CCA Tampa ChapterConserving Tampa Bay since 1985
Volunteer-powered. Bay-focused.
Local waters.Lasting impact.
Anglers, families and neighbors working together to restore habitat, strengthen fisheries and keep Tampa Bay thriving.
Our chapter
Tampa Bay is worth showing up for.
CCA Tampa Chapter is the local, volunteer-powered chapter of CCA Florida. We bring recreational anglers, students, families, conservation groups and public partners together around a shared responsibility: a healthy, fishable Tampa Bay.
Our work connects advocacy with action—from mangrove plantings and oyster reefs to youth education, community events and the traditions that make coastal Florida special.
See our recent impact →Recent work
Restoration you can see.
Seven projects. Dozens of partners. Hundreds of volunteers and students turning good intentions into healthier habitat.
01Mangroves
400+mangroves planted
Apollo Beach Mangrove Project
CCA Florida completed a two-part restoration effort with Breach the Surface, Ecosphere Restoration, Duke Energy, The Florida Aquarium and FWC. Volunteers planted more than 400 red, white and black mangroves along the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve shoreline, including 110 red mangroves from the CCA–Duke Energy Mariculture Center.
02Oysters
200+oyster gardens built
Pinellas VOG Workshop
Local Girl Scouts assembled more than 200 Vertical Oyster Gardens at Brooker Creek Preserve. The VOGs will be deployed from public and residential docks throughout the Anclote River.
03Oysters
16 tonsof shell deployed
Fred Crabill Fantasy Island Project
CCA Florida staff and volunteers joined Tampa Bay Watch to deploy 10 tons of fossilized shell and 6 tons of recycled shell, completing the shell portion of this living shoreline. The project honors CCA Florida Life Legacy member Fred Crabill while creating oyster habitat, shoreline resilience and critical fish habitat.
04Youth
2 daysof student action
Breach the Surface Mangrove Repotting
Local K–12 students gathered at the University of Tampa for two days of hands-on conservation education. Students learned why mangroves matter while repotting several hundred red mangrove propagules provided by the CCA–Duke Energy Mariculture Center.
05Oysters
7.5 tonsof recycled shell
Manatee County Oyster Project
At Robinson Preserve, CCA Florida supported Manatee County’s ongoing oyster habitat restoration with 7.5 tons of recycled shell. The work supports American oystercatchers and wading birds and included a $25,000 in-kind grant match made possible with state and community partners.
06Mangroves
200mangroves planted
Hillsborough Mangrove Restoration
CCA Florida, Hillsborough County and Duke Energy brought volunteers to Apollo Beach Nature Preserve to plant approximately 75 red and 125 black mangroves along a hurricane-damaged shoreline, helping reduce erosion and rebuild marine habitat.
07Wetlands
2,500+spartina plants harvested
Spartina Grass Planting
CCA Florida, Duke Energy, Tampa Bay Watch and UF/IFAS harvested more than 2,500 spartina plants at the Crystal River mariculture center. The plants support Community Wetland Nurseries and Bay Grasses in Classes, connecting students with habitat restoration.
In the field
See conservation in motion.
Watch the CCA video featuring the people, partnerships and hands-on work behind local habitat restoration.
Open videoChapter traditions
Two signature events.
One shared purpose.
Our banquet and all-release fishing tournament fund conservation, celebrate community and bring Tampa Bay supporters together.
UpcomingIn memory of Captain Richard Seward
38th Annual Digital Photo All-Release Challenge
A professionally organized weekend of fishing, camaraderie and conservation—proudly sponsored by T.A. Mahoney Co.
HeadquartersTampa Bay Watch Marine Center
3000 Pinellas Bay Way, South Tierra Verde, FL 33715
DivisionsArtificial · Live Bait · Non-Motor · Youth
Eligible species: redfish, snook and trout.
Required FridayCaptain’s Meeting
Attend to receive the official measuring device and review tournament rules. If you cannot attend, meet tournament officials at Fort De Soto Saturday morning before fishing.
Hard deadline2:00 p.m. Saturday
Fishing, catch registration and all iAngler photo submissions close at 2:00 p.m.
Plan your tournament
Everything anglers need to know.
