Sabine Showdown

saturday, september 7, 2024

2024 Sabine Showdown
Fishing tournament

Fishing is not a sport, It’s a way of life

$15,000 in prize money spread across three categories

The 2024 Sabine Showdown Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, with weigh-in set at the Carl Parker Center on the campus of Lamar State College Port Arthur in Port Arthur, Texas.

The event is in its fifth year and boasts more than $15,000 in prize money in three categories: Redfish, Flounder, and Trout. There are also side pots that, together with the main prize money, can make for a very lucrative day for anglers from across SE Texas and SW Louisiana.

2024 Sabine Showdown Fishing Tournament Information

  1. Tournament begins at 6:40 a.m., September 7, 2024. No fishing is allowed before 6:40 a.m. You may leave the dock area at 6:30 a.m. Weigh-in will close at 4 p.m. Awards will begin after weigh-in is completed.
  2. Tournament is a team format with a maximum of a 6-fish stringer of 2 redfish, 2 trout and 2 flounder per team.
  3. The three categories are Heaviest Redfish Stringer, Heaviest Trout Stringer and Heaviest Flounder Stringer. Each stringer is 2-fish maximum.
  4. The minimum redfish length is 20 inches and maximum length is 28 inches. Redfish over 28 inches will be disqualified. For trout, a minimum size of 15 inches and a maximum size limit of 20 inches is allowed. No tagged redfish will be permitted.
  1. Captain’s Meeting and Dinner will be held September 5, 2024 at Lamar State College Port Arthur, Carl Parker Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive, Port Arthur, Texas, 77641 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. At 6:30, a reception begins with registration, door prizes, a silent auction and side pot purchases, followed by a meal at 7:00 p.m.
  2. It is mandatory that a minimum of 1 angler per team attend the Captain’s Meeting, however both are encouraged to attend.
  3. All teams shall sign in at the registration table at the Captain’s Meeting. New teams will be accepted at the registration table.
  4. Teams may register and pay for the Team Optional Side Pots ($20 each) at registration.
  5. The Team’s Entry Ticket for Weigh-in will be given to each team at the registration table at the Captain’s Meeting.
  6. Guests are welcome for an additional $30 each. Guest dinners may be purchased at the Captain’s Meeting registration table or online at https://www.lamarpa.edu/fish.
  7. Captain’s Meeting will include raffles and an auction to benefit Lamar State College Port Arthur. Credit cards are accepted. A meal with an open bar will be provided.
  8. Anglers under the age of 18 years will only be permitted to fish with a parent or guardian.

SCHEDULE

6:30 p.m. – Reception & Registration

7:30 p.m. – Dinner

8 p.m. – Presentation

6:30 to 8 p.m. – Silent Auction, Open Bar, Live Entertainment, Door Prizes

  1. A team consists of a maximum of two anglers.
  2. Team cost (1 or 2 Anglers) is $250 per team. Additional sponsorships may be found at www.lamarpa.edu/fish.
  3. Teams may enter online up until September 4, 2024 at 5 p.m. online. After September 5th, teams may register only at the September 5, 2024 Captain’s Meeting and Dinner. No entries will be accepted the day of the tournament.
  4. To Register go to https://www.lamarpa.edu/fish
  5. All state, federal and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regulations apply at all times and all safety rules and regulations shall be followed.
  6. Violation of Texas Parks & Wildlife regulations by any team member may result in team disqualification.

Permitted Fishing Locations

  1. Tournament fishing is limited to publicly accessible water only. (No jumping levees, or crossing of barriers, or fishing behind locked gates in waters the public cannot reach.)
  2. Teams are allowed to trailer their boats or kayaks.

