SHARKATHON TOURNAMENT RULES REGARDING BAIT:
Rule number one is the most important rule!
1) READ THE RULES, it is your responsibility to read and understand the rules & requirements of this event, failure to do so can result in disqualification.
6) All baits & gear must be deployed by “HUMAN POWER" defined as casting, swimming, kayak, hammer throw or surfboard. No wind or motor-powered boats, jet skis, PWC, kite boarding, or remote-control devices will be allowed. All baits & gear must be deployed from within tournament boundaries and not from any jetties or piers.
9) Participants must have a current TPWD fishing license with all applicable saltwater stamps, abide by State of Texas Rules and Regulations, and if driving have a current Driver’s License. All TP&W regulations apply, including size and length limitations. Game fish may not be used for bait.
BAIT RULES AND INFORMATION:
We have collected data below from TPWD and NPS for display, Sharkathon is not responsible for the accuracy of this data.
It is the responsibility of the participants to know the TPWD fishing rules and regulations and any restrictions specified by the National Park Service (NPS).
Sharkathon does not have any specific rules regarding bait outside of TPWD or NPS rules and regulations.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RESTRICTIONS:
Padre Island National Seashore has the following restrictions on bait:
No bait can be dug up from the ground, including suction pump assemblies.
Ghost shrimp cannot be harvested within NPS property but can be obtained elsewhere where legal and transported to NPS property to be used for bait.
NPS then defers to TPWD rules and regulation regarding all other bait.
TPWD BAIT RULES AND REGULATIONS:
SHRIMP: NATIVE SHRIMP MUST BE USED
If using dead or live shrimp, whole or in pieces, only the use of shrimp native to the Gulf of Mexico may be used in Texas waters.
If using frozen shrimp from a grocery store, be sure to check the package - if it is imported from another country, it may not be used.
NO GAME FISH OR PART OF A GAME FISH CAN BE USED FOR BAIT:
See list below
NONGAME FISH CAN BE USED FOR BAIT BUT MAY BE RESTRICTED BY QTY AND SIZE OF USE BY TPWD BAG AND LENGTH LIMITS:
All species not listed as game fish except endangered and threatened fish which are defined and regulated under separate rules.
See below for several popular baits that have bag and length limits.
GAME FISH LIST THAT IS ILLEGAL TO USE AS BAIT:
Includes hybrids and subspecies of listed fish.
Game fish may be taken only by pole and line, except as otherwise provided in this guide.
Bass: Alabama, Guadalupe, largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, striped, white, yellow
Catfish: blue, channel, flathead
Cobia
Crappie: black, white
Mackerel: king, Spanish
Marlin: blue, white
Pickerel
Red drum
Sailfish
Seatrout, spotted
Sharks
Snook
Spearfish, longbill
Swordfish, broadbill
Tarpon
Tripletail
Trout: brown, rainbow
Wahoo
Walleye
POPULAR NONGAME FISH USED AS BAIT THAT HAVE BAG AND SIZE REGULATIONS:
Important information about using a nongame fish for bait is that all bag and size regulations apply and if you use one of these nongame fish for bait it counts against your daily bag and or possession limit.
GAFFTOPSAIL CATFISH:
Daily Bag: No limit
Min Length: 14 inches
Max Length: No limit
SHEEPSHEAD:
Daily Bag: 5 (possession limit is equal to double the bag limit)
Min Length: 15 inches
Max Length: No limit
Mullet:
Daily Bag: No limit
Min Length: No limit
Max Length: 12 inches (see below)
Clarification: May not take from public waters, or possess on board a boat, mullet over 12 inches during October, November, December, and January. No limits apply during other months.
BLACK DRUM:
Daily Bag: 5 (possession limit is equal to double the bag limit)
Min Length: 14 inches
Max Length: 30 inches
No more than one black drum over 52 inches may be retained per person per day and counts as part of the daily bag limit and possession limit.
FLOUNDER:
Daily Bag: 5 (possession limit is equal to double the bag limit)
Min Length: 15 inches
Max Length: No limit
Daily bag is 5 fish except Nov 1 - Dec 14 (fishery closed; bag limit = 0).
Possession limit = the daily bag.
Anglers man not possess any tilapia, grass carp, or any other fish listed as harmful or potentially harmful without first killing the fish by gutting, beheading, gill-cutting, or other means, or placing the fish on ice,
SHELLFISH REGULATIONS:
If not listed below it may be legal, but it is the angler’s responsibility to be knowledgeable of particular shellfish regulations.
BLUE CRAB:
Measure a blue crab by carapace width
Daily Bag: No limit
Possession: No limit
Minimum Length: 5 inches (Measured across the widest point of the body from the tip of spine to tip of spine)
Exceptions: No more than 5% by number, of undersized blue crabs may be possessed for bait purposes only and must be placed in a separate container.
May not possess egg-bearing (sponge) crabs.
May not possess a female crab that has its abdominal apron removed.
GHOST SHRIMP:
Daily Bag: 20
Possession: 20 per person
Minimum Length: None
ALL THE INFORMATION ABOVE HAS BEEN GATHERED VIA WEBSITES AND OR CONVERSATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ANGLERS TO BE KNOWLEDGABLE OF ALL FISHING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ANY AREA THEY FISH.