Weighmaster Training Program
Weighmasters are essential personnel at sportfishing tournaments. They weigh and measure the fish entered into the tournament and oversee the weigh-in process. With the large number of fishing tournaments held in Texas, there is a need for well-trained, knowledgeable weighmasters coast-wide and in the community.
Overview
Are you interested in becoming a weighmaster at fishing tournaments or getting more involved in Texas’ recreational fisheries? This course is designed for everyone—from beginners and volunteers to experienced weighmasters and tournament directors. You’ll learn how to properly handle fish at the weigh station, manage staff, and identify potential rule violations. No prior fishing experience is required—just a willingness to learn. Whether you’re new to the role or looking to sharpen your skills, this course will equip you to confidently serve as a weighmaster at Texas fishing tournaments.
What will you learn?
- The responsibilities of the weighmaster
- What happens at weigh stations
- How to weigh and measure fish
- How to evaluate fish for freshness and condition
- How to identify fish
- How to deal with delicate situations like violations and disqualifications
- The liability, risk, and finances involved with being a weighmaster
Weighmaster at Fishing Tournament in Madeira Beach, Florida: The three winners line up for a photo.
Gallery
Weighmaster Training Online
Texas Sea Grant partnered with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to offer the Weighmaster Training course online.
Become a Certified Weighmaster for Texas Fishing Tournaments – $35.00
Weighmasters play a critical role in sportfishing tournaments, ensuring fish are properly weighed, measured, and documented according to tournament rules. With hundreds of tournaments held annually across Texas, there is an ongoing need for trained, knowledgeable weighmasters throughout coastal communities.
This course is designed to prepare both new and experienced participants with the skills needed to confidently manage the weigh-in process at fishing tournaments. From fish handling and measurement to personnel oversight and rule enforcement, you’ll gain the tools and knowledge to serve effectively in this vital role.
To meet safety and liability standards, weighmasters must be 18 years or older. However, younger individuals may assist at tournaments under the supervision of a trained adult weighmaster.
Course Bonus: Weighmaster Training Toolkit
Each course purchase includes a hands-on toolkit with essential materials:
- Work gloves for safe fish handling
- A measuring tape for recording fish lengths
- A magnifying glass for detailed fish inspections
- Saltwater fish and shark identification guides for Texas and the Gulf of Mexico
- A Tournament Logbook to track your experience
Additional digital resources, including freshwater species ID guides, are available for download during the course.
Weighmaster Course Sign-Up
The course is 4 hours long and offered in English.
Events and Workshops
Texas Sea Grant will be exhibiting.
Partners
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Contact
Alexis Sabine
Assistant Program Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture- asabine@tamu.edu
- (361) 825-3460