The Crocodile Bay tournament brings together anglers from across Florida for a weekend of saltwater fishing and community
The Crocodile Bay Annual Fishing Tournament is a saltwater fishing event held in the Florida Keys, drawing anglers who fish for permit, tarpon, bonefish, and other species in the shallow waters around the bay. The tournament typically runs over a weekend in spring, though the exact dates shift from year to year. You fish from your own boat or hire a guide, weigh your catch at the official weigh station, and compete for prizes in categories that usually include largest fish by species, heaviest aggregate weight, and sometimes a calcutta pool where anglers bid on their own boats.
The event is organized by local fishing guides and outfitters who know the bay intimately and have built the tournament around the seasonal patterns of fish movement. It is not a large corporate event with national sponsorship, but rather a regional gathering where the fishing community shows up to fish hard, eat well, and see who knows the water best that weekend. Entry fees typically run between $300 and $500 per boat, depending on the year and what the organizers decide to include.
Key Takeaways
- Crocodile Bay is a shallow-water tournament in the Florida Keys focused on permit, tarpon, and bonefish, held over a spring weekend each year.
- You can fish from your own boat or hire a guide through the tournament, and entry fees usually range from $300 to $500 per boat.
- Prize categories typically include largest fish by species, heaviest total weight, and optional calcutta pools where anglers bid on their boats' performance.
- The tournament draws local guides and visiting anglers who fish the flats and channels around Crocodile Bay during prime seasonal conditions.
- Weigh-in happens at a central location, and results are usually posted the same day or the next morning.
When the tournament runs and how to find the dates
The Crocodile Bay tournament is held once a year, typically in April or May when permit and tarpon are moving through the Keys in good numbers. The exact weekend changes from year to year based on tidal conditions, guide availability, and other logistics, so the date is not fixed to a calendar slot.
To find the current year's dates, contact the Islamorada Chamber of Commerce or reach out directly to the fishing guides and charter captains who run the event. Many of them maintain social media pages or websites where they post tournament information as the spring season approaches. Local tackle shops in Islamorada and Key Largo also post flyers and announcements several weeks before the event.
Entry fees, boat requirements, and what you need to bring
Entry into the tournament costs between $300 and $500 per boat, paid at registration the morning of or the day before the tournament begins. This fee covers your boat's participation, access to the weigh station, and entry into the main prize pool. Some years the organizers also offer an optional calcutta pool — a separate betting pool where anglers bid on their own boats or other boats in the tournament, with payouts based on final standings. The calcutta is voluntary and costs extra, usually $50 to $200 per bid depending on how many boats are entered.
You need a boat capable of fishing the shallow flats and channels around Crocodile Bay — typically a skiff or flats boat drawing less than two feet of water. If you do not own a boat, you can hire a guide through the tournament or book a charter captain independently. Many guides offer tournament packages that include the entry fee, fuel, and their expertise for a flat daily rate, usually $400 to $600 for the day.
Bring your own tackle, sunscreen, water, and food for the day. The tournament runs from early morning until mid-afternoon, so plan for a full day on the water. Weigh-in typically happens at a central location — often a marina or dock in Islamorada — and you must bring your fish there live or on ice to be weighed and measured.
Fish species and size rules
The tournament focuses on permit, tarpon, and bonefish, the three species that define flats fishing in the Keys. Prize categories usually break down by species — largest permit, largest tarpon, largest bonefish — with separate payouts for each. Some years the organizers also award a prize for heaviest aggregate weight across all fish caught by one boat.
Minimum size limits follow Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules: permit must be at least 24 inches fork length, tarpon at least 77 inches fork length, and bonefish at least 18 inches fork length. Fish that do not meet the minimum are not weighed and do not count toward your score. The tournament may also impose a bag limit — a maximum number of fish per species per boat — so check the rules when you register.
All fish must be brought to the weigh station alive or on ice. The organizers will measure and weigh them there, record the results, and usually release the fish back into the water after weighing. Bring a cooler with ice if you plan to keep fish on ice during the day.
How to register and what happens at weigh-in
Registration usually opens the afternoon before the tournament or early the morning of the event. You show up at the designated registration location — typically a marina or tackle shop in Islamorada — with your boat captain's name, boat name, and entry fee. The organizers will give you a tournament number to display on your boat and a packet with the rules, weigh-in times, and any other information you need for the day.
Fishing runs from sunrise until a set time in the afternoon, usually around 3 or 4 p.m. At that time, all boats must head to the weigh station and line up with their catch. The organizers will measure and weigh each fish, record the results on a scorecard, and post standings as the afternoon goes on. Winners are usually announced the same evening or the next morning, depending on how many boats are entered and how long weigh-in takes.
Guides and charter captains who fish the tournament
Many of the guides who run the Crocodile Bay tournament are based in Islamorada and have fished the bay for decades. They know the tidal patterns, the seasonal movements of permit and tarpon, and the specific flats and channels where fish concentrate during the tournament weekend. If you hire a guide for the tournament, you are paying for their local knowledge as much as their boat and fuel.
Some guides offer tournament packages that include registration, fuel, lunch, and their full day of fishing for a flat rate. Others charge an hourly rate and let you cover the tournament entry separately. Ask guides about their tournament experience and what they typically catch during the spring season. Many will also tell you honestly if conditions are poor that year or if the fish are not moving as expected.
Lodging and food in Islamorada during tournament weekend
Islamorada has hotels, vacation rentals, and fishing lodges that fill up quickly during tournament weekend. Book lodging several weeks in advance if you plan to stay overnight. The town sits on the Overseas Highway between Key Largo and Marathon, so you have options at different price points and distances from the water.
Restaurants and fish shacks in Islamorada serve fresh seafood and casual meals. Many anglers eat breakfast before heading out on the water and return for dinner after weigh-in. The tournament itself does not include meals, so plan to bring food and water for the day or arrange with your guide to stop for lunch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own boat to fish the tournament?
No. You can hire a guide or charter captain who will enter the tournament with you as a passenger. Many guides offer tournament packages that include the entry fee and a full day of fishing. You can also ask around at local marinas or tackle shops to find other anglers looking for crew members to share a boat.
What if I catch a fish that does not meet the minimum size?
Fish below the minimum size do not count toward your score and are not weighed. You can keep fishing and try to catch a larger one, or move to a different area of the bay. The tournament rules will specify whether there is a bag limit — a maximum number of fish per species — so check your registration packet.
Can I fish the tournament if I have never fished the Keys before?
Yes, but hiring a guide is strongly recommended. Flats fishing for permit and tarpon requires specific techniques and knowledge of where fish are likely to be. A guide who knows Crocodile Bay will put you in position to catch fish and teach you how to fish the shallow water.
What time does fishing start and end?
Fishing typically starts at sunrise and ends in the mid-afternoon, usually around 3 or 4 p.m. The exact times are posted at registration. You must have all your fish at the weigh station by the end time, so plan to head in with enough time to get there before the deadline.
How are winners determined if multiple boats catch the same size fish?
Tiebreaker rules vary by year and are explained in the tournament rules at registration. Common tiebreakers include the fish caught earliest in the day, the heaviest aggregate weight if there is a tie for largest single fish, or a coin flip. Ask the organizers for the specific tiebreaker rules when you register.