Fishing takes place throughout Tampa Bay and its tributaries. All fish are photographed on the official ruler, submitted for scoring and released.
01
Two-day schedule
Meeting, fishing & awards
Friday, September 25
- 5:00 p.m.
- Cash bar opens
- 5:00 p.m.
- Angler registration
- 6:30 p.m.
- Captain’s dinner
- 7:30 p.m.
- Tournament rules
- 8:00 p.m.
- Raffle
Saturday, September 26
- 8:00 a.m.
- Fishing begins
- 2:00 p.m.
- Catch registration closes
- 2:00 p.m.
- Cash bar opens
- 3:00 p.m.
- Lunch
- 4:00 p.m.
- Angler awards
02
Divisions & entry
Choose how you fish.
Artificial$125
Live Bait$125
Non-Motor$125
Youth · 12 and under$30
Non-angler dinner & lunch$40
Listed prices are base amounts; online checkout fees may apply.
Adult eligible fishRedfish · Snook · Trout
Youth eligible fishAny species except sharks or stingrays
Minimum lengths
18″Redfish20″Snook15″Trout
03
Important rules
Measure, photograph, release.
- Use one category per boat.Everyone on the same boat must fish either Live Bait or Artificial.
- One prize per winner.Each angler may receive only one tournament prize.
- Use the official ruler.Every submission must show the fish properly positioned on the measuring device.
- Position the fish correctly.Nose at the left end, belly toward the bottom and the whole fish visible. Tail squeezing is permitted.
- Submit through iAngler.All catch photos go to iAngler for scoring and must be received before 2:00 p.m.
- Know the tie-breaker.If entries tie, the fish with the earliest photo-submission time wins.
Guided-boat anglersDepart from Fort De Soto Saturday morning.
Arrive between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. so all requirements are completed before the 8:00 a.m. start.
04
Sponsorship opportunities
Fish with a captain. Put your brand behind conservation.
- 3 guided boats for up to 9 anglers
- Bait, tackle and 3 captains
- 9 captain’s dinner and Saturday lunch tickets
- 9 one-year CCA memberships
- 9 custom rod combos
- Logo on tournament shirt and banner
- Guided boat for up to 3 anglers
- Bait, tackle and captain
- 3 captain’s dinner and Saturday lunch tickets
- 3 one-year CCA memberships
- Logo on tournament shirt and banner
Sponsored by T.A. Mahoney Co., Inc. Marine Hardware813-241-6500
All proceeds support CCA Florida’s conservation, education and advocacy efforts.
Tournament lodging
Stay close to tournament headquarters.
A limited CCA Tampa Chapter room block is available at Sky Beach Resort for anglers and guests staying Friday night.
CCA room rate$239
per night, for September 25
Stay datesSep 25 → Sep 26
One-night tournament stay
Check-in11:00 a.m.
Friday, September 25
Book beforeAugust 26, 2026
The room block releases on this date.
Included with your stay
- Daily bottled water in your room
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the resort
- Pool and beach amenities
Reserve at Sky Beach
Need the separate Residence Inn at Tierra Verde reservation link? Email the chapter.
Tournament headquartersTampa Bay Watch Marine Center
3000 Pinellas Bay Way · South Tierra Verde, FL 33715Get directions ↗
Angling hours8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Register nowTampa Bay and its tributaries
Annual traditionPresented in 2026 by TECO and Borrell Electric
39th Annual Banquet & Auction
The Tampa Chapter’s flagship night brings our community together for drinks, a catered steak dinner, raffles and auctions—all in support of Florida’s marine resources.
2026 gatheringThursday, March 26 · Higgins Hall
Ask about sponsoring the next banquet →Thank you to every sponsor, donor, volunteer and guest who made the 39th annual gathering possible. Join the interest list to hear first about the next banquet.
Community calendar
Find your next day on the water—or in the field.
CCA Tampa Chapter events, CCA Florida programs, local fishing tournaments, volunteer workdays and community gatherings in one useful place.
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Upcoming
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Get involved
Bring your hands.
We’ll bring the mission.
You do not need to be an angler or restoration expert. If you care about Tampa Bay, there is a place for you here.
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