By: Capt. Chad Carney
Many spearfishing tournaments have come and gone in the last decade or two, but the best & biggest are still happening on the Gulf coast. I started competing in the St Pete Open (SPO) in my hometown, after buying my first boat in 1980. I got my butt kicked by the senior divers that had faster boats packed with expensive electronics & books full of #s! By the late 80s my buddies & I picked up some 3rd & 2nd places, but no 1st places.
After 4 years on my 36 ft. sportfisherman & thousands of deep spearfishing trips we picked up some top âglassâ in 1999, & we rocked the SPOâs grand prize #1 carbo in 2000, 2001 & 2002!!!
Afterwards I started traveling & winning in the Alabama Open Rodeo & multiple times to the Hell Divers Rodeos in Louisiana on oil rigs.
The photos attached are Tim Milner & I with our 2nd & 1st place 47# & 50# carbos at the Key West Open in 2006.
Here are contacts for 2022 Gulf spearfishing tournaments.
Opens are for scuba & freediving categories.
- The 56th Annual SPO was held in August 2021! (2022 is not up on the website yet but itâs usually in late Aug.) https://www.stpeteopen.com
- FSDA Freedive Spearfishing State Championship is planned in April in Clearwater. https://www.floridaskindiversassociation.com
- The 13th Annual Tampa Bay Spearfishing Challenge is in St Pete on June 10-12. https://www.tampabayspearfishingclub.org
- The 1st Annual King of the Reef Rod & Spear Tournament in Key West is April 30 & May 1. Itâs a new one – for black grouper & lionfish only. https://www.redrumintl.com/ & click about us & tournaments
- The Florida Spearfishing Tournament is a unique tournament which lets you dive anywhere in FL, photo & measure your fish to enter it. Begins Apr 1st & ends Dec 31st. Usually prizes are rewarded at a party TBD. http://www.flspearfishing.com