The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) season-long STAR Tournament is back for 2026 with more eligible species, and a chance to win a new Mako 17 Pro Skiff with a 60 hp outboard and trailer, as well as $50K in other prizes, including 15 weekly prizes and $15K in youth scholarships.
For 2026, the STAR Tournament has expanded the number of eligible fish types, including surf perch (Embiotocidae family) of which there are over 10 species, as well as saltwater bass (kelp, barred sand bass and spotted bay bass), California halibut, California yellowtail, tuna (Thunnus genus), white seabass, striped bass, lingcod, and king salmon.
In order to qualify, these fish must be caught in eligible ocean waters that include California's state and US Pacific waters, as well as the Pacific side of Baja California down to Cabo San Lucas.
This year the STAR Tournament will kick off on May 23, 2026 (the start of Memorial Day Weekend), and run through Labor Day, September 7, 2026. To enter, anglers use the free Fishing Chaos app and an official free measuring device to easily register a catch and facilitate live releases, if they choose.
"The CCA CAL STAR Tournament is not about catching the largest fish," explains Dave Brown, chair of the CCA CAL STAR Committee for 2026. "All you have to do is catch, photograph and register a qualifying fish. Each one you enter using the Fish Chaos app earns you a chance to win.
"With surf perch now included, just about any California angler or diver—be they shore based, in a kayak, aboard a private boat, or on the deck of a party boat—has a chance to catch, photograph and win!
"You only need to catch and register one qualifying fish for a chance to win," Brown points out. "In fact, the 2024 grand prize winner entered only two fish, yet drove away with a brand-new boat!
"CCA CAL's goal is for this to become the biggest saltwater fishing event in the state of California. And that's important, because angler participation in STAR supports CCA CAL's advocacy work on conserving our marine resources and your access to them, including your right to fish."
Registration is just $40 for current CCA CAL members. Non-members can participate by joining CCA CAL, and then registering. All entries include a durable rollup vinyl measuring tape, as entry will be based on length, not weight.
Minimum sizes for the 2025 eligible fish are: 18 inches for barred sand bass and kelp bass; 28 inches for California halibut; 36 inches for California yellowtail, white seabass, and tuna; 26 inches for king salmon; 22 inches for lingcod and striped bass; and 9 inches for surf perch. A new twist this year is the spotted bay bass has its very own category, with a minimum length of 15 inches. Using the Fishing Chaos app, anglers can submit up two entries per category per day, and each registered catch earns a chance to win prizes in the weekly drawings, as well as one of the ten grand prizes at the conclusion of the 15-week tournament.
Any youth angler between the ages of 13 and 17 may also participate in the STAR Tournament Youth Division. Becoming a youth member of CCA for only $10 automatically comes with a FREE entry into the tournament. In 2026, CCA CAL, with the help of sponsors, will award three $5,000 scholarships to youth anglers fishing in the STAR Tournament. Qualifying works exactly the same as our adult division, with all entries counting the same.
You can register online at CCACalifornia.org/STAR. Or you can visit one the many participating CCA CAL 2026 STAR tackle stores, landings and dive shops, which will also distribute the official STAR measuring device. To learn more, check out the rules or find a participating retail shop, visit CCACalifornia.org/STAR.
ABOUT CCA CAL: The non-profit Coastal Conservation Association of California was created in 2015 when recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts came together to work for the conservation and enhancement of our marine resources and coastal environments. Today, we are working to protect not only the health, habitat, and sustainability of our marine resources, as well as the interests of saltwater anglers. Our goal is to protect your access to the marine resources you cherish and enjoy every day. CCA CAL consists of members spread across local chapters in California and growing every day.