Upcoming Fishing Tournaments in October 2026 in the USA: Major Events by State
Discover fishing tournaments in October 2026 across the USA, with dates, locations, entry fees, rules, schedules, prizes, and key details for anglers.
October is one of those months when the fishing tournament calendar gets busy fast. The summer crowds have thinned out, the water begins to cool, and fish that spent August tucked into deeper water start moving shallow again to feed. It is also when plenty of charity rodeos, surf competitions, and bass circuits schedule their events.
But with so many events happening across different states, finding the details for each one can take some digging. We’ve rounded up 10 notable fishing tournaments across 10 states and put the important information in one place. For each event, you’ll find the dates, location, fishing focus, entry fees, schedule, tournament format, rules, prize details, and other information anglers should know before participating.
Whether you’re planning to compete, heading to watch an event, or simply looking for a fishing tournament to build a trip around, this guide gives you a state-by-state look at what’s happening this October.
1. Florida: Boca Grande Classic Fishing Tournament
Dates: October 27–29, 2026
Location: The Gasparilla Inn & Club, Boca Grande, Florida
Fishing focus: Redfish, snook, tarpon, and trout
Boca Grande is known as the Tarpon capital of the world, and the Gulf Coast town hosts one of its longest-running charity tournaments each fall. The Boca Grande Classic gives anglers two full days on Charlotte Harbor with local professional captains, targeting redfish, snook, tarpon, and trout. Every dollar raised goes to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The tournament is less of a hard-charging competition and more of a three-night fishing retreat. Former NFL running back and Hill Street Blues actor Ed Marinaro is hosting again. The schedule also includes a welcome reception, dinner party, daily happy hours, and a cocktail reception. Guests can add golf on the inn's waterfront course, spa time, or a lunch cruise to Cabbage Key, although those extras aren't included in the ticket.
Key Details About the Boca Grande Classic Fishing Tournament
The 2026 event is sold out. It reached capacity well ahead of the start date.
Since it started in 2007, the tournament has raised more than $2.96 million.
This year's fundraising goal is $265,000.
Missed your chance to register? The waters around Boca Grande Pass and the back bays are still excellent in late October. You can book one of the Florida fishing charters on Guidesly and fish the same water on your own schedule.
2. Texas: 2026 TPT Annual Fishing Tournament
Date: October 12, 2026
Location: Matagorda Harbor, Matagorda, Texas
Fishing focus: Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder
Matagorda sits where the Colorado River meets the bay system, making it one of the more reliable spots on the Middle Texas coast for the inshore big three. The TPT Annual Fishing Tournament is built around that fishery. Teams start from Matagorda Harbor for a single day of fishing and fundraising.
The scoring format calls for a balanced catch. Each team can weigh one trout, one redfish, and one flounder, so a team can't simply rely on running after bull reds. There are individual awards as well for the biggest fish and a few other categories. The timing lines up well with fall conditions: flounder begin staging for their migration, while the trout bite generally improves as the water cools.
Schedule for the 2026 TPT Annual Fishing Tournament
Activity | Date and time |
Team dinner | October 11, 6:30 PM |
Tournament begins | October 12, 6:00 AM |
Weigh-in begins | 1:00 PM |
Return deadline | 2:00 PM |
Lunch and awards | 2:30 PM |
Registration costs $450 per boat, and teams can have up to four anglers plus a guide. For anyone coming from out of town, a local Matagorda guide is the easiest way to get familiar with the bay before tournament day.
3. Georgia: Tybee Island Charity Redfish Tournament
Dates: October 10–11, 2026
Location: North Beach, Tybee Island, Georgia
Fishing focus: Redfish (surf fishing)
Never tried surf fishing for bull reds? This tournament is a straightforward introduction. The 11th annual Tybee Island Charity Redfish Tournament takes over North Beach for a full weekend, and the basic format is simple: catch the longest redfish. First place pays $10,000, while the organizer advertises more than $30,000 in total cash and prizes.
It is a catch-and-release event. Official measurers are stationed along the beach to record fish and return them to the water quickly. If two fish tie, the one with the most spots wins. If they're still tied, the fish caught first takes it. Organizers also recommend circle hooks for anglers using live or cut bait.
Key Details for the Tybee Island Charity Redfish Tournament
Registration is $85 for adults and $50 for kids under 16. Youth anglers need a parent or guardian with them.
The field is capped at 350 anglers this year, so spots can run out.
Everyone has to check in at the registration tent in the North Beach parking lot and sign a liability waiver.
You'll need a current Georgia saltwater fishing license.
There's an optional $10 side pot for the largest bluefish, with 100% of that money paid back to the winner.
A big raffle includes a Key West vacation package, Tybee hotel stays, rods, reels, and fishing charters.
Proceeds have historically supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire. The community feel is part of the appeal, and the timing works well too. Mid-October is when big redfish push along the Georgia beaches.
