Emerald Coast Open 2026 Tournament and Festival
The Emerald Coast Open (ECO) is the largest lionfish tournament in the world! In 2025, ECO had 143 participants and removed 20,512 lionfish – 13,322 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 2026 tournament!
Pre-tournament
February 1 – May 14, 2026
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 15-16, 2026
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 2026 Emerald Coast Open
Early Bird Registration Begins – Jan 01, 2026
Get your discounted Emerald Coast Open registration! It’s only $75 through March 31st, then it will go up to $100.
Pre-Tournament Kickoff Party – TBD
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 2026 Emerald Coast Open.
Pre-Tournament Begins – Feb 01, 2026
Start racking up those raffle entries! Between Feb 1 – May 14, 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 $60,000 in prizes given away at the main tournament.
Early Bird Registration Ends – March 31, 2026
Last chance to register at the discounted rate!
Pre-Tournament Ends – May 14, 2026
This is the last day to turn in lionfish for 2 for 1 raffle entries.
Main Tournament Begins – May 15-16, 2026
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 16-17, 2026
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 17, 2026
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).
Pre-Tournament Drop Off Locations
Destin
9 Calhoun Ave, Destin, FL 32541
(850) 837-7575
destinseafood.com/seafood-restaurant
Call Alex Fogg at 443-995-6416 to coordinate fish drop-off.
8673 Navarre Pkway, Navarre, FL 32566
(850) 710-7070
destinseafood.com/Navarre
Call Alex Fogg at 443-995-6416 to coordinate fish drop-off.
Dive Pros Dive Shop
7203 US-98, Pensacola, FL 32506
(850) 456-8845
florida-divepros.com
Drop-off available during business hours. Please call when you are on your way to drop off fish.
Southwind Marina
10121 Sinton Dr, Pensacola, FL 32507
(850) 529-2475
Southwindmarina.com
Call Capt. Andy Ross prior to your trip, if possible, to coordinate fish drop-off.
Niuhi Dive Charters
10121 Sinton Dr, Penscola, FL 32507
(850) 529-2475
Niuhi Dive Charters
Call Captain Andy Ross at 850-529-2475 prior to your trip, if possible, to coordinate fish drop-off.
Gulf Breeze
5614 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
(850) 516-6800
scuba-dive-pensacola.com
Call the shop to coordinate fish drop-off before you show up.