Heading into the 11th year of competition, CCA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha has made winning boats easier than ever. Register before April 30th to receive two raffle entries in the Triple Header Boat Raffle that will be giving away three boats on September 4, 2025. If you miss that opportunity, register before May 24th and receive one raffle entry. The raffle boats are the Dek Kat Trilogy, Spyder Vapor FX 19, and a Carolina Skiff 16JLS, all powered by Yamaha and sitting on an Infinity Trailer. You don’t even have to catch a fish to have a shot at winning a boat!
The summer-long fishing competition encourages thousands of anglers of all ages to fish with a purpose – conservation and winning.
It's not just about anglers winning but helping the fishery win too. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, CPR format and dedicated smartphone app. This format promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who, at the time of hooking their catch, are members of CCA and registered in STAR. They just upload photos of their catch according to the rules for an entry in the competition. STAR has set the bar for other fishing tournaments to follow by implementing conservation-friendly alternatives, such as a trash division and conservation division with rewards of some really big prizes.
The 2025 CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha has a division for everyone, from the non-angler to the experienced angler, and targets inshore and offshore species. For the 2025 competition, CCA Florida STAR will once again offer over $500,000 in prizes and scholarships.
Check out the NEW Division, The Drum Spots “Lots-A-Spots” Division presented by Gulf States Automation. This division will offer $25,000 in prizes to 6 anglers who catch redfish with the most spots. The redfish with the most spots will take home a SUP Customs Hybrid Skiff with 6HP Yamaha, Minn Kota trolling motor, Power Pole Micro, and more.
2025 STAR consists of 9 divisions: the Tagged Redfish, Tagged Dolphin, Lot-A-Spots Divisions, and the Inshore and Offshore Divisions, Kayak Division, Youth Scholarship Division, Conservation Division, and Trash Division.
STAR’s signature Tagged Redfish Division presented by T H Marine offers 5 adult winners the choice of a boat, motor, and trailer package from Carolina Skiff, Sea Born, Spyder Boats, or Micro Draft Skiff. Each boat will be powered by Yamaha, the competition’s presenting sponsor. The first winning tagged redfish angler will receive their choice of all these packages as their prize. The next four winning anglers will have their choice of the remaining prizes in the division, and subsequent winners will choose from the prizes still available. For the first two youth anglers who win in this division, prizes include a Carolina Skiff 16ft tiller boat powered by Yamaha, trailer, Minn Kota trolling motor, and Humminbird electronics.
10 years of competition proves it is not impossible to catch one of these tagged redfish. Almost every year, STAR has had at least one winner of a new boat, motor, and trailer package, with anglers reporting over 14 recaptured tagged redfish who were not eligible because they were not CCA members at the time of hooking their catch. Each of Florida's coastal counties has an average of 4 tagged redfish released in their coastal waters, totaling over 160 prize-winning tagged fish for anglers to pursue. The best opportunity to catch one of this year’s green tagged redfish will be in Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2025 Destination Counties. Each Destination County will have 8 tagged redfish in their coastal waters.
STAR simplified the competition in 2024 to make it easier for participants to enter their catches and win big. What does simplification of STAR mean to 2025 participants? The competition combined all past non-tagged inshore divisions into one Inshore Division, presented by Minn Kota trolling motors. The 2025 Inshore Division will allow anglers to enter 3 catches each day of competition from the non-tagged inshore species list in the STAR Tournament App. Redfish, Snook, Trout, Tarpon, Sheephead, and Flounder are just a few included in that list. This division will pay out 12 places with over $60,000 in prizes available. The first place prize is a boat, motor, and trailer valued at over $35,000.
For offshore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division offers the first STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches the first tagged dolphin a $10,000 cash prize from Tigress. Twenty dolphin (Mahi Mahi) will be tagged and released for STAR in the lower Keys of Florida.
The competition also combined all past non-tagged offshore divisions into one Offshore Division, the Engel Cooler Offshore Division presented by AFTCO. The 2025 Offshore Division will allow anglers to enter 3 catches each day of competition from the non-tagged offshore species list in the STAR tournament app. Mahi Mahi (dolphin), Mackerel, Sailfish, Grouper, Snapper, and Amberjack are just a few included in the list. The Offshore Division will pay out 12 places with over $60,000 in prizes available. First place prize is a 250HP Yamaha with other sponsor prizes in the package valued at a total of $35,000.
The Native Watercraft Kayak Division, Realtree Youth Scholarship Division, Power Pole Conservation Division, and Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division round out the competition and remain the same as in past years but with bigger prizes.
STAR continues to be the largest family-friendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida. The event runs from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day and boasts amazing prizes for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Since STAR’s inception in 2015, the competition has awarded trucks, new boat, motor and trailer packages, electronics, and fishing tackle totaling over $4 million in prizes, with $1 million of that in youth scholarships.
Now with only 9 divisions, plus ALL saltwater species included in the event and most winners determined by random drawing, anglers of all ages and skill levels can fish from anywhere in Florida’s saltwater and have greater opportunities to win BIG. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members, or $80 for non-members, which includes CCA Florida membership. Kids ages 6-17 can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida youth membership.
All STAR entries must include the 2025 STAR Identifier in the photograph, which will be available free of charge at various locations throughout the state, including all Florida West Marine stores, the preferred distribution location. For a full listing of distribution locations, visit ccaflstar.com.
For more information on STAR, or to register, visit ccaflstar.com or the Facebook page.
About CCA Florida
The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985. A 501(c)3 non-profit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA Florida works with its over 19,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook page or learn more at ccaflorida.org.
