Emerald Coast Open 2025
May 16, 2025 - May 17, 2025
$100
Emerald Coast Open
The Emerald Coast Open (ECO) is the largest lionfish tournament in the world! In 2024, ECO had 147 participants and removed 11,844 lionfish despite rough weather – 7,411 in 2 days! ECO gave away $65,000 in cash prizes and over $60,000 in gear prizes. We are looking forward to an exciting 2025 tournament!
Pre-tournament
February 1 – May 15, 2025
Participating in the ECO pre-tournament is easy for everyone! Simply go out and hunt lionfish. Drop them off at designated drop off locations and you will receive 2 raffle entries for each fish you turn in. That’s it! Hunt lionfish and win prizes!
Main Tournament
May 16-17, 2025
Win big money and big prizes! Each team of up to 4 can go out for 2 days and harvest lionfish. Final weigh-in is Sunday, May 18, 2025. You don’t have to be a professional, but you do have to sign up and get out on the water! You can’t win if you don’t compete!
Full Schedule for the 2025 Emerald Coast Open
Early Bird Registration Begins – Jan 01, 2025
Get your discounted Emerald Coast Open registration! It’s only $75 through March 31st, then it will go up to $100.
Pre-Tournament Begins – Feb 01, 2025
Start racking up those raffle entries! Between Feb 1 – May 15, registered participants can turn in lionfish at designated drop off spots for 2 for 1 raffle entries. For every lionfish you turn in, you get 2 raffle entries for over $10,000 in prizes given away at the main tournament.
Pre-Tournament Kickoff Party – Stay Tuned
Don’t miss out on the Pre-Tournament kickoff party. Free food, including lionfish, giveaways, live music, and a lot of “sizing up the competition”. Learn what’s in store for the 2025 Emerald Coast Open. Party starts at 6pm and goes to around 9pm – Stay Tuned!
Early Bird Registration Ends – March 31, 2025
Last chance to register at the discounted rate!
Pre-Tournament Ends – May 15, 2025
This is the last day to turn in lionfish for 2 for 1 raffle entries.
Main Tournament Begins – May 16-17, 2025
Get in on all the action of Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament! Compete with the best lionfish hunters in the world for the most, the largest, and even the smallest lionfish. Largest cash prize pool ever!
ECO Lionfish Festival – May 17-18, 2025
Bring the family down to the famed HarborWalk Village in Destin for a great weekend and learn about lionfish, see lionfish, and even eat lionfish!
Learn more Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Festival
Emerald Coast Open Awards Ceremony – May 18, 2025
This is the big moment! Win big prizes and lots of cash. Ceremony typically starts around 3:00pm (as soon as we finish counting fish).