Anglers will compete across three storied coastal gateways: Naples, Goodland, and Chokoloskee. Building on last year’s impressive showing where 59 competitive teams and 118 anglers raised nearly $186,000 the 2026 edition promises high-stakes angling paired with an urgent conservation mission. With spots traditionally capped to maintain fishery health and event quality, community support is expected to drive strong participation across all divisions.
Weekend Itinerary for the RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Fishing Tournament
The RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Fishing Tournament spans three action-packed days, blending friendly competition with community celebration:
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Kickoff Party and Captains Meeting (Friday, October 23): The festivities begin with an evening gathering where registered anglers receive tournament packages, review official scoring rules via the iAngler mobile platform, and celebrate the shared commitment to regional water quality.
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Two Days of Inshore Angling (Saturday, October 24 – Sunday, October 25): Anglers launch at sunrise from designated boat ramps across Collier County, targeting redfish and snook in both guided and unguided divisions. Competitors photograph, measure, and immediately release each catch to ensure minimal disturbance to wild fish populations.
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The Chris Campbell Awards Reception (Sunday, October 25): The weekend culminates in an awards ceremony honoring top-performing teams, individual division champions, and the prestigious Grand Slam winners who successfully document a tarpon, snook, and redfish on the same day.
Philanthropic Online Auction and Community Giving
Complementing the on-the-water action, the Conservancy is hosting an extensive online auction open to both participants and the general public. Running from October 16 through October 25, the virtual auction features exclusive items donated by local businesses and regional supporters. Bidders can compete for luxury vacation resort stays, private guided offshore charters, premium saltwater fly-fishing tackle, and custom marine artwork.
Every dollar raised through team registrations, corporate sponsorships, and auction bids directly fuels the Conservancy’s core environmental missions. These initiatives include continuous scientific waterway monitoring, estuarine health assessments, vital mangrove restoration along the Ten Thousand Islands, policy advocacy for Western Everglades restoration, and hands-on environmental education for local students.
Protecting Estuarine Ecosystems Along the Southwest Florida Coast
Clean, abundant water is the foundation of Southwest Florida’s tourism, recreation, and real estate economies. Sport fisheries depend directly on healthy seagrass flats and undisturbed mangrove shorelines, which provide essential nursery grounds for juvenile snook, redfish, tarpon, and crabs. Events like RedSnook serve as a crucial bridge between recreational boaters and ongoing scientific stewardship.
This initiative complements several major habitat preservation projects currently unfolding across Collier County. To see how other local efforts are protecting coastal ecosystems, explore our coverage of the $100K Collier County artificial reef project or read about offshore water filtration upgrades in our breakdown of the Naples beach outfall project bonds. Furthermore, to understand wider regional conservation and wildlife education efforts, review the SCCF sea turtle hatchling release sessions.
Anglers, corporate sponsors, and supporters can secure team entries and access event guidelines directly through the Official Conservancy of Southwest Florida RedSnook Portal.
