Professional and amateur anglers and those looking for a fun, family way to spend a week gather in July at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek for one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the Southeast.
EVENT INFORMATION
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
7/16
Thursday
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
6:00 pm
7:00pm
Final Registration for Tournament
Site Open: Boatique, Raffels, Exhibitors, Liars Tent, Food
Jr. Angler Awards
Captains Meeting
7/17
Friday
6:30 am
1:00 pm-6: 00pm
2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
3:00 pm
5:30 pm
Enter Atlantic Ocean
Site Registration: Final Redfish Tournament
Site Open: Boatique, Exhibitors, Raffles, Liar's Tent
Weigh-in Opens
Be in line at Sisters Creek to weigh fish
7/18
Saturday
6:00pm
During Awards
Awards Ceremonies:
Kickoff Beach Tournament
Redfish Tournament
General Tournament
Raffle Drawings
Nosara Costa Rica trip drawing
Shimano Rods/Reels drawing
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
In 1980, a small group of local businessmen wanted to organize a fishing tournament, similar to those in which they had participated in other coastal areas. They thought Jacksonville was an ideal location for such an endeavor and plans were made to launch the First Annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, held in July of 1981. Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc., a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, evolved through the success of the GJKT and utilizes its proceeds to support marine science research, preservation, and education.The 46th Annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament takes place July 9-18, 2026 at Jim King Park & Boat Ramp at Sister Creek. The annual event is a long-standing tradition for residents of the Jacksonville area. More than 300 boats fish the week long event for thousands of dollars in prizes. Annually, the Tournament attracts thousands of spectators who watch the weigh-in and enjoy the festivities. Favorite attractions include the Food Festival; the Liars’ Tent, featuring live entertainment; exhibitors , boat display and the Boatique,The Junior Angler Tournament, was established in 1991. In 2026, we are accepting Junior Angler entries for $25 if you are registered in either the Kickoff or General Tournaments. The fee will be $50 per Junior if you are not registered in either one of those two tournaments. This event is specially designed to accommodate the future anglers under the age of 16 years. Good sportsmanship, conservation awareness, and enjoyment of fishing experiences are the high point of this exciting family event. A partnership was established with Fish Florida in 2007, which further expanded the Junior Angler program with the introduction of Junior Angler seminars during Tournament Week. No boat to fish from? We hold a Jr. Angler Dock Tournament, for $10, fished from the Kayak/Canoe docks right at the Sisters Creek site and we provide a hotdog lunch to the Jr. Dock Anglers.
TOURNAMENT PRIZES
Based on 200 boats
1st PLACE LARGE FISH
Contender 28T
Twin 200 Yamaha Outboards
Ameratrail Trailer
Custom T-Top and leaning post sponsored by CT Customs
1st PLACE AGGREGATE
150 HP Yamaha Valued at $16,500
MYSTERY WEIGHT KINGFISH
$1,000 Sponsored by Gauge Server
BONUS ADDITIONAL CASH PRIZES
Cobia: Sponsored by
North Florida Marine Association in memory of John Lowe and Pete Lofton
1st Place $1,000 2nd Place $500 3rd Place $250
Donate your extra fish and get a ticket for the drawing for five $100 bills
For every 10 boats over 300, 1 place will be added to Large and Aggregate
GENERAL TOURNAMENT RULES
REGISTRATION
1. Entry fees are non-refundable.
2. Payment of the entry fee constitutes a representation that the Captain has read and understands these Tournament Rules and that the Captain and crew will abide by such rules and the decisions of the Tournament’s Committees, Weigh Master, and Tournament personnel.
3. The Tournament reserves the right to deny participation to any Captain or crew member who has violated tournament rules in a previous tournament.
CAPTAIN’S MEETING
4. Each Captain or an authorized representative must attend the Captain’s Meeting. Captains are responsible for being informed of all Tournament Rules, including any amendments announced prior to the start of fishing.
5. The Tournament may amend the Tournament Rules at any time prior to the end of the final Captain’s Meeting.
Prizes
6. All advertised cash prizes are based upon a minimum of 200 paid entries to the General Tournament. The Tournament reserves the right to adjust the prize structure if there are less or more than 200 paid entries. Additional prizes are awarded for the Junior Angler Tournament, the Ladies Tournament, the Kickoff Beach Tournament, the Tournaments within the Tournament, and other special awards and prizes.
