26' MCFBA FISHING TOURNAMENT
June 12th - Captains Meeting
June 13th - Day 1 Tournament
June 14th - Day 2 Tournament
(Food and awards celebration following final weigh in at 4:00pm)
KINGFISH
DOLPHIN
SNAPPER
Our annual offshore fishing tournament is organized by the Martin County Firefighters Benevolent Association. This is a charity event that aims to raise funds to support firefighters and their families in times of need. The tournament is typically held in the waters off the coast of Martin County and attracts anglers from all over who come to compete for cash prizes and trophies. Participants are required to pay an entry fee, which goes towards the fundraising efforts of the Benevolent Association. The tournament is a fun and exciting way to bring together members of the community to support a worthy cause. In addition to the fishing competition, the event may also include a raffle, silent auction, and other activities to raise additional funds. The proceeds from the tournament are used to provide financial assistance, scholarships, counselling services, and other forms of support to firefighters and their families during emergencies. The offshore fishing tournament is a great way for the Martin County Firefighters Benevolent Association to give back to the community while also promoting the importance of safety and preparedness in the marine environment Please check below on putting in your boat registration, sponsorship opportunities and more.
End of the pre-sale!
Hurry before the registration goes up to $450
BOAT REGISTRATION FORM
Rules and Regulations
SUBJECT TO CHANGE RULES ARE ANNOUCNED AND FINALIZED DURING THE CAPTAINS MEETING
I. Registration and Fees:
Rule 1: ENTRY FEE PER BOAT: Pre-sale is $300 and will increase on May 1st to $350, and on or after June 1st $450. Payment confirms registration upon submission of the filled form. Boat entry includes 4 dinner tickets.
Rule 2: REGISTRATION: Available online at https://mcfba.org/mcba-fishing-tournament or by contacting tournament personnel.
II. Important Dates, Times, and Locations:
Rule 3: CAPTAIN’S MEETING: Pirates Cove Resort and Marina, 4307 SE Bayview St, Stuart Florida 34997, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, June 12th, 2026. Rules announced at 7:00 PM. One angler per boat must attend or make prior arrangements.
Rule 4: TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS & OFFICIAL WEIGH STATION: Pirates Cove Resort and Marina, 4307 SE Bayview St, Stuart Florida 34997.
Rule 5: Regular Weigh-in Hours: Saturday, June 13th, 2026 & June 14th, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Contact weighmaster on VHF channel 68 for earlier weigh-in. No fish weighed after 4:00 PM will be eligible.
Rule 6: START and END HOURS OF FISHING: Saturday, June 14th, 2025, lines in at 6:00 AM, all lines out by 3:30 PM. Weigh-in closes at 4:00 PM.
III. Angler and Boat Regulations:
Rule 7: ANGLERS PER BOAT: Maximum of four (4) registered anglers, including the captain per initial registration. Additional anglers are $50.00 each. Anglers can serve as captain and/or mate.
Rule 8: COMMUNICATIONS: All boats must have a working VHF marine radio and monitor channel 68 for official announcements. Notify tournament personnel if not returning to weigh-in.
IV. Fishing Rules:
Rule 9: FISHING LOCATION: Any inlet within U.S. territorial waters is permitted.
Rule 10: ELIGIBLE FISH: Dolphin, Kingfish, and Snapper (excluding Cubera). One fish per category per angler can be weighed. All fish must comply with state and federal regulations and cannot be mutilated (as determined by the weigh master).
Rule 11: BAIT & TACKLE: No bait restrictions (live bait allowed). All fish must be caught on rod and reel. Wire lines are permitted. Electric reels are prohibited unless used for Swordfishing. If you're using an electric reel for swordfish and catch another entry fish, you must have video proof.
V. Judging:
Rule 12: TIES: Earliest weigh-in time breaks ties in weight.
VI. General and Safety:
Rule 13: FISHING BOUNDARIES: Limited to U.S. territorial waters.
Rule 14: ENTRY REFUSAL: The Martin County Firefighter Benevolent Association Fishing Committee reserves the right to refuse any entry with or without cause.
Rule 15: WEATHER CONDITIONS: The weather committee can postpone or cancel the tournament due to unsafe conditions (announcements on channel 68). Captains are responsible for their crew and fish at their own risk. If the tournament is canceled, all funds acquired for the 2025 MCFBA Fishing Tournament will be kept as donations to the 501(C)(3).
Rule 16: LAWS: Participants must abide by all federal, state, and local environmental and fisheries laws and possess a current Florida saltwater fishing license upon request.
NOTE: Tournament rules are subject to change without notice. Any changes will be announced at the Captain’s Meeting.
VII. Awards:
Rule 17: Boat Entry Fee allows crew to be eligible for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place of the tournament based on the premises of largest tournament eligible fish by gross weight "see rule 10".
Rule 18: Eligibility for tier awards require pre-entry into each category prior to the tournament check-in. In addition to Rule 17 guidelines anglers have the opportunity to compete in each of the categories with separate prize pools. Largest Bonito, Largest Cobia, Largest Blackfin Tuna, Largest Swordfish and Largest gross weight KDS Meat Mayhem.
Rule 19: KDS Meat Mayhem is the entry of any Atlantic fish is eligible, but NO sharks, goliath grouper, or "special stamp fish." with largest accumulative gross weight wins the category. Anglers can enter any combination, but only one fish can be weighed per species.
Rule 20: Prize money for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place of the tournament is based off percentage of boat entry fees + portion of sponsorship money, whereas Prize money for the tier awards is based off percentage of buy-in total of each species excluding swordfish, which is in its own prize pool.
Looking Back at 2022 MCFBA TOURNAMENT
We were proud to start off our first major event as a local favourite. With some amazing help and an incredible venue to host our very own fishing tournament, 2022 MCFBA Fishing tournament was a hit with over 30+ boats registered, 120 anglers, 8 vendors, multiple local sponsorships and many more. Please enjoy some of the fishing tournament pictures.This event not only raised money for our benevolent, but also had multiple retirees boats sponsored to fish in the tournament. We take pride in making sure that our retired firefighters are still apart of the organization.We are excited for 2023 MCFBA Fishing Tournament
