95th ANNUAL SARASOTA TARPON TOURNAMENT

May 10 thru June 15, 2025

2016 dates announced for the 86th Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament

Posted by on Jan 22, 2016

The Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament back! This historic event, the oldest, continuously running, open-to-the-public tarpon tournament in Florida, is about to embark on its 86th consecutive year of competition.

The event runs for 5 weeks, May 7th through June 12th, 2016. The goal of this historic venue is not only to celebrate the tremendous tarpon fishing our region offers anglers, but also, to support deserving local charities.

The year’s tournament will again begin with a Kick Off at the Hyatt Regency Sarasota on Tuesday, May 3rd. Check-In begins at 6:00 p.m., Dinner: 7:00 p.m.

The year’s Fish-Off  is scheduled for Saturday, June 18th; Sunday, June 19st is the rain date. Should the entire weekend of June 18th – 19th be rained out, the Fish-Off with be Saturday, June 25th.

If you’re looking to make new friends, have fun, and test your angling skills, come fish with us and yours could be the next name engraved on the historic trophy.

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Shaan Pembleton is the 2015 Winner of the 85th Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament

Posted by on Jun 20, 2015

Shaan Pembleton is the 2015 Winner of the 85th Annual Sarasota Tarpon Tournament

SARASOTA, Fla — The world’s oldest tarpon fishing tournament wrapped up it’s 85th year today with anglers competing the tournament’s fish-off.

The fish-off challenged participants to reel in the biggest fish in order to bring home the trophy. Winners from the previous weeks of the fishing tournament were pitted against one another on Saturday.

After a month long competition, Shaan Pembleton reeled in a 31-inch fish weighing 90-100 lbs. today, making him this year’s winner.

Pembleton finished first in week 4 of the tournament with a 40.5″ tarpon, the second largest caught during the competition.

The Sarasota Tarpon Tournament has been an annual event in Sarasota since 1930. The Tournament partners with a selected non-profit organization annually and donates a portion of the proceeds to that charitable organization.

The prize for taking first place in the tournament includes an engraved plaque, two tarpon spinning rods and reels, $1000 cash prize and a signed limited edition print of this year’s tarpon artwork by local artist Brendan Coudal.

Story by: Robert Sutton, ABC 7, My Suncoast

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It’s Week 4 of the 2015 Tournament and the fishing has been hot with 101 caught to date

Posted by on Jun 3, 2015

We are in the 4th week of the 5 week long tournament. The fishing has been hot with more fish showing up everyday. There have been 101 tarpon caught by 60 different anglers. We have had tarpon caught so far from 5 lbs to 180 lbs. With time left to go everyone still has a chance to win. So no matter what beach your off of so are the tarpon so get out and catch them up and good fishing!

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