2025 Florida Keys Fishing Tournament Highlights

Jan. 3-4: Fish for Holly Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Created to raise money for Keys scholarships and domestic violence initiatives, this memorial tournament honors the late Holly Given, a Keys resident and avid angler. Participants gather at the Islander Resort to compete for overall angler and top male, female and junior angler awards as well top boat and fun fish prizes. Visit fishforholly.com.

Jan. 7-9: Islamorada SailFly Tournament. Islamorada. Teams gather for the 25th anniversary of this challenging and exciting competition to fly fish for Atlantic sailfish. Captains slow-troll with live baits with no hooks to raise and tease the sailfish, so fly anglers can cast to the fish. Visit islamoradasailfly.com or call Capt. Randy Towe at 305-394-2667.

Jan. 14-15: IFC Captain’s Cup Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Presented by the Islamorada Fishing Club, the event is the second leg of the three-pronged Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship trifecta, attracting teams of elite sport fishermen. A total winner-take-all cash payout for a full field at the IFC Sailfish Tournament could reach $25,000. Visit theislamoradafishingclub.com or email ditournaments@aol.com. 

Jan. 15-19: Key West Kingfish Mayhem. Key West and the Lower Keys. Headquartered at The Perry Hotel & Marina, this competitive tournament event takes place in the waters where sizeable king mackerel, also called kingfish, gather each year before their annual migration. A single open division welcomes all interested teams, and the winning team is to receive a  $75,000 prize. Visit meatmayhemtournaments.com/key-west-kingfish-mayhem/schedule/.

Jan. 17-19: Cheeca Lodge Presidential Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. One of the most prestigious offshore tournaments in the Florida Keys, the Presidential serves as the final leg of the three-pronged Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship. Visit cheeca.com/presidential.

Jan. 26-27: Islamorada Bartenders Sailfish Open. Islamorada. Headquartered at the Lorelei Restaurant & Cabana Bar, this fun fishing event is open to actively employed Keys bartenders and restaurant employees. Trophies are awarded to individual anglers as well as the bar a team represents, with the perpetual trophy and year-long bragging rights going to the winners. Contact Dianne Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com. 

Jan. 31–Feb. 1: Swamp Guides Ball. Islamorada. In this annual all-release competition organized by the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association, anglers target bonefish, redfish and snook. The tournament benefits the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Foundation and the Guides Trust Foundation — organizations that provide funds to people in the local fishing industry in times of need. Visit fkfga.org. 

Jan. 31–Feb 2: Islamorada Women’s Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. This light-tackle challenge celebrates its 40th year along with its new affiliation with the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing organization. Instruction on how to sailfish will be provided to those who request it via an online meeting. Awards await the first, second and third place teams plus awards for high point angler, captain and mate on the first place team. Other awards are to be given for the top mahi-mahi, tuna and kingfish. Anglers may register to fish from their own boats or sign up for individual or shared charters. Visit ladiesletsgofishing.com/islamorada-womens-sailfish-tournament. 

Feb. 4-5: Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Women anglers vie for trophies awarded to the first-, second- and third-place teams, grand champion and runner-up grand champion anglers, as well as for the largest dolphin fish, kingfish and tuna. Kick-off and awards events are held at the Islander Resort. The competition benefits the Upper Keys Veterinary Hospital’s Spay and Neuter Fund and the Shriners Children’s Hospital. Visit castingforcats.org/poor-girls-sailfish-tournament.

Feb. 6-8: Cuda Bowl. Key West and the Lower Keys. Shallow-water flats anglers and guides are invited to hook up and fight their barracuda rivals. The event is headquartered at South of the Seven Restaurant on Sugarloaf Key. Prizes are awarded in spin and fly divisions. Top-scoring female and junior anglers are also recognized. Visit cudabowl.com or email info@cudabowl.com.

Feb. 7-8: Keys Kids Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. This tournament is free for anglers 16 years of age and younger. Contact Diane Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com. 

Feb. 11-12: Al Flutie Over the Hill Rip-Off Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. Known as the "Flutie," this all-release sailfish tournament welcomes anglers age 50 and over who compete for awards for the top three teams and high-point male and female anglers. Tournament events are headquartered out of Ocean View Inn and Sports Pub, mile marker 84.5 bayside. Contact Diane Harbaugh at 305-522-4868 or ditournaments@aol.com. 

