About the Tournament

Surf Cats was a concept of seven fishing buddies who enjoyed fishing together, whether it was surf fishing or bass fishing.

These seven individuals would meet on a designated weekend at Big Shell and fish against one another with the winner, the person catching the biggest fish, taking home the money in the pot.

This venture went on for several years when it was suggested that we ought to invite other fisherman to fish with us thus, making the money pots larger. As we invited more people they in turn began to invite friends.

Since Surf Cats inception it has grown each year, the first year (1985) there were 87 men and women competing for the small prizes. As the years progress the number of contestants has increased. This tournament has become a well-known event from San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas, Laredo, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi. The tournament has had participants from as far away as Iowa, Arizona, Utah, and California. The tournament is held every year in October (the weekend on which Columbus Day is observed). For the year of 2010, the tournament will be held during October 8th to the 10th.

This tournament has never been canceled (it has only been rescheduled once because of a forecasted hurricane); rain or shine the tournament will always go on.

Participants will compete in two divisions, the open and sport. In the Open Division, you can weigh the one heaviest fish of any species caught by you. Sharks must be a minimum length of 5 foot 4 inches and not longer than 7 foot. Larger sharks will not be eligible. Sharks must be kept in an edible condition until weigh-in.

In the Sport Division, you can weigh the one heaviest Red Drum, Black Drum or Trout caught by you. The fish must be legal size limit. Oversized Red Drum must be properly tagged in accordance with state fishing laws.

Places & Prizes

1ST PLACE IN EACH CATEGORY *
$1,000.00, CUSTOM ROD AND REEL, TROPHY

2ND PLACE IN EACH CATEGORY *
$300.00, CUSTOM ROD AND REEL, TROPHY

3RD PLACE IN EACH CATEGORY *
$200.00, CUSTOM ROD AND REEL, TROPHY

DOOR PRIZES
THOUSANDS IN DOOR PRIZES, FROM KAYAKS TO BAIT BUCKETS.


* PRIZE MONEY COULD INCREASE DEPENDING ON ENTRIES

‘THE THING I’VE NOTICED OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE SURF CATS ANNUAL BIG SHELL SURF FISHING CLASSIC IS THAT IT’S NOT FOR WIMPS”

- Ron Henry Strait-San Antonio Express News