4. North Carolina: Pleasure Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge
Dates: October 16–18, 2026
Location: Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Fishing focus: Surf fishing
Pleasure Island is the stretch of beach just south of Wilmington, and this tournament has become a fall tradition in the area. Fishing begins at 11:59 PM, Friday and continues until noon Sunday. The Pleasure Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge gives anglers 36 hours on the beach, which explains why a cooler, beach chair, and very little sleep are common parts of the setup.
The fishing boundaries are strict. Anglers have to stay on a Pleasure Island beach; boats, piers, and fishing in the sound aren't allowed. Prizes go to the heaviest catches in five species:
Entry is $85 per angler, with an optional $25 Slot Red Drum tournament-within-a-tournament. It has its own payout, with first place at $4,250 based on 400 paid entries.
The main payouts are calculated on 500 entries. Top prizes are $2,000 in the bluefish, trout, and black drum divisions. That 500 figure is used for the payout calculation; it is not a confirmed attendance number. Smaller guaranteed prizes are also available for the top junior, lady, and senior anglers.
Registration opens Friday, October 16, from 3 PM to 11 PM at the Carolina Beach public parking lot near the municipal docks. Every angler has to collect a wristband in person. There are three weigh-in stations, and the awards ceremony is Sunday at 2 PM. Proceeds benefit First Fruit Ministries, a local group that provides meals, groceries, and shelter.
5. Missouri: Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship
Dates: October 17–18, 2026
Location: Public Beach 2, Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Fishing focus: Largemouth bass
Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri is a big, complicated fishery. It covers roughly 93 square miles and has more than 1,150 miles of shoreline, much of it lined with docks. That combination makes it a serious test for club anglers and helps explain why the Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation returns here for its state championship.
The two-day event launches from Public Beach 2, and the published tournament calendar points to a field of about 130 boats. For a state-level championship, that's a solid turnout. In the end, the winning weights often come down to who works out the lake's fall pattern fastest.
Tournament details for Missouri B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship
Two days of competition, scored on total weight
A heavy-boat category and a separate big-bass pool
A $150 entry fee
B.A.S.S. Nation membership is required before you can register
This isn't an open event for anyone who happens to arrive with a boat. It is mainly for anglers already involved in Missouri's club circuit. Visitors can still take advantage of the timing, though. Mid-October is a good period to fish the Ozarks. Bass tend to chase shad into the backs of creeks as the water cools, and dock fishing can be excellent. A local guide can also cut down the time it takes to work out which arms of the lake are producing that week.
6. Alabama: Big Bass Tour – Guntersville Lake
Dates: October 9–11, 2026
Location: Guntersville Lake, Alabama
Fishing focus: Largemouth bass
Guntersville is one of the country's best-known bass lakes, famous for its grass beds and its ability to produce giant fish. The Big Bass Tour stops there every October, with this year's event scheduled for October 9–11.
The format is different from a standard five-fish tournament. Rather than building the heaviest bag, anglers compete for the biggest individual bass weighed during set hours. That means even a weekend angler who gets one standout bite can have a shot at a check. Across its 2026 schedule, the series advertises more than $2 million in guaranteed prizes and payouts.
What to Know Before Entering the Big Bass Tour in Guntersville
Entry is $125 for one day, $175 for two days, or $250 for all three. Fees are per angler.
You can have up to three anglers in a boat if it's rated for that, but every person on board during tournament hours has to be a paid participant.
Scoring is individual, but you can fish with a co-angler of your choice. You don't need to register at the same time.
A Junior Division is open to kids 12 and under for $75, regardless of how many days they fish.
Anyone heading to the event who wants to learn the lake before or after the tournament can also work with a local fishing charter in Alabama.
7. Tennessee: Grainger County Fishing Tournament
Date: October 24, 2026
Location: Grainger County Park, Cherokee Lake, Tennessee
Fishing focus: Bass
Cherokee Lake sits in the foothills of East Tennessee and holds good numbers of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. It is also home water for pro angler Ott DeFoe, the 2019 Bassmaster Classic champion, who lives in Grainger County. He'll be at the Grainger County Fishing Tournament for a signing, adding some extra draw to this one-day local tournament.
The Grainger County Chamber of Commerce runs the event. The fishing format is classic team bass competition:
Two-angler teams with a five-fish limit
Artificial lures only
Launch at safe light, with order set by boat number
Weigh-ins run in scheduled groups
A youth division for teams with an angler 15 or younger
The registration fee is $155, which includes a $10 contribution to the big fish pot; a separate pool set aside for the tournament’s biggest fish. Registration remains open until the day before the tournament or until the field fills up. The final payout amount will be posted on the tournament website and announced at the pre-tournament meeting at least seven days before the event.
There are a couple of rules to keep in mind. Anglers need a valid Tennessee fishing license, and pre-fishing inside tournament boundaries isn't allowed after the mandatory meeting. Each team also has to check in at that meeting the night before or on the morning of the event.
If you're planning on visiting, you can also book a bass fishing trip in Cherokee Lake with local experts.
8. Louisiana: LAPL Annual Fishing Tournament
Date: October 16, 2026
Location: Calcasieu Point Landing, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Fishing focus: Saltwater fishing
The Louisiana Association of Professional Landmen is made up of land and energy professionals who swap the office for a day on the water once a year. This will be the tournament's eighth edition, with fishing beginning at 5:30 AM on October 16.