BOATING SAFETY
7. Each boat must comply with all Federal, State, and Local laws and safety regulations for its size. Each Captain is responsible for compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and Local fishing laws and regulations by the Captain’s boat and crew. Violation of any Federal, State, or Local statute, marine regulation or directive by a Captain or crew may be grounds for disqualification in the Tournament’s sole discretion.
8. Captains must monitor the official Tournament radio channel (CH 78) for announcements.
9. Boats can enter the Atlantic Ocean from any Inlet on the East Coast after 6am on the day of the tournament.
10. Weigh in opens at 3:00 PM and boats intending to weigh fish must be in line at the Tournament Site (Jim King Boat Ramp and Park at Sisters Creek) prior to 5:30PM. The official check-in time is the time when the fish is weighed. Shoes are required by all participants at the scales.
LAND CHECK IN
11. Fish brought to the Tournament site (Jim King Boat Ramp and Park at Sisters Creek) by vehicle must be at the weigh station scales not later than 5:30 PM. Participants must present their boat number (and Lady Angler number if applicable).
FISHING
12. In the event any two boats come together, regardless of the reason, or anything is passed between boats for any reason after the official start of fishing and before weighing in, then both boats may be disqualified. The Rules Committee may grant exceptions for emergency situations.
13. Fishing boundaries are the Atlantic Ocean.
14. No boat is allowed to fish or take bait in the Atlantic Ocean as of 7:30 PM on the day prior to the start of the General Tournament. Four hours of fishing constitutes a full day of fishing. All fish must be taken on a rod and reel. Special exceptions may be granted by the Rules Committee, in advance of the Tournament, on request. The use of any aerial device (drone, airplane, helicopter) is prohibited.
WEIGHING IN FISH
15. Two Kingfish will be eligible for weigh-in and the two largest fish will qualify for the Aggregate prizes. All fish weighed become the property of the Tournament.
16. Boats weighing fish must reach the weigh-in station unassisted.
17. All fish submitted for weigh-in must be of legal size, fresh, edible condition, and caught on the day of the Tournament. The Tournament Weigh Master's decision regarding whether a fish is qualified to be weighed shall be final and binding on all Tournament participants.
18. Fish to be weighed must be put on the dock and carried to the scales by a member of the boat’s crew but may have assistance at the discretion of the Dock Master. Shoes are required by all participants coming to the scales.
19. In the event of a tie in fish weights, the fish with the earliest official weigh-in time wins.
20. All information printed on the weigh-in slip, including the official weight, as accepted by the person who brings the fish to the scale, is binding on the Captain.
21. The Lady Angler Division is a stand-alone Tournament. In the spirit of competition, it is the intent of the Tournament to have the Lady Angler fight her fish to the boat. The Lady Angler will not be required to carry the fish to the Weigh-In Scale, but she must accompany it, and she may have assistance at the discretion of the Dock Master. The Lady Angler must be registered in the Lady Angler Division and will be issued a Lady Angler number when the Captain picks up their boat number. A Lady Angler’s fish will only count for the Lady Angler Division. The Captain must decide at the weigh-in dock whether each fish will be weighed in the General Tournament or in the Lady Angler Division and the decision is final.
PROTESTS
22. Protests must be submitted to the Weigh Master in person and in writing within one hour after the closing of the weigh-in station. Only the registered Captain or one of the boat’s crew with the boat’s weigh-in slip may file a protest. A three hundred-dollar ($300) Cash deposit must accompany each protest. In the event the protest is upheld, the deposit will be refunded. If the protest is not upheld, the deposit will be forfeited. The final decisions of the Tournament Rules Committee are binding regarding any protest.
POLYGRAPH
23. All Captains and crew agree to submit to a polygraph at the request of the Tournament. Failure to take, pass and/or submit to the polygraph process will result in disqualification and forfeiture of all winnings. Each participant selected for polygraph must have in their possession a valid picture ID and a Florida State fishing license.
MISCELLANEOUS
24. Any matter not specifically covered by these rules may be decided by and at the sole discretion of the Tournament Rules Committee and final decisions of the Tournament Rules Committee shall be binding. The Tournament reserves the right to delay, cancel or reschedule the Tournament if conditions, including but not limited to the weather conditions, are unfavorable or unsafe in the sole judgment of the Tournament Rules Committee. The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to amend any rule due to safety concerns. If the Tournament shall be delayed canceled or rescheduled due to any cause beyond the control of Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc. d/b/a The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, no entry fee shall be refunded to the entrants and entrants shall have no claim against Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc., any Tournament sponsor or the City of Jacksonville, for return of any portion of the entry fee.