Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors / April - May 2022

OWNERS TOURNAMENT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

It’s almost tournament time in Texas and the big event that has kicked off the South Texas fishing tournament season every May for more than two decades is back and ready to set the gold standard once again. Plans are in full swing for the 21st annual Shallow Sport Owners Tournament, being held May 13th-14th on beautiful South Padre Island. Last years’ event was a huge success with 265 teams and over 1500 registered participants and $20,000 in scholarships awarded! This year it is ready to live up to its well-earned reputation as one of the biggest, best and most fun tournaments on the Gulf Coast.

It all starts with the Registration Party on Friday, May 13th at the South Padre Island Convention Centre, where you can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and visit vendor booths while your team completes their registration. There will be music and videos playing on the 60’ LED video screen and opportunities to purchase exclusive Shallow Sport and SCB merchandise and raffle tickets for the bucket raffles and prize boat. At registration, each registered participant will collect their coveted “swag bag”, which includes a custom long sleeve dri-fit event shirt, neoprene event koozie, custom KWiggler lures, and lots of other goodies from the sponsors. It is a great time to catch up with old friends and get ready for an amazing day on the water.

But the fun has only just begun! Boats begin to trickle into the area in front of Louie’s Backyard before dawn to join in the coolest boat parade of the year. Sleepiness is quickly replaced by excitement as hundreds of boats gather to await the signature BOOM of the longest-running canon take off blast. A swarm of boats scatter in all directions, trailing behind long, white prop wash lines, as everyone takes off to find their first fishing spot of the day. After last years’ freeze, the tournament format changed to allowing just two redfish under 28” and one slot flounder per boat. However, even if the fish aren’t biting, there are still prizes to be found on the water. In 2021, the tournament created an extremely popular Scavenger Hunt competition, which guarantees a prize to the lucky anglers who come across one of the bright green balls that have been distributed throughout the fishing grounds. Participants head back to Louie’s Backyard for a live-streamed on-stage weigh in to show off their catch and take team photos from 1:00- 3:00 before going to get ready for the night’s festivities.

The Convention Centre doors open at 6:00p.m. to an Awards Banquet unlike any other. The banquet hall is transformed for a true night of entertainment with professional light and audio shows and a video recap of the past couple of days. Bill Miller BBQ will serve up a delicious sit-down dinner as you revel in the day’s exploits. You’ll have your last opportunity to purchase tickets for the 80+ bucket raffle items, all starting at a minimum of $200 value and the Pick of the Litter tickets for a shot at one of three prizes valued at over $2000 each. Thirty-one beautiful handmade mesquite wood with turquoise inlay trophies will be awarded to the day’s top catches in Guided, Amateur, and Youth division before the highly anticipated drawing for the winner of the 2022 Tournament Prize Boat; a brand new 21’ Sport Shallow Sport with a 200hp Suzuki motor. Trophy winners are automatically entered into additional chances to win the boat. With over $200,000 in prizes given away, everyone has a good chance of going home a winner!

The 2022 Shallow Sport/SCB Owner’s Tournament will be an event you will NOT want to miss! This year it will be filmed for two different television and online broadcasts. Well-known Florida fishing celebrities Captain Rick Murphy & Brie Gabrielle of Sportsman’s Adventures, Florida Insider and Texas Insider Fishing Report will be competing in and filming the tournament for his shows as well as South Texas’ own Fred Rodriguez of the Texas Sportsman! This event is likely to sell out, so register early! For more information about the tournament, including registration, sponsorship opportunities, contests, scholarships, prizes and more go to

ShallowSportTournament.com