Divers from across the country will descend on Destin-Fort Walton Beach later this month for the Emerald Coast Open, billed as the world’s largest lionfish tournament, with competitors vying for over $100,000 in prizes.
The event, scheduled for May 16-18, aims to help manage the invasive lionfish population that threatens native species in Gulf waters. Last year’s tournament saw more than 100 divers harvest nearly 12,000 lionfish, and organizers expect to surpass those numbers this year.
- “Each year the Emerald Coast Open demonstrates the very best in how our businesses and diving community collaborate to create an exciting atmosphere for residents and visitors who attend this event,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon.
The tournament features multiple events, including the main competition where divers compete for top prizes in categories for the smallest, largest, and most lionfish caught.
Leading up to the tournament, Emerald Coast Open Restaurant Week will showcase local chefs’ lionfish dishes from May 9-17. Different restaurants will be featured each day, starting with Crab Trap Destin on May 9 and concluding with an all-day special at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar on May 17.
“The Emerald Coast Open tournament not only helps remove invasive lionfish, keeping our fisheries healthy but also provides valuable education and awareness through the Festival and Restaurant Week,” said Alex Fogg, Natural Resources Chief. “Marine conservation is a key component of Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s tourism initiatives, and these events help maintain the health of our waters and marine life.”
The participating restaurants include:
- Crab Trap Destin on May 9
- Bitterroot on May 10
- Jasmine Thai on May 11
- Beach Walk Cafe on May 12
- La Paz on May 13
- Brotula’s Seafood House & Steamer on May 14
- Harbor Docks on May 15
- Sura Korean Steakhouse on May 16
- AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar on May 17
Each restaurant will create unique lionfish dishes, with all entries being judged. The winning restaurant will be announced at the end of the week.
The free Lionfish Festival will take place along HarborWalk Village in Destin, featuring conservation-focused vendors, educational talks, music, and family activities. Tournament awards will be announced on May 18 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar.
The Emerald Coast Open is part of broader conservation efforts to control the lionfish population, which has no natural predators in the Gulf and can devastate native fish populations.
For more information on the tournament including registration and rules, visit here. For details about Destin-Fort Walton Beach, visit here.