Attention Anglers in Texas Shark Rodeo:
In the past few months, the Federal government has clarified that the use of drones for bait deployment as illegal according to the following.
TPWD staff reviewed Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) ? 19.11, also known as the Federal Airborne Hunting Act (AHA), which was first enacted in 1956. Staff also sought guidance from the Office of Law Enforcement within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The result of that analysis and discussion is the determination that 50 CFR ? 19.11 (b)(2) prohibits the use of aircraft, which includes UAS or drones, to take or attempt to take wildlife, or aid in the act of fishing.
Definitions as defined in 50 CFR?10.12 that apply to 50 CFR ? 19.11:
Aircraft means any contrivance (device) used for flight in the air.
Fish or wildlife means any wild animal, whether alive or dead, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof.
Take means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect. (With reference to marine mammals, see Part 18 of this subchapter.)
Wildlife means the same as fish or wildlife.
Until this seemingly misunderstood use of drones to deploy a bait is addressed and clarified within the federal government, Texas Shark Rodeo must comply with the federal laws and cannot allow the use of such drones within the tournament.
Please contact your elected officials, like your local congressman and senator, and voice your opinion to them regarding this issue, as they are the only current avenue that could accomplish a change to this determination.
This will depend on the current regulations, but in our area, the following would be the representatives:
• HOUSE OF REP
• District 1: Nathaniel Moran (R)
• District 2: Dan Crenshaw (R)
• District 3: Keith Self (R)
• District 4: Pat Fallon (R)
• District 5: Lance Gooden (R)
• District 6: Jake Ellzey (R)
• District 12: Craig Goldman (R)
• District 18: Christian Menefee (D)
• SENATE
• John Cornyn: Senior Senator.
• Ted Cruz: Senator.
Here is the updated TSR rule #5 updated for the 2026 Texas Shark Rodeo Tournament.
5) Bait deployment & assistance rules: Bait deployment can only be done by a participant entered in the Texas Shark Rodeo, they do not have to be on your team. Non-participants cannot deploy a bait for a TSR entrant. The act of setting the hook and the actual battle of the shark via rod and reel until the landing/leadering process begins, can only involve members of the team. Anyone entered in TSR can take your bait out, but only teammates can assist in the act of reeling in a fish. Bait deployment has no restrictions on technique as long as it is legal for the area being fished. Motorized craft can be used for deployment as long as it conforms to the regulations of the location. Bait deployment is defined as whatever method is used to place the bait within the water, be it kayak, casting, wading, or any other method allowed for the area you are fishing.
The use of drones to deploy a bait for shark fishing is currently classified as illegal on all Texas beaches on a federal level and therefore not allowed in the Texas Shark Rodeo.
Information below on the exact regulation deeming drone use illegal for deploying baits.
Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) ? 19.11, also known as the 1956 Federal Airborne Hunting Act (AHA) states that 50 CFR ? 19.11 (b)(2) prohibits the use of aircraft, which includes UAS or drones, to take or attempt to take wildlife, or aid in the act of fishing.
Definitions as defined in 50 CFR?10.12 that apply to 50 CFR ? 19.11:
Aircraft means any contrivance (device) used for flight in the air.
Fish or wildlife means any wild animal, whether alive or dead, including without limitation any wild mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, mollusk, crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, whether or not bred, hatched, or born in captivity, and including any part, product, egg, or offspring thereof.
Take means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect. (With reference to marine mammals, see Part 18 of this subchapter.)
Wildlife means the same as fish or wildlife.
Until this seemingly misunderstood use of drones to deploy a bait is addressed and clarified within the federal government, Texas Shark Rodeo must comply with the federal laws and cannot allow the use of such drones within the tournament.
Please contact your elected officials like your local congressman and senator, and voice your opinion to them regarding this issue, as they are the only current avenue that could accomplish a change to this determination.
This will depend on the current regulations, but in our area, the following would be the representatives:
• HOUSE OF REP
• District 1: Nathaniel Moran (R)
• District 2: Dan Crenshaw (R)
• District 3: Keith Self (R)
• District 4: Pat Fallon (R)
• District 5: Lance Gooden (R)
• District 6: Jake Ellzey (R)
• District 12: Craig Goldman (R)
• District 18: Christian Menefee (D)
• SENATE
• John Cornyn: Senior Senator.
• Ted Cruz: Senator.