Feb. 28–March 1: Backcountry Fly Championship Series. Islamorada. Tournament anglers are to compete to catch the most inches of snook and redfish on fly in a challenge where 1 inch equals one point. Awards are to be given to the grand champion and runner-up, and to the anglers who catch the largest snook and redfish. The field is limited to 30 boats. Visit BFCtournament.com.

March 4-8: Jimmy Johnson's ‘Quest for the Ring’ Championship Fishing Week. Key Largo. Hosted by Jimmy Johnson, two-time Super Bowl winning coach and former head coach at the University of Miami, the prestigious event includes the two-day Billfish Competition with a guaranteed total purse of at least $1 million and the Superbowl-style championship ring. A separate sportfish tournament and the annual Celebrity Pro-Am round out the tournament week. Visit questfortheringfl.com.

March 10-13: March Merkin Invitational Permit Tournament. Key West and the Lower Keys. This charity flats-and-fly-only tournament challenges anglers to catch and release silvery permit to vie for elite titles. The event is held at Oceans Edge Resort & Marina on Stock Island. Visit marchmerkin.com.

March 27-29: Key West Sailfish Tournament. Key West. The Key West Sailfish Tournament brings bring world-class teams together for a two-day shootout-style battle for the top of the leaderboard and prize money. Visit kwst.profishingtournaments.com.

April 3-5: Spanish Fly Shark Tournament. Key West. Targeting bull sharks, this second annual catch-and-release tournament is focused on increasing knowledge about bull sharks in the Florida Keys. With both inshore and offshore divisions, the challenge is to be televised by Outdoor America. Visit keywestsharktournament.com.

April 24-26: Marathon Premier Sailfish Tournament. Marathon. A boat tournament with a release format, the challenge benefits Mission Fishin’, a South Florida nonprofit that helps fund on-the-water adventures for foster children, youngsters with special needs and their families — as well as local charitable organizations including Marathon Special Olympics. Prizes are to be awarded to the top three boat teams and top male, female and junior anglers among others. Visit marathonsailfish.com.

April 26-30: Tarponian Tournament. Marathon. Rules of this high-energy three-evening tournament mandate that each team fishes with a different captain for each outing. Teams also rotate among the three major bridge channels in Marathon, so any potential “hot spots” are shared among all anglers. Email dbreznicky@breznickyassociates.com or call 267-210-1952. 

May 2-4: Tom Thumb Marathon Bull and Cow Dolphin Tournament. Marathon. Up to $25,000 in cash and prizes awaits the top anglers who catch the largest bull and cow dolphin fish combined, while other prizes are awarded to anglers catching the largest dolphin, wahoo, tuna and tripletail. Visit marathonoffshoretournament.com.

May 2-4: Nick Sheahan Dolphin Rodeo. Islamorada. Honoring the memory of Nick Sheahan, a Florida Keys student, this tournament benefits a namesake community scholarship fund that has distributed over $456,000 to date. Hosted at Tavernier Creek Marina, the event features cash prizes and $25,000 to the angler with a dolphin fish that beats the state record. Visit nicksheahan.com.

May 4-10: 37th Annual Bob Traa Faro Blanco Invitational Tarpon Tournament. Marathon. Newly renamed to honor tournament founder Bob Traa, this team event allows two to four anglers per team/boat, who fish three nights with three different captains at three different bridges: Bahia Honda, Long Key and the world-famous Seven Mile. Proceeds from the charity tournament benefit Ronald McDonald House. Contact Donna Vankirk at 305-393-0699 or captdonna1@aol.com.

May 16-18: ‘Ladies Let’s Go Fishing’ Screamin’ Reels Tournament. Islamorada. Intended for novice anglers, this weekend is about learning and a nonintimidating, fun competition with the “Ladies Let’s Go Fishing” university organizers. Participants can charter a professional boat or fish on their own boat. This is a casual tournament with prizes for the heaviest offshore fish and longest inshore fish, drawings for prizes for those who caught fish, and bonus drawings. Visit ladiesletsgofishing.com.

May 18-21: Golden Fly Tarpon Tournament. Islamorada. Top fly anglers and world-class guides test their skills in this three-day, invitation only fly-fishing tournament. Winners receive custom art and sculpture from notable wildlife artists as well as the latest gear and apparel from the premier fly-fishing brands in the industry. Visit goldenfly.org 

May 30–June 1: Skippers Dolphin Tournament. Key Largo. Headquartered at Skippers Dockside Restaurant behind Key Largo’s Holiday Inn, this tournament pays cash prizes of over $60,000, including a first-place prize of $20,000, as well as prizes for the top six teams and top lady and junior anglers. Visit skipperstournaments.com or email ditournaments@aol.com.

