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Lionfish Tournaments and Events

Get involved with lionfish removal and awareness efforts by participating in any of our statewide events and tournaments, host a "Become the Predator" workshop, feature educational brochures in your shop, or host a "Lionfish: Classroom Invasion" dissection and presentation.

Contact Lionfish@MyFWC.com for more information and to schedule.

 

Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day

First Saturday after Mother's Day each year. Check out our annual festival.

Get Involved

Workshop includes an educational presentation about the lionfish invasion, statewide programs and control efforts, harvesting gear and techniques, safe handling and a fillet demonstration.

Dive shops and charters can also request a lionfish excursion. FWC educates and trains divers to confidently and safely harvest lionfish.

Available upon request.

Contact Lionfish@MyFWC.com and include name of organization, location and estimated number of attendees.

Educational materials are available for display and distribution in your dive shop or classroom. Contact Lionfish@MyFWC.com and include your mailing address and type of materials requested.

View the educational lionfish brochure or poster.

Lionfish Tournament Assistance

FWC encourages removal efforts by supporting lionfish-specific and multi-species spearfishing tournaments.

From 2014-2021, Florida has held 170 tournaments and removed over 146,000 lionfish.

Learn more about the FWC tournament assistance requirements and apply for 2022- 2023 lionfish tournament assistance funds.

2022 Lionfish Tournament and Event Calendar

Date Location Name Contact
February 1- May 12, 2022 Destin, FL

Emerald Coast Open Pre-Tournament

info@emeraldcoastopen.com

April 22-24, 2022 Key Largo, FL

REEF Earth Day Lionfish Derby

lionfish@REEF.org

May 13-15, 2022 Destin, FL

Emerald Coast Open

info@emeraldcoatopen.com

May 14-15, 2022 Destin, FL

8th Annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day Festival

Lionfish@MyFWC.com

June 10-12, 2022 St. Pete, FL

Tampa Bay Spearfishing Challenge

Tampa Bay Spearfishing Club

July 15-16, 2022 Key Largo, FL

Rock the Dock

lionfish@REEF.org

July 15-17, 2022 New Port Richey, FL

The Southern Open

trier120977@gmail.com

September 8-11, 2022 Key Largo, FL

Florida Keys Lionfish Derby

 lionfish@REEF.org

October 1-2, 2022 Navarre, FL

Navarre Fishing Rodeo

Navarre Fishing Rodeo

Add your tournament to our calendar!

Email the tournament name, date, location, contact information and tournament website to Lionfish@MyFWC.com.

For historical tournament results, email Lionfish@MyFWC.com.

2021 Lionfish Tournament Results

Date Location Name Number of Lionfish Harvested Largest Smallest Number of Participants
February 1- May 13, 2021 State-wide

Emerald Coast Open Pre-Tournament

2505 N/A N/A 38
April 23-25, 2021 Key Largo, FL

REEF Earth Day Lionfish Derby

494 N/A N/A 45
May 14-15, 2021 Destin, FL

Emerald Coast Open Main Tournament

7745 440 41 145
June 6, 2021 St. Petersburg, FL

Tampa Bay Spearfishing Challenge

84 N/A N/A 0
August 5-8, 2021 St. Augustine, FL

North Florida Shootout

246 15.5 in 6.5 in 10
September 9-12, 2021 Islamorada, FL

Florida Keys Lionfish Festival and Tournament

1216 436 69 57
October 22-24, 2021 Pensacola, FL

Pensacola Lionfish Classic

4254 434 25 56

Total number of lionfish removed in 2021: 16,544

*Note: sizes in mm unless otherwise noted