6th Annual Daily's Old School Kingfish Shootout happens June 14th
by Old School Kingfish 24 May 19:48 UTC
June14, 2025
2024 Old School Kingfish Shootout - Grand Prize Winners © Old School Kingfish
One of the largest kingfish tournaments in the world registers hundreds of anglers from across the Southeast to participate in the annual event at Vilano Beach Fishing Pier
The official kickoff to summer fishing begins on June 14th with one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the world. The sixth annual Daily's Old School Kingfish Shootout, presented by Yellowfin, draws anglers of all ages from across the southeast to the Vilano Beach Fishing Pier.
The annual tournament limits fishing to state waters only within three nautical miles from the beach, with a northern boundary of St. Simons Island stretching south to New Smyrna Beach. For the 2025 event, the northern and southern boundaries have been extended slightly from previous years.
"We decided to extend the boundaries to allow the field to spread out more which should make it a better fishing experience for everyone," explained Paul Dozier, tournament director.
The Old School Kingfish Shootout prohibits live bait penning or purchasing and does not require check-out. These features make the tournament unique because the rules ultimately level the playing field, so that any angler and size vessel can competitively participate. As a result, the event is a fan favorite for seasoned anglers, amateurs, ladies and juniors who register aboard crafts ranging from kayaks, jet skis, center console to large sportfishers.
In 2020, the winning team was a husband, wife and young son on a 19-foot polar skiff. The wife found out she was pregnant the night before the tournament and they named their daughter Mac in honor of their win.
Just last year, the winning fish was caught just outside of the St. Augustine Inlet with the first bait the anglers put in the water.
"Following our mission to make fishing great again, the tournament provides every participant an equal chance at winning the grand prize, a 21' Yellowfin Bay Boat," said Dozier. The first-place prize, valued at $125,000 includes a 200 HP Yamaha 4-Stroke Outboard Engine and AmeraTrail Trailer.
In addition to the guaranteed first place prize, the tournament features several other winning opportunities including a cash payout to 25 places; lady angler and junior angler prizes; a $1,000 traveling angler drawing; and a $10,000 lucky ticket drawing.
In 2022, the couple who won the $10,000 Nimnicht Lucky Ticket was getting married the weekend following the tournament. With their winnings, they were able to go on a honeymoon they originally had not been able to afford.
Old School Fishing Shootout started in the height of covid in 2020. The tournament was an instant success with more than 600 boats and thousands of anglers registered in the first year. The annual event, happening the second Saturday of June, has since grown to be one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the world. The tournament attracts anglers of all ages with all types of vessels from across the southeast.
For more information and to register, please visit www.oldschoolkingfish.com.