Pensacola’s Fishing Events
The Pensacola Bay Area is known as an angler’s paradise, and every summer, popular tournaments attract fishermen from around the region to put their angling skills to the test in the Gulf of Mexico.
These competitions are held in June, as the peak of the saltwater fishing season starts up in the Pensacola Bay Area. Pensacola Bay’s variety of saltwater fishing is unmatched anywhere along the Gulf Coast. The estuaries found between Perdido Bay, Pensacola Bay, and East Bay are rich in food and nutrients, which support one of the region’s most productive recreational fisheries.
The Pensacola Bud Light Fishing Rodeo
There are several events that are part of this rodeo, including the general rodeo, the King Challenge, the Aqua Pool & Patio Inshore Challenge, and the Academy Sports And Outdoors Junior Rodeo. This is one of the largest tournaments in the region, and anglers are challenged to catch the most massive redfish, speckled trout, king mackerel, and cobia. You can find more information here.
Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo
Flora-Bama’s rodeo starts the month of June off on an exciting foot. This rodeo takes place at the Flora-Bama Yacht Club on the Florida-Alabama state line. This tournament is for everyone, amateur and avid fishermen alike, and it even offers a children’s division. The rodeo has anglers competing in 30 different categories. A 3-day beach party and awards ceremony also accompany the tournament, which includes live music, delicious food, and daily weigh-ins. A portion of the proceeds from the fishing rodeo is donated to the Wounded Warrior Foundation. You can learn more about the Flora-Bama Fishing Rodeo here.
The Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo
This tournament was started in 1971 with just 18 anglers. Now, the event hands out cash prizes for 12 categories of fish in the Open Division, which totals over $7,200. There are also 32 fish categories in the Junior Division which award $50 cash each. The Bill Hargreaves Fishing Rodeo is held every year in June on Father’s Day weekend. The fishing begins at 12:01 AM on Friday morning and continues through weigh-in at 9 PM on Saturday, with daily and overall prizes to be won! You can learn more about this tournament here.
Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament
This contest finishes off the month of saltwater fishing competitions and is one of the most prestigious tournaments of its category in the nation. The Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament is hosted by the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club and is a qualifying event for both the World Billfish Series and the IGFA World Qualifier. This tournament has high stakes and the overall winner will receive an invitation to the IGFA Offshore World Championship! You can learn more about this exciting tournament here.
However, even if you can’t make it to these tournaments, any time is a great time to fish in the Pensacola area. In fact, if you’re looking to get out on the water, come fishing with me here at Rock Bottom Charters. It’s my goal to make sure you have the fishing trip of a lifetime!
