The Gulf waters surrounding Destin-Fort Walton Beach are a little healthier this month thanks to more than 100 divers from across the country who participated in the 2026 Emerald Coast Open — now recognized as the world’s largest lionfish tournament.
This year’s tournament removed an impressive 20,752 invasive lionfish from Gulf waters surrounding the region’s extensive artificial reef system.
The annual event paired conservation efforts with family-friendly entertainment during the Lionfish Festival at HarborWalk Village and a popular Restaurant Week featuring creative lionfish-inspired cuisine throughout the area.
“This free family-friendly event has brought divers from across the country to our amazing area since 2019,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “What our natural resources staff and partners have been able to do is remarkable. They have created a festive event for the community that also gives back to our marine ecosystem.”
The tournament included a pre-event competition that yielded 5,734 lionfish, followed by the main two-day tournament earlier this month that added another 15,018 to the final total.
Behind AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar at HarborWalk Village, divers lined up to have their catches measured and weighed as festivalgoers watched the action unfold throughout the weekend.
Teams competed for more than $100,000 in cash and gear prizes in categories including largest lionfish, smallest lionfish and most lionfish harvested.
Top winners included:
- Most Lionfish — DWM Off the Deep End with 2,641 lionfish
- Largest Lionfish — Lady Ray at 461 mm
- Smallest Lionfish — Nole Mercy Spearfishing at 56 mm
- Restaurant Week Winner — La Paz Restaurante & Cantina for the fourth consecutive year
One lucky attendee, Trenlon Harris, also won the “Guess How Many Lionfish Will Be Caught?” contest by guessing 15,014 — just four fish shy of the official tournament total of 15,018 during the main event.
Lionfish remain one of the Gulf’s most problematic invasive species because they reproduce rapidly and have few natural predators in local waters. Divers armed with spears remain the most effective method for removing them from the ecosystem.
Complete standings and additional information can be found at www.emeraldcoastopen.com.
Learn more about Destin-Fort Walton Beach natural resource initiatives at www.destinfwb.com/explore/eco-tourism.
