Spring King of the Beach Fishing Tournament

One of the oldest and richest kingfish tournaments in the United States will celebrate its 31st year in Madeira Beach April 25-27, 2024!

A kids’ fishing slam, a 30-mile radius that evens the playing field, $300,000 in prize money and the chance to see a “smoker king” lure anglers and spectators alike to the annual Old Salt King of the Beach Spring Tournament and Festival in Madeira Beach.

Schedule of Tournament Events

A Captains Meeting will be held on Thursday, April 25, that is mandatory for each boat or team.

Friday night, April 26, features a free kids' fishing slam: The first 250 kids signed up get a rod/reel set, plus a goody bag for coming out to fish. There will also be a boat display with vessels from five local dealers.

On Saturday, April 27, tournament fishing begins! In addition, 70 marine-related vendors will draw big crowds to the waterfront park at the Madeira Beach Recreational Complex at 200 Rex Place. You can also watch the fishing action from the shore; nearly 400 boats will compete during the day of fishing. Things get really interesting when the day’s catches are weighed, which happens from about 3 to 7 p.m.

Awards will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 28, at the Tiki Hut at Caddy’s John's Pass at 190 Boardwalk Place E. Trophies and prizes will be awarded in six king mackerel and Spanish mackerel divisions and three tournaments within the tournament. The 2023 title went to a team that landed a 46.56-pound king mackerel and took home $104,083 for their efforts!
 

About the Tournament

The event’s popularity for anglers isn't surprising: It hands out $300,000 in cash and other prizes!

But the tournament also includes an unusual feature that helps attract anglers with smaller and less-expensive boats: It limits the area where competing boats can fish to 30 miles, lessening the advantage of the teams that have sponsors and big boats with multiple engines that can cover long distances in search of the biggest fish. It also offers a single-engine division, and teams can even fish from shore.

The event is run by the Old Salt Foundation and benefits its efforts to promote the sport, especially among young people. The foundation also organizes six other tournaments in Madeira Beach.

Although this is not a catch-and-release tournament, research has shown that recreational anglers take a minimal percentage of the migrating king and Spanish mackerel.
 

Tournament Entry Fees:

• $350.00/Team (members)
• $400/Team (Tournament entry plus Membership)
• $425/Team (Non Members)

Species: 

• King Mackerel
• Spanish Mackerel

Payouts:

• Pays 6 Divisions
• $300,000 Cash & Prizes
• 3 TWT's - Standard, High Roller & The Smoker!

What’s a "smoker?" A smoker is the name given to the biggest and strongest fish that, in the earlier days of the sport, peeled line so fast it caused the reels’ old-fashioned lubrication to smoke!

Register for the Spring King of the Beach Fishing Tournament