The launch location is part of the appeal. Calcasieu Point Landing in south Lake Charles has a three-lane public ramp and quick access to the Industrial and Intracoastal canals, which lead toward Turner's Bay and Big Lake. The area is known for speckled trout and redfish, and fall is one of the better times to target both.
The landing also has a bait-and-tackle store, a fishing pier, and a covered pavilion. That combination is one reason so many local tournaments use it as a home base.
This event is better suited to anglers who already have their boat and crew arranged. Registration forms, tournament rules, and licensing information are available on the association's website, with online registration and direct submission of entry documents both available. Visitors without a boat can book a Louisiana inshore guide to fish the same water.
9. California: BAM Super 60 at Don Pedro Reservoir
Dates: October 16–18, 2026
Location: Don Pedro Reservoir, California
Fishing focus: Black bass
Don Pedro is a 13,000-acre reservoir in the Sierra foothills, and it's one of the best all-around fisheries in Central California. The lake holds largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, along with trout, kokanee, and king salmon. The BAM Super 60 has a three-day event scheduled here for October 16–18.
The event holds a Type A permit, which California issues for black bass contests with more than 60 anglers. Type A events are capped at three days, and the state issues only one Type A permit per lake per day.
Key Details About the BAM Super 60 event:
Don Pedro regularly hosts West Coast pro and pro-am events.
The lake is known for big spotted bass and a deep, clear-water bite that rewards finesse fishing.
In October, many fish relate to points and main-lake structure as the water starts to cool.
Registration and event details are available on the BAM Super 60 event page.
Another thing to keep in mind is that fall fishing at Don Pedro can be difficult as the lake turns over. So spending some time with a local fishing charter in California beforehand can be worthwhile.
10. Virginia: The Tournament – Legends of the Fly
Date: October 24, 2026
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Fishing focus: Red drum, speckled trout, and striped bass (fly fishing only)
Saltwater fly fishing is already a niche, and Legends of the Fly has spent the past decade building it along the Virginia coast. The tournament began in 2016 with a handful of boats. This year marks its 10th edition, and it has become the main event of the group's season.
The entire competition is catch-photo-release. Anglers photograph each fish on a measuring board, release it, and submit their card at the end of the day. The longest fish wins, with divisions for the biggest red drum, speckled trout, and striped bass. The main prize is the Slam, awarded to the angler with the biggest combined catch of all three, with bluefish counting as the wild card.
The angler entry is $150, and that includes the captain's meeting, tournament, and dinner at the reception. Anyone who wants to attend the party without fishing can purchase reception-only tickets for $50. Registration closes October 17.
The cause behind the event is another reason it stands out. Through a partnership with Project Healing Waters, about 20 program participants fish the tournament each year with volunteer captains, with sponsors covering the cost. Proceeds from the 2026 event go to Project Healing Waters, Children of Valor, and the Virginia Beach City Public Schools Environmental Studies Program.
October 2026 Fishing Tournament Calendar at a Glance
Planning around one of these tournaments? This calendar puts all 10 events in one place, so you can quickly compare dates, states, and the type of fishing involved. It also makes it easier to spot busy tournament weekends, especially October 16–18, when several events are happening at the same time.
Dates | State | Tournament | Type |
Oct 9–11 | Alabama | Big Bass Tour – Guntersville | Freshwater, boat |
Oct 10–11 | Georgia | Tybee Island Charity Redfish Tournament | Saltwater, surf |
Oct 12 | Texas | TPT Annual Fishing Tournament | Saltwater, boat |
Oct 16 | Louisiana | LAPL Annual Fishing Tournament | Saltwater, boat |
Oct 16–18 | North Carolina | Pleasure Island Fall Surf Fishing Challenge | Saltwater, surf |
Oct 16–18 | California | Bass Angler Inc. – Don Pedro | Freshwater, boat |
Oct 17–18 | Missouri | B.A.S.S. Nation State Championship | Freshwater, boat |
Oct 24 | Tennessee | Grainger County Fishing Tournament | Freshwater, boat |
Oct 24 | Virginia | Legends of the Fly | Saltwater, fly |
Oct 27–29 | Florida | Boca Grande Classic (sold out) | Saltwater, guided |
These 10 tournaments give you a mix of fishing styles and competition formats across different states. We’ve included details such as registration caps, boat counts, attendance figures, and prize amounts where available, along with the key information anglers need to know about each event.
Planning Your October Fishing Trip with Guidesly
You don't have to enter a tournament to have a reason to visit a new fishery. The same conditions that bring organizers to the water in October; cooler water, active fish, and thinner crowds also make it a good month for a fishing trip.
The tricky part is figuring out unfamiliar water when you only have a day or two. That's where a local guide can make a difference. They know which creek arms are holding bass, where reds are moving with the tide, and what has been producing that week. Instead of spending the whole trip scouting, you can spend more of it fishing.
If you're heading to any of these areas this month, browse fishing charters and guided trips on Guidesly to find a local captain and plan your time on the water.
