Fishing Tournaments in Freeport.
Nine tournaments touch the Freeport and Surfside Beach calendar, from a kids' morning on the Old Brazos to an SKA kingfish event weighed in at Surfside Marina. A date marked confirmed comes from the organizer; an expected date is our projection from the event's own pattern until it is announced. If one is worth a boat, book a Freeport charter around it early: the local fleet fills on these weekends.
In Freeport, Surfside Beach and the Brazos mouth
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Typically First edition in 2026, so there is no pattern yet. Watch the tournament's Facebook page after the September weigh-in for a 2027 date.
Bastrop Bayou Ladies' Classic
An inaugural ladies-only redfish tournament weighed in at Surfside Marina: teams of one to four women fish a three-redfish stringer anywhere in public Texas water, by boat, kayak or wading, with a youth side pot and a captain's meeting the Friday evening before. A male captain or deckhand may run the boat, so a local guide can be hired for the day.
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Next (28th) · confirmed by the department's 2026 rules and sign-up sheet
River's End V.F.D. Family Fishing Tournament
A volunteer fire department fundraiser in its 28th year, built for families fishing the fall inshore bite: redfish, speckled trout, flounder and croaker, youth novelty categories, a Saturday cook and silent auction, and awards on Sunday afternoon. Fishing opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday and closes at 2 p.m. Sunday; professional guides are not eligible to compete, and the Dow Barge Canal, the Brazos floodgates and parts of Port Freeport are off limits.
Weigh-in Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A major storm postpones the tournament by two weeks.
Usually first Friday of October through that Sunday. The new year's sign-up sheet appears on revfd.com in July.
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Next (80th) · expected, projected from the club's 2024, 2025 and 2026 dates; not yet announced
Fishin' Fiesta
Freeport's flagship fishing weekend, 79 editions and counting: separate adult and juvenile divisions for inshore and offshore species, family entries, a fireworks show, and a weigh station at Freeport Municipal Park. Fishing starts at 12:01 a.m. on the opening Thursday and you must be registered before you fish; the Dow Barge Canal is off limits.
Projected from the Thursday-to-Sunday block that contains July 4. In 2027 the holiday falls on the Sunday, so the club could shift a day.
Usually the Thursday through Sunday that includes July 4. fishinfiesta.com flips to the new year around May.
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Next · expected, projected from the organizer's 2024 through 2026 dates; not yet announced
Texas Champions King Mackerel Tournament
An SKA-sanctioned kingfish tournament weighed in at Surfside Marina, with open and small-boat (25 feet and under) classes, junior, lady and senior angler trophies, and a Friday captain's meeting; proceeds buy Christmas toys for kids in the coastal counties. Lines in no earlier than 5 a.m., weigh-in from 2 p.m. Saturday.
Projected from the second Friday and Saturday of July.
Usually second Friday and Saturday of July. The SKA calendar and the organizer's page roll over during the winter.
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Next · expected, projected from Port Freeport's 2021 through 2026 dates; not yet announced
Take-A-Child Fishing Tournament
A free bank-fishing morning on the Old Brazos River for kids 3 to 14, hosted by Port Freeport: entry is two canned goods per child, bait is provided, registration happens on site that morning, and the day runs 8 a.m. to noon with prizes in two age divisions. The 26th edition drew about 400 young anglers.
Projected from the second Saturday of May. Port Freeport says 2027 details come in the first quarter.
Usually second Saturday of May, 8 a.m. to noon. The exact date first appears in Port Freeport's March logo-contest release.
Statewide, weighed in here
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Typically The Saturday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. CCA posts the next season in late winter, with early-bird registration in spring.
CCA Texas STAR Tournament
The largest saltwater tournament in Texas runs the whole summer, so every Freeport trip in season is a potential entry: tagged-redfish, inshore (sheepshead, gafftop, black drum), offshore (kingfish, dorado, ling, red snapper), guide and youth scholarship divisions. Membership and registration must be in place before the fish is caught, so register before you book.
Down the coast at Matagorda
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Next (24th) · expected, projected from the club's page, which lists August 2027 without a day; not yet announced
Hold 'Em & Hit 'Em Club Dick Stipanovic Memorial Tournament
A four-angler team inshore tournament for speckled trout, redfish and flounder with a free kids' event, an awards dinner and auction, and all proceeds to youth scholarships. Teams may fish anywhere public on the Texas coast and only have to reach the Matagorda weigh-in by 4 p.m., which suits a crew that knows Brazosport water.
Projected from the first Saturday of August, with Friday-evening registration the day before.
Usually first Saturday of August. The club posts the exact day on its tournament page in spring.
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Next · expected, projected from six verified editions, 2021 through 2026; not yet announced
Texas Oilman's Charity Invitational Fishing Tournament
A three-day corporate charity tournament for oilfield-industry teams, fished from Matagorda Harbor with bay and offshore categories, an auction and live music; 25 editions have raised millions for Matagorda-area charities. Entry is by team registration or sponsorship rather than open sign-up, so for most anglers it is a mid-July date to plan around rather than enter.
Projected from the Thursday-to-Saturday block in the middle of July; a week earlier is possible.
Usually a Thursday through Saturday in mid-July. Registration opens April 1 on tocift.org.
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Next · expected, projected from four verified editions, 2022 through 2026; not yet announced
Matagorda Mermaid Offshore Tournament
The longest-running women's offshore tournament on the Texas coast, held since 1986: a Thursday captain's meeting and Calcutta, a rest day, and a single Saturday of Gulf fishing weighed in at Matagorda Harbor, with proceeds to the Matagorda fire department, latchkey program and historical society.
Late July, but the exact weekend varies: the fish day lands on the fourth or fifth Saturday, so this is a range rather than a date.
Usually late July: Thursday captain's meeting, Saturday fish day. Watch the tournament's Facebook page from February, when the harbor's season schedule appears.
Dates checked against each organizer on 2026-08-30. The Texas Billfish Classic, once run out of Freeport, has not held an edition we can confirm since 2022 and is not listed. 1 confirmed upcoming.
When is fishing tournament season in Freeport?
It runs from spring to fall. The kids' Take-A-Child morning opens the year in May, CCA's STAR tournament spans the whole summer with a weigh station at Surfside Marina, Fishin' Fiesta and the king mackerel tournament anchor July, and the fall inshore run brings the Ladies' Classic in September and the River's End family tournament in October, timed just before the flounder closure on November 1. See the month-by-month seasonal calendar for what's biting around each event.
Do you need a fishing license to enter a tournament?
Yes. Tournament entry does not replace a personal fishing license. Every angler 17 or older still needs a valid Texas fishing license with a saltwater endorsement, and all state bag, size, and season rules apply during a tournament exactly as they do any other day. Full breakdown in our Texas fishing license guide.
Can first-timers and families fish these tournaments?
Yes. The Take-A-Child Fishing Tournament exists specifically for kids 3 to 14, the River's End event is built around family inshore fishing for redfish, trout, and flounder, and Fishin' Fiesta has a juvenile division and family entries. If you're new to the area, the simplest way in is to book a local charter captain who knows the tournament waters, or read how to plan your trip first.
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