Destin is a world-class fishing destination. Its location along the continental shelf makes it a great place for offshore fishing, and it is considered “The Billfish Capital of the Gulf.” Because of the prime access, it is an amazing place to compete in fishing tournaments!
This weekend, people flocked to Destin for the 5th Annual Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament. This was the largest lionfish tournament in history! People worked together to remove invasive lionfish and compete for prizes (like cash and gear!) and awards. Large payouts were given to those who removed the most lionfish, the largest lionfish, and the smallest lionfish. The diver who caught the most won prize money totaling $100,000. This tournament is a huge deal!
Along with the tournament, there was a conservation festival with excellent beer, wine, and food. Many of the dishes feature lionfish. Families and friends came together and had a terrific time!
This year, divers set a new record for lionfish removal. Divers caught 24,699 lionfish, far surpassing last year’s total of 13,835.
The team "Deepwater Mafia 1" caught the most lionfish, with their total hitting 2,898 lionfish. The largest lionfish, which measured almost 17.98 inches, was caught by "Dibs on Bottom." All of the top five largest fish caught this year surpassed standing records! The smallest lionfish, which measured 2.51 inches, was caught be "Down N Out." More details can be viewed on Facebook.
Interested in participating next year? Next year's tournament will take place May 17-18, 2024, followed by awards on May 19, 2024. Make plans to visit!
