Chokoloskee Fishing Tournament – Everything You Need to Know

Score the best catch of summer and win when you enter the Chokoloskee Fishing Tournament in Florida. Chokoloskee RV Park hosts the summer favorite again starting in June 2025. Anglers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to enter the annual tournament.

Fish along the shores of Chokoloskee Island to win cash prizes!

But first, here’s everything you need to know about this Florida fishing tournament.

Florida Fishing Tournament Entry & Rules

Dates: June 1 – August 30, 2025

Location: Chokoloskee RV Park

1150 Hamilton Ln, Chokoloskee, FL 34138

Entry Fee: $50 (100% of entry fees go into the prize pot)

Winners will be announced on  August 31 at the annual end-of-summer barbecue at Chokoloskee RV Park. Winners take home cash prizes. The amounts increase with every entry. 

How to Enter

Call the Chokoloskee main office at (239) 695-2414 to enter. 

Fish all summer for a chance to top the Chokolsokee leaderboard. You don’t need to be a Chokoloskee RV guest or own a vacation cottage within the community to enter either. 

However, you must launch from the beautifully renovated Chokoloskee docks to fish the rich waters along the Ten Thousand Islands. Fish for the day or rent a slip to extend your fishing fun. 

You cannot enter the tournament with fish caught from docks, piers, or any other fixed structures. Violators will be disqualified.

Need a place to stay? Chokoloskee RV Park is a short drive from Ted Smallwood’s historic trading post. The waterfront RV resort doubles as a fishing village for regulars who return each year to manicured RV sites, travel trailer rentals, and a busy marina.

How the Chokoloskee Tournament Works 

Fish all summer for a chance to top the Chokolsokee leaderboard. Anglers up their odds the more they fish because most prizes are based on fishing totals and not a single fish. 

Winners are determined based on the total length of catches. For example, a 20-inch snook, 30-inch redfish, and 20-inch trout, will result in a 70-inch total length. Tarpon is the exception.

For Tarpon the awards go to the biggest single fish.

Fish lengths will be measured with the approved Chokoloskee resort ruler provided to registrants. Entries must be documented with a photograph sent to the RV park staff within one hour of each catch or as soon as you get cell phone reception.

The award will go to the first photo received in the event of any tie.

If registrants catch a bigger designated fish during the competition, they can add the bigger catch to replace a smaller catch. 

2025 Fishing Tournament Divisions

The tournament is split into five divisions with two competitions per division. Snook and tarpon must be released. All other fish must follow Florida fishing regulations.

Inshore

• 18+ years old
• $50 per vessel
• 4 people per vessel
• Seatrout, redfish, and snook competition or tarpon competition

Women

• 18+ years old
• $50 per vessel
• 4 people per vessel
• Seatrout, redfish, and snook competition or tarpon competition

Kids

• 6-17 years old
• $50 per vessel
• 4 people per vessel
• Seatrout, redfish, and snook competition or tarpon competition

Kayak

• 18+ years old
• $50 per kayak
• Seatrout, redfish, and snook competition or tarpon competition
• Paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, or any vessel that has no form of power other than that supplied by the occupant are eligible for the kayak division. No combustion, battery, or electric engines are eligible to participate in the kayak division. 

Trash

• All ages
• $50 per vessel
• 4 people per vessel
• An award goes to the person who collects the most trash during the tournament. Catches are 5-gallon buckets filled with ocean or island trash and documented by photographs.

Tournament Fishing Boundaries 

Contestants must stay within the boundaries to register a valid catch: 

• SE of San Marco Dr, Caxamas Pass to marker #4
• NW Cape Sabel to marker 10
• SE Corner of White Water Bay, mouth to Tarpon Creek.

Chokoloskee Tournament Rules and Regulations

• Registrants must launch from our dock.
• Only registered entries can register fish.
• Entry into the competition is available anytime from June 1 to August 31st.
• Catch and release only. (feel free to keep any fish you catch as long as you abide by the
• appropriate Florida fishing regulations)
• $50 per motorized vessel.
• 4 people per motorized vessel.
• Everyone on the vessel must register.
• Registrants must have a valid Florida fishing license.
• Photos must be sent in within one hour of catch, or as soon as you get cell reception, to Chokoloskee Island Resort, with an approved resort ruler. 
• Ties will go to the first photo received.
• Registrants agree to participate at their own risk.
• All decisions are final and not subject to challenge.
• No employees of Cove Communities or family members thereof are eligible to
• participate.
• No fishing from docks, piers, or any other fixed structures; violators will be disqualified.