CCA Florida STAR Fishing Tournament [2016]

For any angler in Florida who likes to catch redfish, be sure to check out the amazing prizes that could be won with just a single redfish catch between now and September 5th…

• Conley Buick GMC Sierra pick-up truck
• Contender 22 Sport with 250hp Yamaha sitting on a Rolls Axle trailer
• Pathfinder 2200TRS decked out with MinnKota 112 RipTide trolling motor, Humminbird Helix 10, 8ft Power Pole Shallow water anchor, 150hp Yamaha and trailer
• Hells Bay Waterman with 70hp Yamaha and trailer
• Sea Hunt Escape 235 with 200hp Yamaha and trailer

Best of all, this year CCA was able to release their special tagged redfish along both coasts of Florida, so all anglers in the state can participate.

And unlike prior CCA STAR tournaments where those who catch their highly prized tagged redfish (pic below) get the next prize in sequential order, they have adjusted the rules so that the next registered angler to catch a CCA tagged redfish can choose from the amazing unclaimed prizes listed above.

Here’s a picture of a 2016 tagged CCA redfish:

And to make it more exciting at the end of the tournament, any registered adult angler who has submitted a verified catch in any division will be placed into a winner’s CHOICE drawing for one of the remaining STAR Tagged Redfish prizes.

That’s right, even if a registered angler does catch a winning CCA tagged redfish during the remainder of the tournament, there still will be another of the remaining top prize(s) given away in a drawing from the registered anglers who have submitted a verified catch of a spotted seatrout, sheepshead, snook, cobia, kingfish, dolphin, or lionfish in any division excluding the Conservation and Guide divisions.

The reason why I enjoy participating in this tournament is that the entry cost is so low (just $35 for CCA members or $65 for those who are not yet members) compared to the amazing prizes that could be won.

Also, it’s nice to know that the funds raised are going towards conservation of our beloved marine environment.

How To Register

Registrations can be done completely online at any time, and there are no mandatory captain’s meetings to participate.

Here are step-by-step directions:

1. Click here to get to an informational page where you can learn more about this tournament
2. Click on the orange button to join the CCA
   • If already a CCA member, you can simply log in on that page
3. Select your CCA membership level of choice
4. Scroll down to the STAR tournament registration section and select the “Florida STAR Tournament” option (2nd from the bottom)
5. Fill out your account and payment information

Once registered, you then can download the free app if you plan to use the most efficient means to submit your catches… click here and scroll towards the bottom or go to your app store and search for “CCA Florida STAR”.

Note: Just make sure to pick up one of their official measuring devices because it’s required to validate the catches… here’s a story of an angler who didn’t read the rules which caused him to miss out on a brand new truck:

During his call with tournament staff, Troy learned that in order for his catch to be eligible, he MUST submit a photograph of the tagged redfish on the 2016 official measuring device. Unfortunately, Troy was unable to acquire a measuring device before he went on the water and had already released the fish, making it ineligible for future entries. The humble angler said, “I guess my t’s weren’t crossed and my i‘s weren’t dotted. The CCA cannot award a prize if the rules aren’t followed to the T.  Next time I will read the rules…”

Conclusion

Tournament fishing makes a fun day out on the water even more exciting given that each cast could be the one to pull in the next big winner.

For any and all anglers planning to fish either coast of Florida in between now and Sept 5th, this CCA Florida STAR tournament seems to be a great option. There’s roughly $500,000 of prizes available, and the cost to participate is minimal while also supporting a good cause.

I have certainly been enjoying the added thrill of all hook sets when going after redfish while this fun tournament is live.

Click here to learn more about CCA and this fun fishing tournament.