2024 Boating Events for Northeast Florida

January 26-28: Jacksonville Boat Show

Yamaha Marine Center will be in attendance! This show will take place in the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. Visit our booth to talk to factory representatives and score some of the lowest prices of the year. We’ll have boats from each of our manufacturers. Get more information about the show through the North Florida Marine Association.

February 14-18: Miami International Boat Show

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at one of the largest boat shows in the world! This show brings in over 100,000 attendees with more than 1,000 boats on display. The show itself spans six locations in Miami, so be prepared to walk or catch a ride. Get tickets, hotel information, VIP tickets and more on the Miami International Boat Show website.

March 21-24: Palm Beach International Boat Show

Head back down south for the Palm Beach International Boat Show. This annual show previously brought in about 55,000 attendees with over 800 boats on display! Get your tickets and book your hotel stay early as this show is sure to fill up quickly.

October 30 – November 3: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

This annual show takes over Fort Lauderdale in the fall. With over 1,300 boats on display, it’s the largest in-water boat show in the world! Events include seminars, fishing clinics, product demos and more. Grab your ticket and book your hotel to attend the 2024 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.

February 9 – March 30: Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout

This 50-day tournament starts with a Kickoff Party on February 3 and dominates the waters through March. Choose two days of the 50 to reel in the largest wahoo of the competition. The first place prize is a 21′ Yellowfin bay boat, and second through tenth place will win cash. You can also score prizes in smaller categories, like Junior Angler, or win a lucky ticket drawing. Register for the Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout and watch the weather to pick your two fishing days!

March 2: El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament

This one-day competition is hosted by the Jacksonville Offshore Sport Fishing Club. The anglers that wrangle the heaviest sheepsheads win cash prizes! There’s an overall winner, and smaller categories like a Kayak Division. Plus, specialty prizes like the lightest legal fish and the first fish to the scales. There are plenty of opportunities to win at the El Cheapo Sheepshead Tournament.

April 20: ACGFA Redfish Bash

The Ancient City Fish and Game Association has split its annual tournament into two separate challenges. They’re kicking off 2024’s tournament duo with the Redfish Bash this April. The one-day tournament takes place on April 20 with weigh-in between 3 pm and 5 pm. Awards will follow on Saturday night, with both cash and product prizes for the largest redfish, flounder, and trout. Plus, most of the proceeds from this event go to local charities and offshore restoration efforts, so you can rest assured you’re angling for a good cause. 

May 11: Redfish Roundup Spots Tournament

Cast a line and help raise cash for a good cause this May. The Redfish Roundup is sponsored and hosted by Jacksonville Marine Charities, the organization that’s also behind the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. Jacksonville Marine Charities works to support marine science research, preservation and education Proceeds from this year’s tournament benefit the Safe Harbor Boy’s Home, so you can feel good about your entry and get the chance to bring home a cash prize.

May 18-20: Annual Wolfson Children’s Bass Tournament

Join fellow fishermen at the Palatka City Docks along the St. John’s River at the Annual Wolfson Children’s Bass Tournament. This competition is hosted by Xtreme Bass Series and Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville. Since 1989, the competition has helped fund new resources and lifesaving treatments for the hospital. In addition to the fishing tournament, you can enter a raffle for the chance to go home hitched to a new freshwater fishing boat from Bullet Boats.

June 27 – 29: Ancient City Kingfish Challenge

Before the Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, try your hand at St. Augustine’s smaller version. This tournament is one of two hosted by the Ancient City Game Fish Association. Grand prize at the 2024 Kingfish Challenge sits at $20k, with cash or product prizes going to the first ten places. A mandatory captain’s meeting takes place on Thursday night, followed by two days on the water. Over on dry land, spectators can enjoy food, drinks, a raffle, and plenty of vendor booths. 

July 10-20: 44th Annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament

Hit the water to compete in the tournament, or drive down to Sisters Creek to participate in the activities. Friends and family of competitors can enjoy food, shopping, displays and more on land during the tournament. Meanwhile, those who enter will fish to win a brand new Contender 38T with twin Yamaha outboards. Don’t miss the chance to win a new boat or major cash prizes at this year’s Kingfish Tournament.

July 20: Greater Jacksonville Redfish Tournament

While the Kingfish Tournament wraps up, anglers will have a second chance to win with the Jacksonville Redfish Tournament. Hosted by those behind the Kingfish Tournament, the Redfish Tournament is also based at the Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek. This is a perfect opportunity for newbies to dip their toes in the water, as the competition only lasts one day with weigh-in closing at 2 pm.

