Event Day

Everything for tournament morning.

A single guide to the derby: when to arrive, where to check in, how the day flows, and what to bring. Every field draws from the central event configuration — nothing invented.

Event Date: Details coming soon
Location: Details coming soon
Meeting Point: Details coming soon
Check-in: Fri 6:00p
Rules Briefing: Details coming soon
Fishing Start: Sat 6:00a
Submission Cutoff: Sun 12:00p
Awards: Sun 3:00p
Entry Fee: Details coming soon
Registration Deadline: Details coming soon

Event Overview

A morning on the sand, scored on length.

The Beach Break Big Fish Derby is a beach-based surf fishing tournament run entirely on measured, photo-verified catches. You fish from shore during a single tide window, place each eligible fish on an approved measuring device with the event identifier in frame, and release the fish alive. Length in inches, rounded down to the quarter-inch, is your score.

Whether it's your first tournament or your fifteenth, the format is the same for everyone — no weigh trucks, no leaderboard drama, no fish taken home. Just anglers, the surf line, and a friendly community morning on a Southern California beach.

Event-Day Timeline

A single tide window, mapped end to end.

Fri 6:00p
Check-in closes
All anglers must check in by Friday at 6:00 p.m. — verification packet pickup and rules briefing.
Sat 6:00a
Fishing begins
Lines in Saturday morning. Tournament hours officially active.
Sun 12:00p
Photo submission cutoff
Fishing ends at noon Sunday. Final submissions via the angler portal.
Sun 3:00p
Awards Bar-B-Q
Awards, prizes, and raffles over a beachside Bar-B-Q.

Fri 6:00p
Check-in closes
All anglers must check in by Friday at 6:00 p.m. — verification packet pickup and rules briefing.
Sat 6:00a
Fishing begins
Lines in Saturday morning. Tournament hours officially active.
Sun 12:00p
Photo submission cutoff
Fishing ends at noon Sunday. Final submissions via the angler portal.
Sun 3:00p
Awards Bar-B-Q
Awards, prizes, and raffles over a beachside Bar-B-Q.

All times Los_Angeles local

Location & Check-in

Where to find us on tournament morning.

Beach & City: Details coming soon
Meeting Point: Details coming soon
Boundaries: Details coming soon

Map pending

The interactive map will publish here once the tournament director confirms the exact beach address and check-in coordinates. Registered anglers receive the pinned meeting-point map by email ahead of the event.

Parking

Arrive early. Park legal. Walk light.

Final parking and meeting-point instructions will be emailed to registered anglers.

What to Bring

Pack once. Fish clean.

01
Approved measuring mat or rulerRequired
Rigid, marked to at least 24 inches.
02
Tournament identifierRequired
Issued at check-in. Must appear in every scoring photo.
03
Phone with working cameraRequired
04
Charged battery or power bank
05
Legal tackle and bait
CDFW-compliant. Division rules also apply.
06
Current licenses or validations as applicable
16 and older require a CA sport fishing license.
07
Sun protection
Hat, sunscreen, polarized eyewear.
08
Water
At least one liter per angler.
09
Layered clothing
Marine layer mornings run cool.
10
Personal first-aid supplies

Event Boundaries

Fish inside the lines.

Boundaries pending

Boundaries have not been finalized yet.

The tournament director will publish exact northern and southern markers, along with the authorized shore-fishing strip, before the event. To avoid speculation, no boundary map is shown until those coordinates are confirmed.

Safety Notice

The surf is the boss.

Surf conditions
Check the local forecast before you leave the truck. If a set looks over your ability, step back from the wash.
Rip currents
Never wade into a channel of moving water. Swim parallel to shore to escape a rip; do not fight it.
Shore break
Heavy shore break can injure anglers standing in the wash. Keep your stance sideways and stay aware.
Changing tides
Tide can flood your setup fast. Plan gear placement above the projected high line.
Low-light visibility
Wear a headlamp at check-in and dawn. Reflective layers help other anglers see you.
Hydration
Drink water before you feel thirsty. A five-hour tide window in the sun adds up.
Respect for other beach users
Share the sand. Watch your backcast around walkers, swimmers, and other anglers.

In an emergency, dial 911. Report hazards to the tournament director at basecamp.

Weather & Cancellation

Small tide window. Clear policy.

Weather Policy

Policy pending organizer approval.

Cancellation

Policy pending organizer approval.

Refunds

Policy pending organizer approval.

Only policies confirmed by the tournament director appear here. Anything shown as pending is pending — no assumed terms.

Ready?

Claim your spot on the sand.

Deadline · Details coming soon