Summer on Florida’s Nature Coast has its own rhythm — early‑morning casts on the Gulf, kids learning patience on the pier, and families spending long days on the water together. The CCA Florida STAR Youth Fishing Competition taps into that feeling, giving young anglers ages 6–17 across Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties a chance to turn their summer adventures into scholarships, prizes, and unforgettable memories.
Running from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, the competition offers more than $150,000 in prizes, and every child — whether they fish from a seawall in Hernando Beach, a kayak in Crystal River, or a dock in Port Richey — has a real chance to win.
🌊 A Summer Tradition That Fits the Nature Coast
Kids here grow up around water. From the scallop flats of Homosassa to the Weeki Wachee estuary and the Pithlachascotee River, fishing is part of everyday life. STAR builds on that connection by teaching young anglers how to protect the places they love.
The competition uses a conservation‑focused catch‑photo‑release format. Kids simply catch a fish, photograph it with the official STAR Identifier, and release it — a perfect match for the Nature Coast’s conservation‑minded culture.
🎓 Big Prizes for Local Kids
Since 2015, STAR has awarded more than $4 million in prizes, including $1.1 million in youth scholarships. This year’s lineup includes:
- Teen Challenge prizes — boat packages from Yamaha, Carolina Skiff, Custom Gheenoe, Minn Kota, and Power Pole
- Trash Division rewards — prizes and community service hours for cleaning local shorelines
- Most Fish Division — a Native Watercraft Slayer Max Propel 12.5 kayak
Most winners are chosen by random drawing, giving kids from any background, any skill level, and any part of the tri‑county region a fair shot.
🎣 Where Local Kids Love to Fish
These familiar spots make perfect STAR entry locations:
- Crystal River seawalls and Kings Bay canals
- Hernando Beach canals and the Weeki Wachee River
- Port Richey waterfront and the Pithlachascotee River
- Bayport Pier at sunset
- Fort Island Trail Park for shore fishing
- Anclote River Park for families with younger anglers
These are the places where Nature Coast kids already spend their summers — STAR simply gives them a reason to celebrate it.
🐟 How to Join the Adventure
Registration is $20 and includes a CCA Florida New Tide membership. The free 2026 STAR Identifier is available at West Marine locations and participating tackle shops…