Event Schedule
Thursday, Apr 24, 2025 6:30-7:30PM Captain's Meeting for registered derby teams (check-in begins at 6PM)
- Captains Meeting and Kick-off Party at Florida Keys Brewing Company, Islamorada, FL
- Captains Meeing can be attended via Zoom (link sent out to registrants)
Friday, Apr 25, 2025
- Fishing sunrise to sundown
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025
- Fishing sunrise to sundown
Sunday, Apr 27, 2025 - NO FISHING
- 9AM - 12:30PM Team Weigh-in/Fish Drop off (12:30PM Last Drop off)
- 12PM-4PM Festival - Lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, tastings, games, and team awards at REEF Campus
- 3PM Awards Ceremony
DERBY DETAILS
- FISH DROP OFF - REEF Campus - Sunday Apr 27, 2025 9:00AM-12:30PM. No late fish accepted
- The Captain's Meeting is mandatory for the team captains, and all team members are encouraged to attend.
- The team captain must be one of the four participants in the derby but does not need to be the captain of the boat. Safe collecting and handling techniques and derby rules will be reviewed. The Captain's meeting will be offered in person and virtually.
- Teams wishing to fish in the areas that fall under the FKNMS, FWC, and DEP permit must schedule a time to come to the REEF Campus to pick up packet materials, permits, and flags during the week of April 21, 2025 or pick up at the Captain's Meeting.
- All lionfish should be well packed on ice and teams must provide enough ice for lionfish, particularly those that will be held overnight.
- Teams will be able to take at least 80% of their catch after it is measured (REEF will keep some lionfish to use towards education and outreach activities).
- LOOKING FOR TEAMMATES? Join the REEF Invasive Lionfish Group on Facebook to connect with other divers.
Awards
- Prizes will be awarded for MOST lionfish, SMALLEST and LARGEST lionfish, and a Golden Fish raffle award for all participating teams.
- During registration, teams must choose to compete in one of two divisions for the MOST Lionfish Prize.
- Apex Predators Division (More Competitive Division; Greater Prize Money)
- Reef Defenders Division (More Casual Division; Lower Prize Money)
- All teams will compete together for LARGEST and SMALLEST lionfish categories.
- All teams will be entered to win the $500 Golden Fish award as long as they check in with their data sheets even if they don't catch fish.
- All participants will be entered to win individual raffle prizes that will be drawn at Captain's Meeting on Thursday and Awards on Sunday.
- Awards will be presented in person and virtually (in-person attendance at awards is not mandatory).
- Prizes will not be mailed out. Teams must arrange to pick them up if they are not at the awards.
The 16th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby will culminate in a Family Friendly Conservation Science and Arts Festival. Hands-on activities, interactive displays, educational games, and much more!
Splash into scientific exploration and creativity with REEF. This family-friendly event will feature numerous local artists and environmental organizations sharing hands-on activities. The goal is to engage our community and show how arts can connect the public to science and conservation. There will be interactive displays, activities, and booths to attract and engage audiences with science, conservation, and the environment. The Festival is free and open to all ages!
The festival will include:
- Interactive activities and games
- Lionfish weigh-in and scoring
- Lionfish fillet and dissection and cooking demonstrations
- Free lionfish tastings
- Science Demos
- Live Music
- Food trucks and drinks
- Derby Awards Ceremony
- Information at lionfish@REEF.org or call 305-852-0030.
2025 Vendors
I.CARE
Coral Restoration Foundation
Chef Allen
Zookeeper
Amoray Dive Center
Shallow Seas Gallery
Robert Andrew Provan
Armstrong Originals Gyotaku
Jellyfish Daydreams
The 2025 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Kick-off Party and Captains meeting will be held at Florida Keys Brewing Company in Islamorada, Thursday April 24, 2025 6PM
Join us there to kick-off the event weekend!
