Cobia Tournament

Reel in a big one! JEB Little Creek MWR Marinas is hosting a cobia tournament on Saturday, June 20 from 8 AM to 3 PM at Cove Marina. The cost to participate is $50 per vessel. There are optional calcuttas, including $20 for a blue/spanish stringer, $20 for a wildcard stringer, or free for child anglers. There will be prizes for the heaviest cobia and each calcutta. Weigh-in, refreshments, and more will be available from 1 to 4 PM. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, please call 757-462-7140

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. All anglers must be covered by a VA Saltwater Sport Fishing License and abide by all State and Federal regulations. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Cobia regulations allow for a 1 fish per person OR 2 fish per vessel possession limit (whichever is more restrictive) and a prohibition on gaffing. The minimum size is 43” total length.

2. Registration – Will be held at JEB Little Creek Cove Marina from May 20, 2026 until 1530 on June 20, 2026. All boats must be registered for the Tournament and all entry fees paid to qualify for prizes and trophies. Any substitute boat must be registered with the Tournament Director prior to fishing and will be permissible only if the original boat becomes disabled. Fish caught as part of a paid charter will not be accepted. For any questions prior to the event, please call Nate, the tournament director, at 757-462-7140

3. Fishing Days – There will be one fishing day on Saturday June 20, 2026. Fishing hours are from 0800 to 1500. No lines in the water prior to 0800. Boats cannot catch bait or deploy chum prior to 0800. Any fish hooked prior to 1500 may be played unOl caught; however, tournament director must be noOfied before winner is announced. Boats must leave out of a Virginia Port on fishing days. In the event of severe weather, the tournament director has the ability to designate Saturday, June 27, 2026 a fishing day for the safety of all participants.

4. Boundaries – All fish must be hooked within tournament boundaries which constitutes Virginia state and Federal waters.

5. Weighing Fish – the official weigh station will be at Cove Marina. Fish may be transported to the scale via vehicle or boat. Any fish weighed must be entered on the scorecard by the Tournament Weighmaster. If any team wants to have a fish reweighed, it must be requested while the fish is still hanging. All fish that have been mutilated or speared will be disqualified. Mutilation shall be defined as damage which would impair the fighting ability of the fish. The decision of the weighmaster will be final. The weigh staOon will open at 1300 and close at 1600 the day of the Tournament.

6. All legal cobia harvested will be eligible for weigh in. Any legal fish identified in the Calcutta categories will also be eligible for weigh in.

7. Scoring – This is a big fish tournament. Winner will be determined by weight. The heaviest fish submitted will win first place. If two or more entries are of the same weight, the fish with the earliest weigh-in time will determine the winner.

8. Cancellation Policy – If weather and/or other conditions exist that require that the tournament be cancelled, refunds will be issued. The decision to cancel the tournament will be made by the tournament director.

9. Calcutta Divisions – Calcutta shall consist of three divisions.
a. Wildcard stringer – Heaviest combined weight, any 3 unique finfish species (excluding cobia). Winner may have less than 3 species.
b. Blue-Spanish stringer – Heaviest combined weight, any combination of 3 bluefish and/or Spanish mackerel. Winner may have less than 3 fish.
c. Child angler division – Aged 15 and under. Heaviest fish (any species), entry can also be event winner.

10. Prizes – Checks will be made payable to the entrant or authorized agent of the winning boat as designated on the official entry form.  Checks will be mailed within 30 days of tournament event.

11. Anglers – Up to 5 eligible anglers, in addition to the captain, may be registered per boat.