and designated alternate anglers' scores may be included in the "Team of the Year" points total.       

Liability Insurance Current liability insurance is required of all participants fishing and/or using his or her boat in any event. It is the responsibility of the boat owner to carry liability insurance covering him/herself and his/her passengers. A signed “Xtreme Redfish Trail Liability Release” is required of any angler fishing any and all XRT events.

Weather In the event of inclement or unsafe weather conditions, the Tournament Director may cancel, reschedule or shorten the length of any XRT tournament day. If conditions are deemed unsafe on the tournament day, the XRT reserves the right to make adjustments to the tournament’s time of launch and/or weigh in and/or hold the tournament the following day (Sunday). If conditions are not favorable the following day (Sunday), an alternate date will be published on the tournament website. Anglers are permitted to leave the boat to seek safe shelter in bad weather but must continue to follow all tournament rules and regulations during this period.

Polygraphs By signature of the Xtreme Redfish Trail Rules, each participant agrees to submit to a polygraph test and abide by its conclusion. A failed polygraph test may result in disqualification. Polygraph tests will be issued at the discretion of the Tournament Director. The results of the polygraph are final and cannot be reviewed by a court of law.

Protests All protests must be submitted, in writing, along with a $100.00 protest deposit (per protest) to the Tournament Director within 15 minutes of the official tournament scale closing time ON TOURNAMENT DAY. The protest deposit allows for the administration of a polygraph test. The protesting angler agrees to submit to polygraph test and abide by its conclusion. The decision of the Tournament Director and XRT officials will be final in all protest matters. If a protest is upheld, the $100.00 protest deposit will be refunded to the protesting party. If the protest is not upheld, the protest deposit is non-refundable. Any infraction discovered after the tournament may not be protested but may be acted upon by XRT officials upon discovery.

Angler Disclaimer I agree to be filmed, photographed, taped, quoted, etc. by the XRT, Tournament Director(s), agents, sponsors, employees, and other participants of XRT or by anyone authorized by the XRT. I give the XRT, its affiliates and anyone authorized by the XRT, the right to use my name, picture(s), quotes, tournament statistics, videos, and any biographical information, whether audio, visual or video recorded, before, during and after the period of my individual or team participation in this event.

Having read and fully understanding the XRT rules in their entirety, I agree to the above stated terms and conditions as shown by my signature below and demand that this document be enforced and followed by all courts of law. I understand that rules may be amended or updated at the Tournament Director’s discretion.

Participant’s Printed Name

Participant’s Signature

Date