It’s one of the longest-running fishing competitions on the East Coast—and this year, the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is celebrating a major milestone.

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Junior Angler Tournament had 200 competitors hoping to catch the biggest kingfish for the chance to win a brand new fishing boat.

Hundreds of kids took to the open waters hoping to catch the largest kingfish at the Junior Angler Offshore Tournament. The event helps to promotes fishing participation among kids and teaches junior anglers the importance of conservation of marine life.

It was all smiles Friday at Sisters Creek Marina as the 42nd Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament opened the scales.

It’s going to be a fast and furious Friday at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Zach Crabtree’s catch on Friday ran away with the 40th anniversary event of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. Crabtree, fishing aboard the Vamoose, weighed the tournament’s only fish above the 50-pound mark and brought home the title on Friday afternoon. RESULTS FROM THIS WEEK’S GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNEYCrabtree’s 50.53-pound catch knocked Day 1 leader Jack Lairsey (43.06) out of the top spot and delivered him the top prize, a Contender 24 Sports with a 300 Yamaha outboard and trailer package worth $141,300. Hayden Englert’s 47.81-pound king aboard the Four Reel was tops in the single engine largest division, which paid out $11,500 prize. Lauren Stevens aboard the 904Reel out of Jacksonville claimed the lady angler division with a catch of 38.1 pounds and a $2,000 top prize.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The opening day of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament saw a pair of fish over to 40-pound mark and a tight leaderboard on Thursday at the 40th anniversary event. Jack Lairseys crew on the Jacks Wild leads the general tournament after a catch of 43.06 pounds. Weigh-ins on Friday are from 1 to 5:30 p.m. RESULTS FROM THE 2020 GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENTIn the general aggregate, Larry Owens aboard Sundays Money out of Callahan had a catch of 41.46 pounds, just in front of Jerry Carters 40.8-pound aggregate. In the lady angler event, Lauren Stevens on the 904Reel out of Jacksonville tops the board at 38.1 pounds.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The 40th anniversary Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is this week out of Jim King Park at Sisters Creek. Joe Shugarts One Time boat out of St. Augustine won the High Rollers tournament with a catch of 38.64 pounds. Andy Rodgers, Knot With Out Me, Jacksonville Beach, 27.611. Ed Batt, Batt Line, Jacksonville, 46.472. Roger Walker, Streaker, Jacksonville Beach, 17.76

The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and that means it has to adjust with the times in 2020. The general tournament is Thursday and Friday and the redfish tournament is on Saturday. And Glenn Morningstar has done a great job as our tournament chairman this year.The changes, Suber said, were done with two things in mind this year. The pandemic has prompted all sporting events to take a look at ways to be safer and the kingfish tournament did that. The tournament hopes that will prevent boats from piling up on one another during the weigh-in process.

The Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is an annual tradition. And like the Players Championship, the Gate River Run, and the Georgia-Florida game, thousands look forward to the event every year. And this year, the 40th year of the Kingfish Tournament will be different than any others. Plus the redfish tournament and the tournament of championsthere could be over 800 boats entered in the various tournaments. Here is the full schedule of events for this years Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament.