Tournament Info
January 1, 2024 Registration Has Begun
February 1, 2024 Pre-tournament Starts
Pre-Tournament Kickoff Party TBD
May 18, 2024 Pre-Tournament Ends
May 17-18, 2024 Main Tournament
May 18-19, 2024 ECO Lionfish Festival
May 19, 2024 Final Weigh-In / ECO Awards Ceremony
INfo
Emerald Coast Open
The Emerald Coast Open (ECO) is the largest lionfish tournament in the world! In 2019, ECO had 189 participants and removed 19,167 lionfish throughout the tournament – 14,119 in 3 days! ECO gave away $48,000 in cash prizes, and over $10,000 in gear prizes. We are looking forward to an exciting 2023 tournament!
Pre-tournament
February 1 – May 18, 2023
Participating in the ECO pre-tournament is easy for everyone! Simply go out and hunt lionfish. Drop them off at designated drop off locations and you will receive 2 raffle entries for each fish you turn in. That’s it! Hunt lionfish and win prizes!
Main Tournament
May 19-20, 2023
Win big money and big prizes! Each team of up to 4 can go out for 2 days and harvest lionfish. Final weigh-in is Sunday, May 21, 2023. You don’t have to be a professional, but you do have to sign up and get out on the water! You can’t win if you don’t compete!
Countdown to Emerald Coast Open Tournament!
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Schedule
Full Schedule for the 2023 Emerald Coast Open
Early Bird Registration Begins - Jan 01, 2023
Get your discounted Emerald Coast Open registration! It’s only $75 until March 31st, then it will go up to $100.
Pre-Tournament Begins - Feb 01, 2023
Start racking up those raffle entries! Between Feb 1 – May 18, registered participants can turn in lionfish at designated drop off spots for 2 for 1 raffle entries. For every lionfish you turn in, you get 2 raffle entries for over $10,000 in prizes given away at the main tournament.
Pre-Tournament Kickoff Party - Feb 3, 2023
1835 Porch Bar –200 Harbor Blvd. Destin, Florida 32541
Don’t miss out on the Pre-Tournament kickoff party. Free food, including lionfish, giveaways, live music, and a lot of “sizing up the competition”. Learn what’s in store for the 2023 Emerald Coast Open. Party starts at 6pm and goes to around 9pm
Early Bird Registration Ends - March 31, 2023
Last chance to register at the discounted rate!
Pre-Tournament Ends - May 18, 2023
This is the last day to turn in lionfish for 2 for 1 raffle entries.
Main Tournament Begins - May 19-20, 2023
Get in on all the action of Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament! Compete with the best lionfish hunters in the world for the most, the largest, and even the smallest lionfish. Largest cash prize pool ever!
ECO Lionfish Festival - May 19-20, 2023
Bring the family down to the famed HarborWalk Village in Destin for a great weekend and learn about lionfish, see lionfish, and even eat lionfish!
Learn more FWC Reef Rangers
Emerald Coast Open Awards Ceremony - May 21, 2023
This is the big moment! Win big prizes and lots of cash. Ceremony typically starts around 3:00pm (as soon as we finish counting fish).
Pre-Tournament Drop Off Locations
If you are participating in the pre-tournament and do not see a drop-off location near you, or would like to become a drop-off location, please contact Alex Fogg at (443) 995-6416.
Destin
Dewey Destin's
9 Calhoun Ave, Destin, FL 32541
(850) 837-7575
destinseafood.com/seafood-restaurant
Call Alex Fogg at 443-995-6416 to coordinate fish drop-off.
Navarre
Dewey Destin's Navarre
8673 Navarre Pkway, Navarre, FL 32566
(850) 710-7070
destinseafood.com/Navarre
Call Alex Fogg at 443-995-6416 to coordinate fish drop-off.
Pensacola
Dive Pros Dive Shop
7203 US-98, Pensacola, FL 32506
(850) 456-8845
florida-divepros.com
Drop-off available during business hours. Please call when you are on your way to drop off fish.
Southwind Marina
10121 Sinton Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507
(850) 529-2475
Southwindmarina.com
Call Capt. Andy Ross prior to your trip, if possible, to coordinate fish drop-off.
Niuhi Dive Charters
10121 Sinton Dr, Penscola, FL 32507
(850) 529-2475
Niuhi Dive Charters
Call Captain Andy Ross at 850-529-2475 prior to your trip, if possible, to coordinate fish drop-off.
Gulf Breeze
Shark Quest Dive Shop
5614 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
(850) 516-6800
scuba-dive-pensacola.com
Call the shop to coordinate fish drop-off before you show up.
Sarasota
Keys
Diver's Direct
99621 Overseas Hwy. Key Largo Florida 33037
Call (305) 451-0118
diversdirect.com
Text Randy Gross at 310-702-7276 prior to your trip, if possible, to coordinate fish drop-off.
2022 Tournament and Festival Photos
Register to Participate!
Anyone can win prizes at the Emerald Coast Open! Shoot for the biggest or the smallest for a chance to win BIG (Hint: the more you shoot during the pre-tournament the more prizes you can win!)