Just in time for the return of a St. Johns County fishing tradition, excitement is running high — even if the fuel prices have been running on the high side as well.
The Daily’s Old School Kingfish Shootout presented by Yellowfin returns Saturday, June 13 to Vilano Beach, a single-day competition that has brought big fish and big-time fun entering its seventh year.
Tournament director Paul Dozier is hopeful that this year’s pain at the pump won’t lessen the enthusiasm for what has become a popular event on Northeast Florida’s outdoor calendar.
“You shouldn’t have to buy a huge amount of fuel, because you can’t go more than 3 miles offshore,” Dozier said. “But it’s still a little bit of a concern.”
The rise in fuel costs over the spring has brought an extra sticker shock for boaters, because the fuel typically used for boat motors costs significantly more than regular unleaded gasoline for passenger vehicles on the highway. At the start of June, the USA TODAY Florida Network found that marine fuel costs neared or even surpassed $6 per gallon in some locations around the state.
Although these fuel costs in Northeast Florida have dipped somewhat during the first days of June, filling up for a day on the water still isn’t cheap.
But with the tournament’s Old School format, anglers with the deepest wallets don’t necessarily have the biggest advantage. The tournament restricts anglers to a maximum fishing distance of 3 miles from the coastline, bounded by St. Simons Island in the north to New Smyrna Beach in the south.
OLD SCHOOL KINGFISH SHOOTOUT ON RISE
Pricey fuel or not, any cash spent on fuel at the Old School Kingfish Shootout will be well worth the investment for the winner.
The captain landing the overall biggest fish will bring home a 21-foot boat with a 200-horsepower outboard motor and a trailer, a prize package valued at $130,000. The second-place finisher receives $10,000 cash, with payouts continuing through the top 25 places.
Although Dozier said it’s uncertain whether the 2026 tournament will match the 2025 numbers, last year’s event recorded 695 boats. That included about 400 participants in the Lady Angler category and close to 390 in the Junior Angler class, divisions that will increase their prize offerings for 2026 to the top 10 and top 25 finishers, respectively.
“It’s a big family-friendly event, so we’re trying to take care of the Lady Angler and Junior Anglers,” Dozier said.
Saturday’s fishing begins at 7 a.m., with weigh-in scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Vilano Beach Pier.
Year seven has also expanded the tournament’s footprint for pre-race and post-race festivities. The pre-tournament captain’s meetings move to the Ancient City Farmstead north of St. Augustine, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. June 12. The same venue is also the host for the June 14 awards ceremony.
“We always enjoy all the fun and the families coming together, seeing the smiles on the kids and everything,” Dozier said. “We had no idea it would be as popular as it’s been.”
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Old School Kingfish Shootout feels enthusiasm despite high fuel prices
Reporting by Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Clayton Freeman, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
