Welcome to the

Suncoast Tarpon Roundup

P.O. Box 7762

St Petersburg, FL 33734

For the last 73 years, anglers throughout Florida have enjoyed the excitement of fishing in the "World's Oldest and Largest Tarpon Fishing Tournament".   Now as we get ready for our 74th year, we have made a significant change in our format.  This year we are offering an "All Release" tournament for the first time in our long and distinguished history.  Now, there's no reason why you shouldn't  experience the unbelievable thrill of battling the "Silver King", the finest game fish in the world! Just imagine setting the hook and seeing 150 pounds of chrome rocket out of the water and then take off on a 200 yard run!  Sound exciting? Then join us this year and support your tournament by participating in the catch and release of the premier game fish on the west coast.  No need for twin, triple or quad motors.  No need to run off shore.  The fish you want to catch can be caught off a bridge or a pier, or even close to shore....but be very careful........there is no known cure once you catch Tarpon Fever!

  The Suncoast Tarpon Roundup is a not-for-profit organization that offers a ten-week event with weekly trophies and prizes. We have additional specialty division trophies for landlubbers, juniors, and women anglers. The regular division's three weekly winners will also be awarded cash prizes. The Roundup culminates with a "Finale Day" for the Junior Division and the Regular Division, a one day event eligible to regular division anglers and junior division anglers who have qualified during the ten weeks. This year, Juniors can qualify by having the most releases during one of the ten weeks.  Additionally, the top ten juniors releasing fish and not winning a weekly will qualify for Junior Finale Day.  In the Regular Division, anglers winning a weekly trophy or the top 30 anglers releasing fish and not winning a weekly trophy will qualify for the regular division Finale Day. 

Last year 794 fish were registered as releases and only 40 fish were weighed in, giving the tournament a 95% release rate.  This year we don't plan on weighing a single fish.

During the 74th Annual Suncoast Tarpon Roundup we will again be supporting the Tarpon fishery with our participation in the Tarpon Genetic Recapture Study.  Tarpon research is being done by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in conjunction with Mote Marine Laboratory.

Come join us, and have some fun fishing for the premier game fish on the west coast of Florida........and remember to take a kid fishing so they can know what it's like to have a real FISH ON!