Tagged for the Taking: CCA Texas STAR Tournament

Sixty STAR quality redfish have been released!

Texas Gulf Coast — Sixty specially tagged redfish are the STAR attraction in the 25th Anniversary CCA Texas State of Texas Anglers’ Rodeo (STAR) sponsored by the Texas Ford Dealers, Tilson Home Corporation and Capital Farm Credit. The tournament kicks-off this Saturday! CCA Texas STAR officials have released 60 redfish ranging from 20 ½ to 25 ½ inches in length. These tagged redfish have been released throughout 600 miles of Texas coastal waters, from Sabine Lake to South Padre Island.

“Since redfish can grow up to one inch per month, we are releasing fish that meet all the state regulations,” said Bill Kinney, tournament director

The STAR fishing tournament draws over 45,000 participants, making it one of the world’s largest saltwater fishing tournaments. This year’s event begins at sunrise on Saturday, May 24 and ends on Labor Day, September 1 at 5p.m.

“Keeper-sized prizes can be claimed by STAR anglers who bring in the first 10 tagged redfish. The first five winners will drive home in a 2014 loaded Ford F-150 “Texas Edition” XLT SuperCab, pulling a brand new 23’ Haynie BigFoot boat rigged with a Mercury 150L Pro XS OptiMax motor and Coastline trailer. The next five tagged redfish winners will each claim a 23’ Haynie BigFoot boat with a Mercury 150L Pro XS OptiMax motor and Coastline trailers.

Last year eleven tagged redfish were caught, but only six anglers claimed prizes. The others, unfortunately, were not registered for the CCA Texas STAR.

Other fish can net big rewards in the tournament. STAR contestants who catch the largest speckled trout in the north, central and southern regions of the Texas Coast will each take home the Shoalwater 22′ Legend, powered with a Mercury 150L Pro Xs OptiMax and McClain trailer. STAR blue water anglers who land the heaviest kingfish, dorado and ling (cobia) in the Offshore Division will each win the awesome Polaris Ranger Crew 570 EPS UVs in Polaris Pursuit Camo each with a Big Tex 35sa Trailer. In the Inshore Division the Blue Wave’s 180 SV Southern Skiff boat, Mercury 115 OptiMax motor and McClain trailer will also be given to the anglers for netting the biggest flounder, gafftop and sheepshead.

In hopes of luring more youth to the sport of fishing, the STAR Scholarship Divisions offer a total of ten college scholarships in $20,000 and $50,000 increments. STAR participants, ages 6-10, who catch the largest flounder, sheepshead or gafftop will each be awarded a $50,000 college scholarship. Participants, 11-17 years of age, who catch the largest flounder, sheepshead or gafftop, as well as, the largest speckled trout in each of the three Texas Coast regions (north, central and south) will each be awarded a $20,000 college scholarship. In addition to these nine scholarship offerings participants, ages 6-17 years old in 2014, are eligible for a bonus drawing that will net one lucky youth a $20,000 college scholarship even if the participant never wets a line or enters a single fish during the entire tournament!

As a reminder, anglers under 18 years are eligible to win the scholarships and all other prizes (truck/boat packages, UV packages and boat packages) offered by CCA Texas STAR tournament.

Major sponsors for the 25^th Annual CCA Texas/STAR Tournament include Texas Ford Dealers, Tilson Home Corporation, Capital Farm Credit, Mercury Marine, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Whataburger, Ozarka, Berkley Gulp, Abu Garcia, Rio Ammunition, KTRK-abc13, Houston Community Newspapers, Fox Sports Southwest, Time Warner Cable, Haynie Boats, Shoalwater Boats, Hoffpauir Auto & Outdoor Stores, Dargel Boats, Blue Wave Boats, Texas Fish & Game Magazine, Texas Oilman’s Charity Fishing Tournament, Coastline Trailers, McClain Trailers, Chris’s Marine and Mt. Houston Marine.

For more information, including a list of weigh-in stations, instant-entry registration locations in your area and weekly leader board updates, go to http://www.startournament.org.