Permitted Fishing Methods

  1. All fish must be caught by entrants using a rod and reel or a pole and line and during the date and time of the tournament. Artificial, live and dead bait may be used. Only one rod and reel may be used at a time per angler.
  2. Fishing is allowed from a sport boat or kayak. Fishing is allowed from public fishing piers or banks. Wade fishing is allowed.
  1. Weigh-in Station opens at 2 p.m. and closes at 4 p.m.
  2. The Weigh-in Station will be on the campus of Lamar State College Port Arthur at the Carl Parker Multipurpose Center, 1800 Lakeshore Drive, Port Arthur, Texas, 77641.
  3. No teams will be allowed to weigh in for entry after 4 p.m. except for entrants in check-in line with their fish by 4 p.m. and recognized by the Tournament Director.
  4. You may truck your fish to the weigh-in.
  5. A minimum of 1 (one) entrant must be present to weigh in their team’s fish.
  6. Frozen, mutilated or inedible fish will not be accepted for weigh-in. Fish must be in fresh and edible condition and in accordance with the tournament standards. Team will be disqualified for presenting fish that do not meet these specifications.
  7. In the case of a tie in weight, winner will be determined by the first to weigh in as form will be time stamped.
  8. Redfish will be measured on the Elite slant style Check-It-Stick and Perfect Pincher will be slid to 27”.  Trout & Flounder will be measured on the Elite slant style Check-It-Stick with tails pinched to reach maximum length.
  9. Fish oversize or undersize will be disqualified from the tournament and the team may not submit an alternate fish for the disqualified fish.
  10. Touching spots will count as one spot for Most Spots side pot.
  11. Decisions of Tournament Director or the weighmaster are final. Failure to comply with these rules may result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute, Lamar State College Port Arthur’s liability shall be limited only to the return of entry fees paid. Entry fees and optional side pot monies are not returned if a team is disqualified.
  12.  Fish presented for weigh-in may be retained for further examination purposes by the tournament director.
  13. All fish will be returned to fishermen. All fish must be presented for weigh-in at the same time.
  14. Protests must be filed in writing prior to final weigh-in time by the Team Captain. Protests must be accompanied by $100, to be returned if protest is deemed justified by Tournament Director.
  15. Winners will be subject to a Polygraph Examination (lie detector test) if requested by Tournament Director. A participant who refuses a polygraph exam will be disqualified. Any contestant determined by the polygraph examiner or other tournament official to be intoxicated or on any type or illegal drugs at the time said contestant is required to take the polygraph examination, or in violation of tournament rules, will be disqualified.
  1. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to cancel, day by day, the tournament for safety reasons. Once the tournament starts, it will constitute a tournament. All attempts will be made to reschedule the tournament should it be canceled.
  2. Any obnoxious, rude or disruptive behavior will be grounds for disqualification from the tournament and/or dismissal from the Weigh-in Station, at the discretion of the tournament director.
  3. All contestants are strongly encouraged to wear Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices while boat is powered by primary engine. Anglers are encouraged to file a float plan.
  4. All anglers fish at their own risk and accept full responsibility for their own safety. Liability insurance with coverage in a reasonable amount is required on all boats used in this event and must cover all passengers in the boat. Random checks may be conducted. Failure to provide proof of insurance when requested by the tournament director may result in disqualification. Acceptance of the tournament rules also includes acceptance of the waiver, which is required for each angler and attached to the rules.
  5. The Tournament, Lamar State College Port Arthur, Tournament Sponsors, Tournament Hosts, entrants and/or volunteers are not responsible for any accidents, loss or injury. All Teams fish at their own risk.
  1. The three separate stringer categories include Trout, Redfish and Flounder. Payouts will be paid per team based on the heaviest stringer in each category. Payouts will be paid for first through fifth places in each category.
  2. Weigh-in stringer is a maximum of six (6) fish: two (2) redfish, two (2) flounder, and two (2) trout. Most spots red fish side pot may be a seventh fish and not part of the six (6) fish competition stringer
  3. Payout for each stringer category:
    1. First Place: $1,500
    2. Second Place: $1,250
    3. Third Place: $1,000
    4. Fourth Place: $500
    5. Fifth Place: $250
  1. Team side pots ($20 buy-in per team, per category):
    1. Team selects their heaviest fish for team side pots.
    2. Most Spots Redfish
    3. Heaviest Trout
    4. Heaviest Flounder
    5. Heaviest Redfish, 28-inch maximum length, no tagged redfish
    6. Heaviest Stringer, six-fish maximum
  2. Payout for each side pot category:
    1. Pays first, second and third places.
    2. Payout is 50% to tournament and 50% to winning contestant based on the number of entries in each side pot. Payouts are first 60%, second 30%, and third 10% or a minimum of $20.
  3. Weigh-in stringer is a maximum of six fish (two redfish, two flounder, two trout). Redfish “Most Spots” side pot may be seventh fish and not part of six-fish competition stringer.
fishing in and around port arthur, texas

Take the Bait, Make Some Waves in Port Arthur, texas

Rivers, bayous, marshes, the Gulf of Mexico, salt-and freshwater lakes- the communities of Southeast Texas grew up around water. Sabine Lake- which is an impressive 14 miles long and 7 miles wide – is formed at the point where the Sabine and Neches Rivers meet and offers some of the best fishing on the Gulf Coast – with plenty of shore fishing, boat launches and fishing charters. You can also kayak the region’s multiple paddling trails or venture off shore into the Gulf. So, what are you waiting for? Dive in!