Captain Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament | Aransas Pass Civic Center
Sports & Fitness
Captain Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament The Captain Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament is a heartfelt tribute to Clayton Kloesel, a cherished lineman, fishing captain, loving husband, father, and son. We come together each year to honor his legacy and the joy he found in both his work, his love for his family and his passion for fishing. This tournament is more than a celebration of Clayton’s life; it’s a gathering of family, friends and community united in purpose. Through our efforts, we aim to provide support and comfort to the families of fallen linemen and to uplift the community that Clayton loved so deeply. With each cast and each catch, we remember Clayton's spirit and continue his mission of kindness, dedication, and togetherness. Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament 2025 Rules The following are the Official Rules for the 2025 Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament. It is the contestants' responsibility to read, understand, and comply with all the rules outlined below. Non-compliance will be grounds for disqualification from the tournament. By registering for and participating in the Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament, each team and participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules. Each team and participant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules. 1. Federal, State & Local laws shall be obeyed by contestants at all times. Any game violation of any federal, state or local law will result in immediate disqualification of the individual and his/ her team from the tournament. 2.The event staff reserves the right to refuse entry into the competition to any team or individual competitor, with or without cause, at its sole discretion. 3. Contestants under the age of 18 must fish with legal guardian/parent. 4.Tournament participants are expected to follow the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy, safety, conservation, and ethics. Unethical conduct will result in disqualification from the tournament. 5. The tournament will not issue any liability coverage for this event. By signing this entry form the participant agrees that the tournament officials, participants, and sponsors are absolved of any responsibility for damage or injury sustained due to their participation in the event or any related activities 6.Teams must be pre-registered to participate no later than May 1st at 12am. Pre registered participants will be eligible for meal tickets, which ARE INCLUDED in tournament entry. $500 entry fee includes side pots of Heavy red/Heavy trout. There will be a additional side pot at registration of $50 for a mystery fish drawn at captains meeting. (Cash only for mystery fish sidepot) 7. Late entries will be accepted until Friday June 13th prior to captains meeting, with a $150 late fee. Limited meal tickets will be sold at the door for those wanting to buy meals (first come first serve, until tickets run out). 8. This is a team tournament. Each team shall consist of no more than four anglers. A team entry can consist of one or two or three anglers’ but will compete against all the other full teams. There will be a Guided division and a non guided division. 9. Teams may hire a licensed fishing guide if they chose to do so, but must be entered in the guided division. Guide may fish as long as he’s listed on registration . 10. Guided division consists of someone fishing with a licensed guide or someone who fishes professionally or has been given sponsor money in the last 24 months. ( There will be a polygraph given to the winning teams In each division). Winners in each division will be mandated to take a polygraph. Failure to do so, will disqualify the whole team. ( One person off each team).12. NO airboats or mud boats allowed. Kayaks are allowed. Kayak teams must stay within eye sight of all team members. (Polygraph will be given). Anglers are also allowed to wade fish and also must stay with sight distance of each other. 13. At least one member of each team must be present at the captain’s meeting. All other participants are welcome to join as well! Captains and attendees can stop by at any time between 6:00pm and 7:30pm. Captains meeting will start at 7:30pm. Team member(s) will pick up bags, enter side pots, enter raffles, enjoy food and beverages, review tournament rules. Weighmaster will be onsite to go over tournament rules, showcase measuring stick and answer questions from during captains meeting. 14. Boat calcutta will take place at captains meeting. Teams will have the option to buy their own boat for $150. Calcutta will pay 100% to first place stringer for guided and non guided.**This must be paid at the registration ** 15. Entrants must be present to win the door prize giveaways. 16. Fishing is allowed only in Texas State waters. There are no bay boundary lines. Anglers must not break the plane of any jetty system. Period. Example: you may fish the rocks inside the jetties, but you may not pass the end of jetties. Polygraph will be given. 17. All fish shall be taken by rod and reel with live, dead or artificial baits. 18. First cast will be determined at captains meeting. Weigh in times will be from 2-4 pm. All teams must be in line by 4pm for weigh in. There will be someone from the Tournament Committee standing in the back of the line at 4pm to ensure nobody gets in line after 4pm. Weigh in will be in parking lot of the Aransas Pass Civic Center 700 W. Wheeler Aransas Pass TX 78336. 19. Culling of fish in line will not be allowed. Please have your fish marked with the tags that will be provided to you at captains meeting. Once you have weighed your fish in you must immediately return to your vehicle, move on to let the next team weigh. There will be one line formed in parking lot, please stay in your vehicle, until it is your turn to weigh in. Again, please have your fish tagged and ready to weigh in. Weighmaster will clip tails to ensure there will be no shared fish. The idea is to have you weigh in your fish, go get cleaned up, and return for awards and raffle starting at 6pm. 20. The winning fish in weight categories will be the heaviest fish by weight in decimal pounds as determined by the tournament weighmaster. Tournament anglers must bring in stringer fish(2 reds,2trout) and separate fish for side pots, (one red, one trout). Separate colored tags will be given to you at captains meeting to identify your fish. 22. Only bring the fish to be weighed into the tournament to the Weighmaster. If a fish is kicked or disqualified it cannot be replaced with another fish in its place. Weighmaster will not select your fish for you. The fish you pick is the fish you enter. 23. The tournament weighmaster will be Gulf Coast Weighmaster Services. If, in his/her opinion, any fish entered in the tournament was caught outside Tournament Fishing Times or was caught by means other than rod and reel or was tampered with in order to alter weight or length, the team entering the fish in question is subject to disqualification at the discretion of the tournament director. All decisions by the weighmaster and tournament director are final. (There will be a polygraph). 24. All fish will be inspected for alterations in size, length, and weight. No altered fish will be accepted. Applicable Fish can be gutted at weigh master's discretion. Any mutilated/altered fish will result in disqualification of the team weighing in the fish. 25. No outside alcohol, food or yeti cups are allowed inside the event venue. Per TABC. There will be police officers at the door. 26. By entering the Clayton Kloesel Memorial Fishing Tournament, we hereby waive all liability claims against all parties associated with said tournament. We agree to abide by all federal, state, and tournament rules and realize our immediate disqualification for infractions of tournament rules without refund. We also agree to abide by tournament official rulings. Tournament Categories Pro division/Guided division Heavy stringer- will consist of (2) slot redfish 20-28” and (2) slot trout 15-20” Side pot Heavy red- Cannot come off stringer. Will be separate fish. Heavy trout-Cannot come off stringer. Will be separate fish. Mystery fish-TBD Non Guided Heavy stringer-will consist of 2 slot redfish 20-28” and 2 slot trout 15-20” Side pot Heavy red-Cannot come off stringer. Separate fish Heavy trout-Cannot come off stringer. Separate fish. Mystery fish-TBD Youth Division Stringer only- 1 redfish 20-28” and 1 trout 15-20” (These fish will be properly tagged with a different color band at weigh in. Youth division fish cannot use fish caught by someone else. The youth has to catch their own fish. Polygraph question. Prizes Heavy stringer 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each division Heavy redfish 1st and 2nd in each division Heavy trout 1st and 2nd in each division Mystery fish 1st place only in each division There will be a fish cleaning service onsite if you wish to have your fish cleaned and bagged. You can pick up your fillets starting at 6pm. You will be responsible for the payment to the fish cleaner.
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