REEF’s Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival

2024 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival

REEF’s 15th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby will culminate, Sunday August 18, 2025 at the lionfish weigh-in and awards at REEF campus.

Please contact lionfish@REEF.org with questions

Derby ScheduleDerby RegistrationDerby Details

FKBC Lionfish NightLionfish WorkshopsBeach Clean-up

* Due to construction delays the Festival at Postcard Inn will not be held in 2024 but please join us for a week of lionfish events. 

Event Schedule

Thursday, Aug 15

• 6:30-7:30PM Captain’s Meeting for registered derby teams (check-in begins at 6PM)
  • REEF Campus, Key Largo & virtual (link sent out to registrants)

Friday, Aug 16

•  Fishing sunrise to sundown

Saturday, Aug 17

• Fishing sunrise to sundown;
• 4PM-9PM Florida Keys Brewing Company Lionfish Night

Sunday, Aug 18 – NO FISHING

• 8AM-10AM – Beach Cleanup – Details Coming Soon
• 8:30 – 11:30AM Team Weigh-in/Fish Drop off
• 10AM – 2PM Public event – Lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, tastings and games and team awards at REEF Campus
• 1:30PM Awards Ceremony

Registration

Early Bird Registration Discounts Available
$90 per team through July 12, 2024

$120 per team on or before August 15, 2024 (6:30PM)

Minimum 2 people per team, maximum 4 people

Registration fee is nonrefundable

How to Participate 

Step 1: Gather your team. Derby teams can be made of 2-4 divers. Decide on what level you will participate (Apex Predators or Reef Defender).

Step 2: Register your team and pay the Registration Fee.

Register and Pay

Step 3: All members of your team need to complete the waiver.

Online Waivers

Step 4: Make sure everyone on your team understands the rules of the Derby.

Derby Rules

DERBY DETAILS

• FISH DROP OFF – REEF Campus – Sunday 8:30AM-11:30AM. No late fish accepted
• The Captain’s Meeting is mandatory for the team captains, and all team members are encouraged to attend.
  • The team captain must be one of the four participants in the derby, but does not need to be the captain of the boat. Safe collecting and handling techniques and derby rules will be reviewed. The Captain’s meeting will be offered in-person and virtually.
• Teams wishing to fish in the areas that fall under the FKNMS, FWC, and DEP permit must schedule a time to come to the REEF Campus to pick up packet materials, permits, and flags during the week of August 12 or pick up at the Captain’s Meeting.
• All lionfish should be well packed on ice and teams must provide enough ice for lionfish, particularly those that will be held overnight.
• Teams will be able to take at least 80% of their catch after it is measured (REEF will keep some lionfish to use towards education and outreach activities).

Awards

• Prizes will be awarded for MOST lionfish, SMALLEST and LARGEST lionfish and a Golden Fish raffle award for all participating teams.
• During registration, teams must choose to compete in one of two divisions for the MOST Lionfish Prize.
  • Apex Predators Division (More Competitive Division; Greater Prize Money)
  • Reef Defenders Division (More Casual Division; Lower Prize Money)
• All teams will compete together for LARGEST and SMALLEST lionfish categories.
• All teams will be entered to win the $500 Golden Fish award as long as they check in with there data sheets even if they don’t catch fish
• All participants will be entered to win individual raffle prizes that will be drawn at Captains Meeting on Thursday and Awards on Sunday.
• Awards will be presented in person and virtually (in-person attendance at awards is not mandatory)
  • Prizes will not be mailed out. Teams must arrange to pick them up if they are not at the award