2026 Holy City Tarpon Tournament

Year five of the Holy City Tarpon Tournament returns to Charleston, SC. August 20–22, 2026 Fly & spin anglers welcome!
About this Event

The Holy City Tarpon Tournament is back for year five. Join us in Charleston, SC on August 20th–22nd, 2026 for a few days of chasing silver kings in the Lowcountry.

Open to both fly and spin anglers, this cash prize tournament welcomes crews of all kinds. A portion of tournament proceeds will benefit Captains For Clean Water to help protect the fisheries we all love.

Thursday, August 20th Captain's Meeting Salty Mike's Deck Bar | 6:00 to 8:00 pm | 9 Lockwood Dr, Charleston, SC 29401 |

Friday, August 21st and Saturday, August 22nd Fish Days | Lines in 6:00 am & Lines Out 4 pm | Must launch for a Charleston County Boat Ramp

Saturday, August 22nd Awards Party The Royal American | 970 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403 | 7:00 to 10:00 pm

Location: Charleston, SC
Dates: August 20th–22nd, 2026

Rules & Regulations

• Fishing Days: Friday, August 21, 2026 & Saturday, August 22, 2026
• Maximum of 5 people per boat

Daily Schedule

• Earliest Launch Time: 5:00 AM
• Lines In: 6:00 AM
• Lines Out: 4:00 PM

No fishing is permitted before 6:00 AM or after 4:00 PM.

If a tarpon is hooked before 4:00 PM, the fish must still be landed and photographed before 4:00 PM in order to count.

Boat Requirements

• Boats must launch from and return to a Charleston County boat ramp, marina, or dock each tournament day.
• Boats may NOT launch outside of Charleston County.
• No launching before 5:00 AM.
• Winning teams must be able to provide a GPS photo showing launch location and launch time if requested.

Tournament Format

• The team with the most tarpon releases wins.
• In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the earliest recorded catch time.
• If no fish are caught during the tournament: 50% of each entry fee will be refunded & the remaining 50% will roll over into next year’s payout

Catch Verification

A fish is considered officially caught when:

• The leader is in hand, OR
• The swivel reaches the rod tip

To qualify:

• A clear photo or video must show:
• • The fish
  • The leader or swivel
  • The official tournament card
• The fish must remain in the water at all times.
• The timestamp on the photo will serve as the official catch time.
• Photos of jumping, rolling, or free-swimming fish without leader verification will NOT count.

Each team must have a phone or camera capable of capturing accurate real-time timestamps.

Photo Submission Rules

• Teams are encouraged to submit catch photos as fish are caught to avoid end-of-day delays.
• If fishing in an area with limited service, delayed submission is understandable.
• ALL catch photos/videos must be submitted to:

Julia Parrish(804) 980-1051

No later than 6:00 PM on the day the fish was caught.

NO EXCEPTIONS.

Fly Fishing Division

• Fly-caught fish count toward:
• • Overall tournament standings
  • Separate Fly Division standings
• Fly Division winners are determined by:
• • Most releases
  • Earliest catch time in the event of a tie

To qualify for the Fly Division:

• A video of the angler actively fighting the fish on fly tackle must be available
• The official tournament card must be visible in the video
• A standard leadered-fish verification photo is still required

Fly and conventional fishing may be combined on the same boat.

General Rules

• Absolutely NO removing tarpon from the water.
• • Any team reported doing so will be immediately disqualified.
• All participants must follow all SCDNR regulations.
• All anglers must possess a valid saltwater fishing license. No exceptions for charter boats.
• Leader restrictions:
• Maximum leader length: 10 feet
• • Single hooks only when fishing natural bait
  • Artificial lures with multiple hooks are permitted ONLY if not tipped or fished with bait

Protests

• Any protest regarding a rules violation must be submitted to the tournament committee by 6:30 PM on the day of the alleged infraction.
• All decisions made by the tournament committee are final.

Weather Policy

• All anglers participate at their own discretion and risk.
• If weather cancels one fishing day, the tournament will become a one-day event.
• The tournament committee will make all weather-related decisions.

Liability & Indemnity

All anglers participate at their own risk.

By entering the tournament, all participants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Tournament Committee, Directors, Sponsors, and all associated agents and employees from any liability, loss, damage, injury, or claim resulting from participation in the tournament.