Gainesville Offshore Fishing Club

Tournaments and Contests

Quick Links: Tournament Chair | Club Rules | Weigh Slips

The GOFC is sponsoring six different tournament/contest formats for club members.

  1. Single-Event Tournaments
    • Limited to one or two days at a specific location
    • Club members only
    • No entry free for members in good standing (dues have been paid)
    • Official registration times will be posted
    • Prizes awarded for the heaviest fish (target fish will be announced for each event) in three divisions; men, women, and youth
  2. Funaments and Learnaments
    • Limited to one or two days at a specific location
    • No entry fee
    • Official registration times will be posted
    • Bragging rights only, no prizes or awards
  3. Ellett Angler of the Year (click for details | click for weigh slip)
    • Club members only
    • A year-long contest in which points are awarded (based on weight) for each of the Big 10 Species an angler catches.
    • The angler with the most points at the end of the year wins the coveted Ellett Award for fishing excellence.
    • This is an honor-system contest and fish may be weighed in during the current year
  4. Dave Abril Youth King Mackerel Championship
    • This honor will be awarded to the youth angler with the best King Mackerel (as determined by Ellett points) for the year. This award is given in memory of Dave Abril, an advocate for youth fishing and friend to all who knew him.
  5. The Bernie Fowler Award
    • The Bernie Fowler Award (a.k.a. the Fowler Trophy – the Heisman for Gag Grouper Fisherman) is dedicated to long time GOFC participant, GOFC Board member, and GOFC Officer, Bernie Fowler. Bernie passed away in January of 2008 after a 9 month battle with Leukemia. Bernie loved to fish for Gag Grouper, and this unique &auot;Giant Lure" trophy is presented every year to the GOFC member who catches the heaviest Gag Grouper. The winner has their name, fish weight, and the date inscribed on the trophy. The angler keeps the trophy for one year.
  6. Dick Bowles Most Unusual Species Award
    • This award will be given for the most unusual species entered during the year, as judged by a panel of GOFC Board Members. Fish entered into this contest must comply with Florida Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations as posted on www.myfwc.com with regard to size limits, closed seasons, etc. A digital photo of your catch is recommended for identification purposes.
  7. Photo Contest (click for details)
    • Club members only
    • A year-long contest, any number of photos may be submitted
    • Last day for picture submission is December 31
  8. East Coast Fishing Contest - 2011
    9. The GOFC Board of Directors has approved an East Coast Contest for 2011. Cash prizes only, no Ellett points. Use the GOFC Fish Entry Form to submit your catch!
    • Blue Marlin - $50.00 cash prize for the most releases in 2011
    • Dolphin - $50.00 cash prize for the largest submission in 2011
    • Sailfish - $50.00 cash prize for the most releases in 2011
    • Wahoo - $50.00 cash prize for the largest submission in 2011
    Club members may enter fish caught from boats launched from locations between Fernandina in the north to Daytona in the south.
    All prizes generously donated by Forest Meadows Funeral Homes & Cemeteries.
Participants are expected to follow club rules and use weigh slips when appropriate.