June 6-7: Ladies Dolphin Tournament. Tavernier. Hosted by the Florida Keys Elks Lodge, this event welcomes female angler teams to compete for the highest aggregate weight of three dolphin fish. Cash and prizes are awarded to first- through third-place finishers and for the largest dolphin caught. Visit floridakeyselks1872.com or email ditournaments@aol.com. 

June 6-8: 32nd Annual Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce Dolphin Tournament. Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys. Anglers contend for over $35,000 in cash prizes and awards in this popular annual tournament. A cash prize of $20,000 is given for the largest dolphin fish over 50 pounds. Additional prizes await winners in open, ladies and youth divisions. Visit lowerkeyschamber.com/chamber-events/. 

June 9-12: Ladies Tarpon Fly Tournament. Islamorada. Hosted by Florida Keys Outfitters, this all-release, fly-fishing invitational tournament for women is held each June during the height of the famed tarpon migration. Started in 1977, the tournament represents a rich history of women who love the sport of saltwater fly fishing. Visit ladiestarponfly.org or call 305-484-4336. 

June 13-14: Father’s Day Dolphin Derby: Marathon. This popular dolphin tournament pays out cash and prizes to the top four adults with the heaviest fish. Visit fathersdaydolphintournament.com. 

June 13-15: Key West Gator Club Dolphin Derby. Key West. The boat team weighing in the heaviest dolphin fish wins $5,000. Prizes are awarded through fifth place and to the top lady and junior anglers. Proceeds benefit Gator Club scholarships for University of Florida students who graduated from Key West High School. Contact kwgatorclub@outlook.com. 

June 16-20: 62nd Annual Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament. Islamorada. This annual challenge appeals to experienced anglers who apply to compete in what is locally called the “Wimbledon of tarpon fishing.” Headquartered at the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar, the all-release event is limited to 25 anglers by invitation only. Proceeds benefit the Guides Trust Foundation of the Florida Keys. Visit goldcuptt.com. 

June 19-21: University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Fishing Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers mingle with sports celebrities in this annual charity tournament that targets dolphin fish and raises funds for the UM Sports Hall of Fame and other charities. Visit canesfish.com or contact Diane Harbaugh at ditournaments@aol.com.

June 20-22: VFW Fishing Tournament. Key West. A family fun tournament, this event awards over $15,000 in total cash and prizes including $5,000 for the heaviest dolphin fish. All proceeds benefit disabled and needy veterans in the Florida Keys’ Monroe County. Email vfw391110@yahoo.com.

June 25-26: IFC Captain’s Cup Dolphin Tournament. Islamorada. Teams of up to four anglers compete for top prizes, and the total combined weight of three dolphin fish determines the winning team in this Islamorada Fishing Club tournament. If up to 25 boats register, first-prize cash winnings can reach $25,000. Visit theislamoradafishingclub.com or contact Diane Harbaugh at ditournaments@aol.com.

June 27-29: Florida Keys PBA Dolphin Tournament. Stock Island. Hosted by volunteers on behalf of the Florida Keys Police Benevolent Association, the tournament targets dolphin fish. Cash prizes await the first- through fourth-place anglers and the top junior, female and PBA member anglers. Proceeds primarily benefit the Autism Society of the Keys and the Love Fund Inc. Visit keysdolphintournament.com. 

July 4-6: Billy Knowles Memorial Poor Boys Tarpon Fly Tournament. Islamorada. This tarpon-on-fly tournament is open to all anglers. The team with the most releases of tarpon measuring 4 feet or longer wins. Tournament events are held at the Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar in Islamorada. Visit poorboys.info or email poorboystournment@gmail.com. 

July 7-10: Del Brown Invitational Permit Tournament. Sugarloaf Key. Anglers fly fish on the flats in a challenge that honors the late angling pioneer Del Brown, who caught and released more than 500 permit off the Keys. Professionals and guides are allowed to compete as anglers. Visit delbrown.com or call 305-360-6969.

