Tavernier tournament blends fishing competition, lessons for anglers

A fishing weekend with a built-in classroom

Tavernier is set to become a busy launch point for anglers, charter captains and first-timers when the Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation brings its Screamin’ Reels Tournament to the Upper Keys. The three-day event blends competition with instruction, giving participants a reason to come for the fish and stay for the lessons that come with it.

The tournament runs May 15-17 and is anchored by a Friday night kickoff at the Tavernier Elks Club from 6:30 to 8 p.m. From there, the action shifts to the water on Saturday and Sunday, with boats heading out for full-day and three-quarter-day fishing. Awards are presented shortly after boats return to Whale Harbor Marina, turning the marina into the weekend’s finish line and one more place where the tournament’s energy will spill onto the dock.

Who comes, and how they fish

The event is designed to welcome casual anglers as much as seasoned ones. Participants can fish from private boats or book guided charters, which makes the weekend accessible to people who know the Keys well and to visitors who need local help getting on the water. The foundation says charter boats supply rods and reels, and anglers fishing from those boats do not need a fishing license.

That setup matters in the Upper Keys, where a tournament like this can bring a mix of local boat owners, visiting families, women learning the sport, and out-of-town anglers who want a managed route into Florida Keys fishing. It also helps explain why charter slots can fill quickly. For anyone without a boat, early registration is not just a convenience, it is part of getting a place at the dock.

The tournament’s structure also reflects how the Keys fishery works in practice. Anglers can compete for top offshore and inshore fish, releases and wild-card prizes, but they can also enter as individuals and still have a shot at smaller awards. The top private-boat prize requires at least two boats competing in that category, a detail that keeps the event competitive without making it feel exclusive.

What is on the line

The prize list is intentionally broad, which helps explain why the tournament appeals beyond hard-core competitors. Individual prizes include Penn rod and reel combos, art prints valued at up to $200, shirts and other items. The page for the 2026 event also lists daily awards and about $20 in free gifts for each participant, which gives the weekend a low-pressure, community-fair feel even as boats chase fish offshore and inshore.

Registration is priced to keep the field open to adults and teens. Early registration is $95, regular registration is $115 and teen registration is $55. That pricing, paired with the charter option, lowers the barrier for people who want to try tournament fishing without buying a long list of gear first.

For Tavernier, those entry points matter as much as the prizes. A weekend that starts with a fundraiser and welcome event at the Elks Club and then sends boats out for two days of fishing is the kind of gathering that can put extra traffic through marinas, bait and tackle outlets, fuel docks, restaurants and nearby lodging. Even people who are not competing can show up for the social side of it, especially when the event’s kickoff doubles as a meet-and-greet fundraiser.

Why this tournament stands out in the local boating scene

Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing was founded in 1997 by Betty Bauman and operates as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to introducing women and families to fishing while promoting conservation and responsible angling. The foundation says it has more than 8,000 graduates, and its public materials describe it as a national organization focused on building confidence on the water.

That mission gives Screamin’ Reels a different feel from a typical Keys tournament. It is competitive, but it is also recruitment, instruction and networking rolled into one weekend. Bauman has framed the event as a way for women to build skills while spending time on the water, and the foundation positions the tournament as something that can work for mothers and daughters, not just seasoned anglers chasing a trophy.

The educational angle is not a side note. Friday’s opening presentation includes fishing rules and conservation, which sets the tone before a single rod is cast. The tournament’s broader model mirrors the foundation’s other Keys programming, including the 2024 Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, where 42 participants fished from eight boats and learned fishing basics, conservation, knot tying, bait rigging, spin casting, net casting and gaffing.

A record that shows the draw

The tournament has already proven it can pull fish and people into the Upper Keys. Keys Weekly reported that the 2025 Screamin’ Reels event produced 110 offshore fish, including mahi, wahoo, tuna and amberjack. The outlet also reported that the 2024 tournament produced 180 offshore and inshore fish overall, showing that the event has staying power and a consistent ability to bring anglers together on local waters.

The welcome party has also become part of the tournament’s identity. In 2025, the Tavernier Elks Club gathering included Olivia Brown, who played Trudy on Miami Vice, a reminder that the event can draw a crowd that mixes fishing families, local supporters and visitors with broader Keys nostalgia.

That combination of competition, instruction and social draw is what gives Screamin’ Reels its local value. It sends boats out, fills a marina at the finish, and brings people into Tavernier businesses for the kind of weekend activity that circulates through the Upper Keys instead of passing over it. In a boating community where many events are built around hard competition, this one stands out because it is built just as firmly around access, conservation and the next generation of anglers.