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Get hooked on Florida’s favorite pastime with inshore, coastal, and offshore competition
St. Augustine, Fla. (May 6, 2025) – Florida’s Historic Coast is the place to venture beyond the land to hook the big one. Whether anglers are battling it out for money, a trophy, or a cool selfie with a really big catch, fishing tournaments are big game.
Big tournaments kick off this week with The Salt Life Bluewater Tournament May 8-10. Hosted by Northeast Florida Marlin Association NEFMA, this tournament attracts competitors worldwide to compete for the biggest catches of pelagic species, like marlin, tuna, and dolphin fish, also known as mahi mahi or dorado.
The Ancient City Gamefish Association presents the June 26-28 Ancient City Kingfish and Junior Kingfish Challenge that takes to the seas with fishing boats searching for king mackerel that can grow up to 72 inches long and over 90 pounds.
Kingfish are the star fish in the St. Augustine Kingfish Mayhem at the end of May, and the Dailey’s Old School Kingfish Shootout and the Old City Elite Kingfish Tournament both take place in June. Kingfish Mayhem offers a pro series for experienced anglers, while the open series welcomes anyone to participate. The Old School Kingfish Shootout is, well, old school, embracing catch-and-release fishing with restrictions on technique and bait.
Fishermen and fisherwomen who are looking for a real challenge need look no further than the (NEFMA)’s Blue Marlin Bounty. From March to December, whoever brings in a blue marlin measuring over 105” from lower jaw to fork length wins. Started in April 2022, the winnings remain untouched. The NEFMA also runs a year-long Tournament Series Championship, where anglers can accumulate points over a series of five events, catching mahi, billfish, wahoo, and more. NEFMA also hosts Mahi Mania from April-June, El Pescado Billfish Tournament, and the Don Combs Wahoo Roundup, both in December.
Inshore anglers can fish and raise money for charity at the Wildwood Inshore Fishing Tournament on June 6-7, which benefits St. Augustine Youth Services. With categories for men, women, and youth, it’s all about inshore fish, like trout and flounder.
Looking to fish, but without the fanfare of competition? St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches have plenty of great fishing holes and professional guides to get hooked on.
Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
