SEBASTIAN — Anglers will once again chase big swordfish in the waters off the Treasure Coast as the sixth annual Strike-Zone Fishing Bobby Richter Swordfish Shootout gets underway Aug. 6-9, 2026, with fishing action concentrated over a 24-hour period.
Registration is now open for the Swordfish Shootout, and anglers can sign up online at swordfishshootout.net or in person at Strike-Zone Fishing in Melbourne. The entry fee for the main largest swordfish category is $500 for small boats — vessels 28 feet or less in factory-listed length overall.
Optional buy-ins include $250 for biggest dolphin (mahi-mahi), $100 for biggest pomfret, $500 for the two-fish aggregate and $1,000 for the high roller big fish Calcutta.
Payouts for the primary category, based on 30 participating boats, totaling $15,000:
- First place: $10,000
- Second: $3,500
- Third: $1,500
All optional Calcutas operate on a winner-take-all basis. In cases of identical weights, the fish boated first prevails. Each team may place only once per category.
Tournament rules emphasize fairness and verification:
- Teams must record a time-stamped video right after boating a fish, with the official tournament token clearly visible. The token is issued at the captain’s meeting.
- Boats are required to show an empty cockpit along with GPS verification before lines go in the water.
Weigh-in
The weigh-in will be Sunday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sebastian Saltwater Marina, located at 1732 Indian River Dr, in Sebastian.
The Captain’s Party (Open to the public)
The Captain’s Party will be on Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. at Sebastian Saltwater Marina, and at least one team member must attend to collect the required token, which will be available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fishing kicks off with lines in the water at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and wraps up at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Anglers can leave from any inlet along the coast, but boats aren’t allowed to touch land again until the fishing window closes — unless tournament officials approve it ahead of time for a medical issue or other emergency.
Every angler on board needs a valid Florida fishing license and has to follow all federal and state fishing laws.
Officials will keep an ear on VHF Channel 80 during the event, with Channel 72 as a backup. Anyone wanting to file a protest must do so within 1 hour after weigh-ins end and post $500 in cash. Protests have to come from direct, eyewitness knowledge. The tournament committee can also require polygraph tests if questions come up.
The event honors the legacy of Bobby Richter and is presented by Strike-Zone Fishing along with sponsors including Yamaha and Boaters Exchange. Organizers emphasize safety, noting that captains bear ultimate responsibility for a vessel’s seaworthiness and crew decisions in adverse weather.
For complete rules, registration forms and updates, visit swordfishshootout.net or follow the tournament’s Facebook page. Spots are limited, and registration is filling rapidly.
