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FAQ


The Tournament

  1. Can I fish without my current membership card?
    Yes. If you are entered into the current year’s tournament and your CCA membership is current, you are eligible to fish the tournament and do not have to show your card to weigh in a fish.  We are happy to verify your eligibility in the STAR office.  No weigh station will require proof of your entry at the time of weigh in. It is your responsibility to join/renew and enter.
  2. Is my STAR entry valid by just entering the tournament?
    No. You must join CCA Texas or be a current member of CCA Texas to fish the tournament.  It is the entrant’s responsibility to make sure that their membership is current at the time of catch.
  3. Can I win in more than one category?
    No.  You may fish all categories of STAR with rod-and-reel only. When you fill out the weigh-in form, you must declare what category (Star Youth or STAR) you are entering. If an angler is on the final leaderboard for multiple fish, they must declare only one of the fish categories.
  4. What is the age eligible to fish the tournament?
    The only age requirement is that a STAR Youth must be at least 6 years old sometime during the year of the tournament.  And if a teen is 17 when they Enter, they are eligible for the scholarship, even if they turn 18 during the tournament.
  5. Can I help my younger children?
    Yes. You can bait and cast, but the child alone must hook & reel in the catch. The adult can then help net the fish at the boat or shore. (See Rule 9) Dad, don’t touch that line!
  6. If someone in my immediate family has won previously, can I enter the tournament?
    Any winner and immediate family that live at the same address at the time of the winning catch cannot enter/win the tournament for 3 tournament years or 6 tournament years if participant has won once before.
  7. If I have received money for guiding can I enter the tournament?
    Yes. There is a new Guides Division with a web page explaining the rules.
  8. Can I fish with a guide?
    Yes, you can. We have a CCA Texas Guides Division in STAR. Eligible guides will be putting their best efforts forward to help put YOU on the best fish that they possibly can, not only for you to win in STAR, but so they can have their chance to win a Hoff Polaris UTV with trailer. When you win, they win! Talk about giving your guide a great tip…
  9. Can my child win more than one scholarship in their lifetime?
    It depends. Youth anglers who have won a scholarship prior to the 2022 tournament are not eligible to win another scholarship. Starting with the 2022 tournament, any youth angler who wins a 1st through 3rd place scholarship are ineligible to win another STAR Teen or STAR Kid scholarship. However, 4th and 5th place scholarship winners are still eligible to win future scholarship prizes. All STAR Youth anglers are eligible for Red, Blue, Open Inshore and Open Offshore divisions regardless of past scholarship winnings.
  10. Do I need a Texas Fishing License?
    If you are 17 or older, you must have a fishing license to be in compliance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Rules and Regulations. We require that you follow all rules and regulations of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The number is required on the weigh in form if applicable.  
  11. Do I have to have my Texas Fishing License with me?
    TPWD requires that you have a recreational fishing license with you to fish in Texas waters if you are 17 or older. You can call 800-626-4222 within 3 days to complete your weigh-in form information.
  12. Where do I submit tag or weigh in my fish?
    You can submit your tag or weigh in inshore division fish within 24 hours or weigh-in your offshore division fish within 36 hrs. at any of our official stations along the entire coast of Texas.
  13. Is there a time limit to submit a tag or weigh in the fish?
    Your offshore fish must be weighed in within 36 hours of the catch. Redfish Tags and Inshore fish must be submitted at an official weigh station within 24 hrs. This is noted on your official weigh-in form and is verified by polygraph. Also, you have three (3) days to provide any additional info as required on the official Weigh-in form.
  14. What to do if I catch a STAR tagged redfish?
    Remove the visible portion of the tag, and release the redfish regardless of condition.   Head for the nearest weigh station to turn it in and fill out a weigh-in form.  The weigh station will retain the tag.  Call the CCA STAR office 713-626-4222 and arrangements will be made for a polygraph.
  15. What condition of my offshore fish is acceptable for weigh-in?
    Your fish cannot be frozen, spoiled, gutted, altered or mutilated. No tagged redfish may be retained after removal of the tag.
  16. What if my child catches a tagged red?
    All youth ages (6 through 17) are eligible to win in the STAR Youth Division. If it is a red tag, but they’re under driving age at the time of the awards they will receive a $25,000 scholarship in lieu of the truck, along with the boat package.
  17. If I work for a STAR Tournament sponsor am I eligible to enter/win?
    Yes. Only salaried employees of CCA are ineligible to fish.
  18. What is the deadline for the Early Bird Prize?
    You must be a current member and entered into the STAR Tournament by midnight on Friday, May 5, 2023.
  19. When is the Early Bird Prize Drawing held?
    It will be held after the tournament ends and the winners will be notified by phone,email or mail.  The winner of the boat package will be notified and asked to pick up their prize at the October, CCA Texas STAR Awards Presentation as requested.
  20. Who can win the Early Bird Drawing top prize?
    Anyone who is a current member and entered the tournament by midnight on Friday, May 5, 2023.
  21. What is the Early Bird Drawing?
    We encourage members to enter the tournament early and offer a chance for a top prize of a boat/motor/trailer package to all who do so by midnight, Friday, May 5, 2023.  There are also 20 runner up prizes and everyone entered by the deadline is eligible to win.
  22. What is the Member Bonus Drawing?
    All Eligible Entrants into the tournament who did not win a top prize are put in a drawing for a boat/motor/trailer package. The winner will be notified by phone,email or mail.  The winner of the boat package will be notified and asked to pick up their prize at the October CCA Texas STAR Awards Presentation as requested.
  23. What is the Youth Scholarship Drawing?
    This drawing is for eligible STAR youth members who have not won a top prize. The prize is a $25,000 scholarship for the winner of the drawing.

Registration

  1. Where can I sign up?
    Online or at specific Ticket Station or Weigh Station (locations available in our brochure, at www.startournament.org or Weigh Station Page
  2. Will I receive a receipt?
    Your receipt is your Instant Entry Registration (yellow copy) from Weigh/Ticket Stations. If you sign up online you will receive confirmation by e-mail.  If you enter through the mail or on the phone there is no receipt.
  3. What is the fastest way to enter?
    Our website is the most convenient and fastest way to join/renew/enter the tournament. If you enter by mail, it could be a couple of weeks before your entry has been processed and entered into the database. Your official entry date into the tournament will be the day it is received in our office.
  4. What if I don’t receive an email confirmation from an online entry?
    Perhaps your SPAM blocker has put your e-mail into the junk or bulk mail folder of your provider. If you do not find it there, you can call 713-626-4234 and ask to speak to someone in Membership.
  5. When will I receive my membership card?
    It can take up to 6 weeks to receive your card due to slow non-profit mail delivery. NOTE:  You do not need your card to fish, weigh-in or win the tournament.
  6. Do I have to be a member of CCA to fish the tournament?
    Yes. You must be a current CCA  member, at the time of your catch, in order to be eligible to fish the tournament.