October: Flounder Pounder

Whether you reel in the day’s heaviest flounder or not, you’ll be fishing for a cause at Jacksonville’s annual Flounder Pounder. This tournament is hosted by and raises money for the Jacksonville School for Autism. JSA provides resources and assistance to people with autism and their families. And, if you happen to win, you’ll drive home with the $5,000 cash prize!

January 16-19: Tiara Sea Trial VIP Event

Join Tiara Yachts at the historic Vinoy St. Petersburg for this exclusive event! There will be seven Tiara Yacht models available for the sea trial. Spaces are limited and registration is required! Contact Yamaha Marine Center to sign up, and stop in to browse our Tiara Yachts for sale.

April 20: Yamaha Marine Center’s Veranda Demo Event

Get firsthand experience on a beautiful new Veranda Pontoon at Doctor’s Lake Marina in Orange Park – 10 minutes south of the dealership on Highway 17. Mark your calendars and RSVP with us to save your spot!

TBD: Yamaha Marine Center’s Spring into Action 

Make sure your boat is in perfect shape for an exciting and safe season at our annual service event. Just in time for boating season!

July 7-12: Pursuit Rendezvous to Bimini

The Abacos are one of the best spots for boaters to vacation. Enjoy clear waters perfect for snorkeling, diving, trolling and other fishing opportunities. Join other boaters as they depart from Florida’s east coast and head for the Sport Fishing Capital of the World! Missed the boat? You can find beautiful new Pursuit Boats for sale right here in Jacksonville at Yamaha Marine Center.

March: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Season Begins 

Join the Crustacean Nation with Jacksonville’s minor league baseball team. Formerly the Jacksonville Suns, the Jumbo Shrimp’s season normally runs from March through September. Games take place at 121 Financial Ballpark, which is tucked next to the Jaguar’s EverBank Stadium. Take the boat to the Metro Park Marina for a game, or attend one of the many Jacksonville events hosted at the field. 

September: Jaguars Season Begins

Enjoy a day at the Bank this fall when Jags season begins. Don’t want to deal with gameday traffic? Read more about boating to the stadium this season!

September 13 – 14: Florida Fin Fest 

Take a trip down to Jacksonville Beach to attend the annual Florida Fin Fest. This free two-day event is perfect for all ages to enjoy. Dance to live musicians, hear from a series of speakers, visit vendor booths, learn about ocean conservation, and savor food and drinks from local food trucks. There’s no shortage of things to do at this event to help preserve Florida’s ocean ecosystems for future generations. 

October: Jacksonville Icemen Season Begins

Bundle up and take the boat to the Metro Park Marina, then catch a ten-minute ride to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for the Jacksonville Icemen season. The season runs from October through April and makes for relatively inexpensive evening entertainment, with individual tickets maxing out at about $50 for most games. 

October: Spooktacular at the Jacksonville Zoo

The Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s Spooktacular celebration is one of the most popular Jacksonville Halloween activities for kids. Stroll through the zoo in costume to collect candy and visit with your favorite characters. Unfortunately, Hurricane Irma destroyed the public docks at the Jacksonville Zoo rendering them unusable for the past few years. However, Jacksonville Zoo representatives have confirmed with News4Jax that they have plans to rebuild the docks and allow waterfront visitors once again. 

October 19-20: NAS JAX Air Show

Whether you watch from the base, where admission is free, or from the water, this event is perfect for families. NAS JAX, the birthplace of the Blue Angels, hosts this annual show. Enjoy air displays, shopping, food, games and activities. If you plan to view from the water, know that local law enforcement will monitor and enforce the marked restricted water zones. After the show, head a few minutes down the road to visit Yamaha Marine Center of Jacksonville.

November 2024 – January 2025: Nights of Lights St. Augustine

St. Augustine’s world-famous Nights of Lights celebration is one of the biggest events in North Central Florida. While the Ancient City is draped with twinkling lights, we recommend boating down to a local marina rather than fighting through the holiday traffic.

November: Jacksonville Light Boat Parade

Traditionally, the annual Light Boat Parade is held the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which will be November 30, 2024. This decades-old celebration takes over the St. Johns River to kick off the holiday season and often ends with a city fireworks display over the water. Get more info in our 2023 parade guide. 

December: Deck the Chairs Jax Beach

Head over to the Seawalk Pavilion at Jax Beach this winter for another beloved holiday event. It’s a free family-friendly display that features lights and holiday music. Participating groups decorate lifeguard chairs with creative themed displays. The Deck the Chairs event raises money for children’s arts and art education in North Central Florida.