July 23-26: Key West Marlin Tournament. Key West. Anglers can ply the waters once fished by legendary writer Ernest Hemingway while vying for $50,000 in cash prizes. Teams are to earn points for blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish and “fun fish” species. Activities include a nightly dinner, a silent auction and an awards banquet. For anglers of every skill level, the contest coincides with Key West’s annual Hemingway Days festival that celebrates the literary giant’s adventurous spirit. The tournament is limited to 75 entries. Visit keywestmarlin.com. 

Aug. 18: Bartenders Dolphin Tournament. Layton. This one-day tournament targets dolphin fish and is open to bartenders and restaurant employees. Kick-off and weigh-in events are to be held at the Florida Boy restaurant at mile marker 68 in Layton. Email ditournaments@aol.com. 

Sept. 19-21: Herman Lucerne Memorial Backcountry Fishing Championship. Islamorada. Named after the man known affectionately as “Mr. Everglades,” the event is headquartered at the Islander Resort. Anglers target fish only in the boundaries of Everglades National Park — fishing areas that Lucerne favored — and are challenged to catch at least one tarpon, redfish, snook, sea trout, snapper, bonefish and black drum or bass with the goal being to catch all seven species. Awards are given in 22 individual categories at a ceremony hosted at the Islander Resort. Visit hermanlucernememorial.com or email wesley@lockeandkeyproductions.com. 

Sept. 26-28: Take Stock in Children Backcountry Challenge. Key Largo. The annual tournament put on by the Rotary Club of Key Largo offers anglers the opportunity to win coveted trophies for trout, snook and redfish. Fishing is allowed around the clock from Friday night through Sunday afternoon. A popular weekend auction showcase and Sunday evening dinner are open to the public. Proceeds support vocational and educational scholarships for financially challenged Upper Keys students. Visit keylargorotary.org. 

Oct. 17-19: “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Florida Keys Saltwater Seminar and Fishing Fever Inshore/Offshore Tournament. Islamorada. Female fishing fans can learn or polish angling skills during the award-winning weekend seminar with two days of optional charter fishing and the Fishing Fever Fun Tournament. More than 9,000 female graduates have immersed themselves in the lighthearted yet skill-heavy curriculum to learn and hone abilities in offshore, bottom, inshore and fly fishing. Visit ladiesletsgofishing.com or email fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com. 

Oct. 17-18: Casting for Cats Backcountry Tournament. Islamorada. This formerly all-female tournament now has a co-ed division and a women’s division. Anglers earn points for catching bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and redfish using bait, artificial lures or fly tackle. Points are also awarded for ladyfish, sharks, jacks and spotted sea trout. The event is a major fundraiser to help control the feral cat population in the Upper Keys. Call Sharon Mahoney Ellenwood at 305-664-2012.

Oct. 31–Nov.1: Fall Backcountry Fly Championship. Islamorada. Tournament anglers compete to catch the most inches of snook and redfish on fly in a challenge where 1 inch equals one point. Awards are to be given to the grand champion, the anglers who catch the largest snook and redfish, and the “King of the Backcountry” series grand champion among others. Visit BFCtournament.com.

Nov. 13-15: Cheeca Lodge & Spa All-American Backcountry Tournament. Islamorada. Anglers compete for prizes and trophies in this annual all-release event targeting snook, redfish, bonefish, tarpon and permit. The tournament was inspired by George H. W. Bush, the 41st U.S. president, and honors war heroes in an esteemed competition held over Veterans Day weekend. Proceeds benefit the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Visit cheeca.com/allamerican.

Nov. 13-15: Sugarloaf Showdown. Sugarloaf Key. Angling teams can vie for victory by targeting bonefish, permit and barracuda during the annual Sugarloaf Showdown in support of the Florida Keys Guides Trust Foundation. The catch-and-release challenge is presented by the Lower Keys Guides Association. Visit sugarloafshowdown.com. 

Dec. 5-7: Islamorada Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. The first leg of the Florida Keys Gold Cup Championship trifecta is the only tournament in the series to offer a junior division for anglers age 16 and younger. Unlimited anglers are allowed per boat. Visit islamoradasailfishtournament.com or email ditournaments@aol.com. 

Dec. 12-14: Islamorada Junior Sailfish Tournament. Islamorada. The Florida Keys’ oldest sailfish tournament for kids age 16 and under celebrates its 61st year in 2025. Email islajuniorsail@gmail.com.  

Florida Keys visitor information: fla-keys.com or 1-800-FLA-KEYS 

Florida Keys fishing information: fla-keys.com/fishing 

Florida Keys fishing tournaments: fla-keys.com/calendar/fishing