About STAR 2026
CCA Florida is proud to announce STAR presented by Yamaha exclusively providing scholarships, boats, community service hours and great prizes for kids ages 6-17.
The summer long fishing competition encourages Youth anglers to fish with a purpose, conservation and winning.
STAR is the largest youth saltwater fishing competition in Florida, the event runs from Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, September 7th and boasts amazing prizes for youth anglers of all skill levels, who can fish from the shore, dock, seawall or boat.
Since STAR’s inception in 2015, the competition has awarded trucks, boats, motor and trailer packages, electronics and fishing tackle totaling over $4 million with $1.1 million of that being in youth scholarships. For the 2026 competition, CCA Florida STAR Youth competition will offer more than $150,000 in prizes and scholarships.
It is not just about young anglers winning but helping the fishery win too. Florida STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, catch-photo-release (CPR) format. CPR promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants who are CCA members and registered in the STAR competition at the time of their catch, to photograph his or her fish with the Official
STAR identifier, no matter the size and then release the fish.
Yet again, the STAR competition will give $100,000 in college scholarships and offer a Teen Challenge for young anglers to compete for new boats from Carolina Skiff and Custom Gheenoe. The competition also provides a conservation-friendly alternative, the Trash Division, rewarding additional prizes and community service hours. Lastly, the “Most Fish” division will award one youth angler a Native Watercraft Slayer Max Propel 12.5 Kayak.
All salt-water species are included in the competition and most winners are determined by random drawing except for the “Most Fish” division. Youth of all skill levels can fish from anywhere in Florida’s saltwater and have greater opportunities to win big. Registration is $20, which includes CCA Florida New Tide membership.
All STAR entries must include the 2026 STAR Identifier in the submission, which will be available for free at all West Marine store, the preferred distribution location and local tackle shops throughout the state. For a full listing of distribution locations,
visit ccaflstar.com.
For more information on CCA Florida STAR Youth Fishing competition, or to register, please visit the ccaflstar.com or the Facebook page .