TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A fishing tournament open to all ages and skill levels is underway and there’s over half a million dollars in prizes and scholarships on the line.
It’s called the CCA Florida STAR Tournament, and it runs all summer long.
Hosted by CCA — the Coastal Conservation Association, the nonprofit is focused on protecting marine resources through conservation, habitat restoration, and restocking efforts.
“We’re going on 40 years of being established,” said Captain Leiza Fitzgerald, Tournament Director. “We do advocacy work, conservation initiatives, and then habitat restoration and restocking.”
Fitzgerald says the tournament is designed to be fun and accessible, with chances to win even if you’re not an experienced angler.
“Any fish you catch can be entered in the competition for a shot at winning something. Even trash. Even trash can be entered,” she said.
There are nine divisions, from inshore and offshore to youth and trash cleanup, but the most popular is the Tagged Redfish Division.
“When you capture one of these, you have the opportunity to win a brand new boat,” Fitzgerald explained. “But you must be a member and registered in the competition. Here's the keyword: before you hook the fish.”
This year’s tagged fish have a green tag, and they’re released in areas where redfish are commonly caught.
“If we have four fish in every county, there are 12 redfish around the Tampa Bay area,” Fitzgerald said. “So keep that in mind when anglers are fishing — we’re not hiding them.” That is just in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee Counties.
Aside from the tagged redfish prize, most winners are selected at random — not based on size or weight. That means more chances to walk away with big prizes like boats, motors, and even cash.
There’s also $100,000 in scholarships for youth — and all they have to do is catch any fish and enter it
Students can also earn community service hours by filling five-gallon buckets with trash.
There are a few rules, including using a specific identifier in your photos when submitting entries. You can register here on the CCA website for the tournament.
