Fall King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament

The 32nd Annual Fall King of the Beach Kingfish Tournament returns to Madeira Beach, Florida, from November 6 through 8, 2025, bringing anglers of all skill levels to the Gulf Coast for three days of competition, community, and coastal celebration. Headquartered at the Madeira Beach Recreation Complex, this premier event kicks off Thursday evening with a Captains Meeting, team check-ins, and onsite registration before Friday’s Community Party featuring live reggae from I-Ruption. Saturday delivers the main attraction—tournament fishing followed by weigh-ins and an awards ceremony running from 4 to 10 PM, culminating in a spectacular fireworks display at 9 PM. The tournament offers a $3,000 grand prize for the biggest striped bass, with additional awards for largest surf perch and accuracy casting competitions.

Madeira Beach occupies a storied stretch of Florida’s barrier islands, where the Gulf of Mexico meets Boca Ciega Bay through the historic waterway known as John’s Pass. The pass itself was carved by the great hurricane of 1848, and legend holds that a pirate named John Levique became the first to navigate the newly formed channel while returning from New Orleans with a cargo of green turtles. What began as a quiet fishing settlement—where commercial boats hauled mullet, grouper, and snapper—has evolved into Pinellas County’s number one tourist attraction, a waterfront village where over one hundred merchants now line the 1,100-foot boardwalk that local charter captain Wilson Hubbard convinced town leaders to build in 1980. The John’s Pass bridge itself earned a moment of cinematic fame, appearing in the 1985 summer comedy starring John Candy, and today hundreds of boats pass through daily beneath its twin drawbridges.

Beyond the fishing competition, the weekend unfolds with activities that capture the spirit of Old Florida gatherings: the Old Salt Mullet Toss, axe throwing, cast net competitions, and darts keep visitors entertained between weigh-ins. Boat displays from Pro Marine Boat Sales, Tom George Yacht Group, Boylen Point Contender, and Latitude Tournament Boats line the grounds for those dreaming of their next vessel, while food vendors serve up Gulf Coast fare throughout the weekend. The tournament draws families seeking seaside adventure, couples looking for waterfront romance, groups reuniting for shared memories, and pet owners who will find the coastal atmosphere welcoming to four-legged companions—all gathered where the scent of salt air mingles with the sounds of live music and the sight of pelicans diving for their own catch.

The surrounding John’s Pass Village offers an embarrassment of culinary riches for hungry anglers: The Friendly Fisherman has served fresh grouper sandwiches since 1978 and will even cook your tournament catch, while Sculley’s Seafood Restaurant brings Gulf-to-table dining with fish straight off their charter boat, The Dagger. For no-frills authenticity, Dockside Dave’s delivers some of the best blackened grouper in town, and Walt’z Fish Shak—a true hidden gem—changes its menu daily based on whatever the boats bring in, evoking the Key West spirit that Old Florida devotees treasure. Round out your visit with craft beers at Mad Beach Brewing Co. or waterfront views from The Boardwalk Grill. For accommodations that position you perfectly for tournament weekend, explore nearby lodging options on Lake.com and start planning your Gulf Coast fishing adventure today.