2024 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival

Location:

REEF Campus
98300 Overseas Hwy
Key Largo, FL 33037

Date:

August 15, 2024, 9:00 AM to August 18, 2024, 5:00 PM

Overview:

Join us for the 15th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby hosted by REEF. The event will culminate on Sunday, August 18, 2024, with the lionfish weigh-in and awards ceremony at the REEF Campus.

For any inquiries, please contact: lionfish@REEF.org

Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Event Schedule:

Thursday, August 15

• 6:00 PM: Check-in begins for registered derby teams
• 6:30-7:30 PM: Captain’s Meeting (Mandatory for team captains; all team members encouraged to attend)
  • Location: REEF Campus, Key Largo & Virtual (link provided to registrants)

Friday, August 16

• Fishing: Sunrise to sundown

Saturday, August 17

• Fishing: Sunrise to sundown
• 4:00-9:00 PM: Invaders on Tap at Florida Keys Brewing Company

Sunday, August 18 – NO FISHING

• 8:00-10:00 AM: Beach Cleanup with Surfrider Foundation Florida Keys at Paddle! (90773 Old Hwy #1, Tavernier, FL 33070)
• 8:30-11:30 AM: Team Weigh-in/Fish Drop-off
• 10:00 AM-2:00 PM: Public Event at REEF Campus
  • Lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, tastings, games, and team awards
• 1:30 PM: Awards Ceremony

Registration:

• Early Bird Discount: $90 per team through July 12, 2024
• Regular Registration: $120 per team on or before August 15, 2024, by 6:30 PM
• Team Size: Minimum 2 people, maximum 4 people per team
• Note: Registration fee is non-refundable

Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Details:

• Fish Drop-off: Sunday, 8:30 AM-11:30 AM at REEF Campus. No late fish accepted.
• Captain’s Meeting: Mandatory for team captains. Safe collecting and handling techniques and derby rules will be reviewed. The meeting will be held in-person and virtually.
• Permits and Materials: Teams fishing in areas requiring FKNMS, FWC, and DEP permits must pick up packet materials, permits, and flags during the week of August 12 or at the Captain’s Meeting.
• Ice: Teams must provide adequate ice to keep lionfish well-packed, especially if held overnight.
• Catch Distribution: Teams can take at least 80% of their catch after measurement. REEF will retain some lionfish for educational and outreach activities.
• Teammates: Looking for teammates? Join the REEF Invasive Lionfish Group on Facebook to connect with other divers.

Awards:

• Prizes: Awarded for MOST lionfish, SMALLEST lionfish, LARGEST lionfish, and a Golden Fish raffle award for all participating teams.
• Divisions for MOST Lionfish Prize:
  • Apex Predators Division: More competitive, greater prize money
  • Reef Defenders Division: More casual, lower prize money
• Common Categories: All teams compete together for the LARGEST and SMALLEST lionfish categories.
• Golden Fish Award: $500 raffle for teams checking in with data sheets, even without catching fish.
• Raffle Prizes: Individual raffle prizes drawn at Captain’s Meeting on Thursday and Awards on Sunday.
• Awards Presentation: In-person and virtual. Teams must arrange to pick up prizes if not attending in person. Prizes will not be mailed.

Join us for a fun-filled and impactful event aimed at controlling the invasive lionfish population and protecting our reefs!

For more information on upcoming events, be sure to check the calendar on our webpage!