The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament (VBBT) is one of the most selective stops on the Mid-Atlantic in late summer. Every year in August, some of the best Billfish teams on the East Coast head to Rudee Inlet for a week of competitive fishing, catered dock parties, and serious charity giving.
Whether you’re eyeing a spot on the waiting list, tracking the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament results from shore, or just trying to understand what makes this event tick, here’s everything you need to know.
What Is the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament?
The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is an invitation-only Billfish release tournament held each August at Southside Marina in Virginia Beach. The event is operated by the nonprofit Virginia Beach Billfish Foundation, which directs its charitable work toward youth programs and marine causes.
The tournament typically draws around 80 teams competing for a purse over $800,000. Prize money may attract attention, but sustainable fishing and charitable fundraising remain central to the event. Over $1.5 million has been donated to organizations like Achievable Dream, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Virginia Peninsula, and the Billfish Foundation since the tournament’s beginning.
Target species include White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and Spearfish. Game fish divisions also cover Mahi Mahi, Tuna, and Wahoo, so there’s more than one way to get on the leaderboard.
Crews typically rig with 20 to 25 lb test tackle and pull dredges and teasers to coax fish into the spread. That light-tackle emphasis is a defining feature of the tournament. Even a modest Blue Marlin becomes a serious fight on finesse gear, and White Marlin are acrobatic enough to keep things interesting on every hookup.
History of the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament
Organizers launched the tournament in 2004 to support local youth and marine causes while drawing greater attention to Virginia Beach’s offshore fishery. At the time, the waters off Virginia’s coast were often overshadowed by the more famous tournament ports in North Carolina and Maryland.
In its first year, the tournament drew 42 teams, 231 anglers, and awarded $213,500 in cash prizes. Growth came quickly – the highest number of boats to participate to date was 84 in 2022, and the best year for fishing came in 2013, when 483 Billfish were released.
The social side of the event grew just as fast. It has become a major part of tournament week, with catered waterfront dinners, drinks, and nightly entertainment bringing crews together after fishing. Those nightly gatherings under the tent at Southside Marina are as much a part of the VBBT identity as the fishing itself.
When Is the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament in 2026?
The 2026 Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament runs between August 19 and August 22. The format spans Wednesday through Saturday, with Wednesday dedicated to check-in and the kick-off party, while Thursday through Saturday are fishing days.
Here’s the 2026 schedule at a glance:
| Event | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Team Check-In | August 19 | 2:00–8:00 p.m. |
| Kick-Off Party | August 19 | 6:00–10:00 p.m. |
| Captain’s Meeting | August 19 | 7:00 p.m. |
| Fishing Day 1 | August 20 | 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Dock Party | August 20 | 7:00–10:00 p.m. |
| Fishing Day 2 | August 21 | 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Scales Open | August 21 | 12:00–8:00 p.m. |
| Dock Party | August 21 | 7:00–10:00 p.m. |
| Fishing Day 3 | August 22 | 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Scales Open | August 22 | 12:00–7:00 p.m. |
| Awards Presentation | August 22 | 9:00–11:00 p.m. |
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Entry Fees and Divisions
The mandatory entry is $10,500, broken down into seven cash award categories. A $2,500 deposit is required with your invitation RSVP and must be received by April 1, while the rest is due by July 15.
Teams can also buy into two optional add-ons: a $5,000 Legacy Jackpot and a $2,000 20-Year Jackpot. Both stay open for purchase right up until check-in wraps up, and adding both brings a team’s maximum total cost to $17,500.
Here’s how the seven mandatory categories break down:
| Category | Entry Per Team | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – Top Boats | $6,000 | Top five overall by Billfish points; 1st–3rd cash, 4th–5th trophies |
| 2 – Billfish Jackpot | $1,000 | Top three overall by Billfish points |
| 3 – High Rollers Jackpot | $1,500 | Top three overall by Billfish points |
| 4 – Billfish Daily Jackpot | $1,500 | Top two daily boats split evenly per fishing day |
| 5 – Gamefish Division | $500 | Heaviest single Mahi Mahi, Tuna, and Wahoo |
| 6 – Blue Marlin Jackpot | $1,000 | Heaviest single Blue Marlin weighed |
| 7 – Charity Mystery Fish | $1,000 | Charity-focused drawing |
At least 10% of the fleet must fish on a given day for the Daily Jackpot to be paid. Gamefish Division prize money is split evenly between the three eligible species, and if no winner exists in a species category, the cash rolls into the remaining species pools.
Beyond cash categories, the tournament awards trophies for Top Overall Angler, Kitty Falk Memorial Top Lady Angler, Bryan “Pick” Dalheim Memorial Top Junior Billfish Angler (age 15 and younger, with a $500 scholarship), Top Crew, and other distinctions.
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Prize Money
The purse fluctuates based on how many teams enter and which optional jackpots they buy into. Here’s a look at recent editions:
| Year | Teams | Total Purse | Top Team | Top Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 75 | $845,750 | Just Right | $463,850 |
| 2024 | 70 | $837,000 | Sea Toy | $452,400 |
| 2025 | 39 | $453,750 | Waterman | $298,500 |
The 2025 tournament was interrupted by Hurricane Erin, which explains the smaller fleet and reduced purse. Even so, 39 teams still competed and distributed $453,750 in cash awards. For a closer look at how recent champions built their purses, see the Notable Winners and Records section below.
Those payouts illustrate why buying into the optional jackpots matters, too. A team that goes all-in can multiply its investment dramatically with a strong week on the water.
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Rules and Eligibility
Point system
The VBBT uses a somewhat modified release format. Blue Marlin must meet a 110″ lower jaw fork length or 400 lb minimum to be weighed. Meanwhile, all other Billfish species are release-only.
Every released White Marlin, Sailfish, and Spearfish is worth 70 points. A Blue Marlin release is worth the same 70 points unless the catch is verified by onboard video, in which case it jumps to 200 points. Teams are ranked by their cumulative point totals across the tournament.
Fishing format
IGFA Saltwater Equipment and Angling rules apply except for any special instructions given in the tournament rules. Unconventional non-trolling techniques are prohibited – no backing into schools, casting, or use of live bait.
All boats must fish into and out of Virginia Beach, and the boundaries extend 100 nautical miles from the Rudee Inlet Sea Buoy. Fishing hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. all three days.
Licensing requirements
Every boat and angler fishing the tournament is responsible for following the fishing laws that apply to Virginia’s offshore waters – state and federal licensing, size and bag limits, and anything else on the books.
For VBBT teams, that specifically means:
- A federal HMS (Highly Migratory Species) permit is required for any vessel targeting Billfish and Tuna. For more information and purchase, go to the NOAA Permit Site.
- Virginia saltwater fishing license is a must-have, and you can obtain it through the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
- Anglers may need to register with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP). The FIP is free of charge.
Rules can change – always double-check them before heading out.
How to Enter the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament
You can’t simply register online. The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is an invitation-only tournament. The invitations go out each year, and invitees have a limited window to RSVP and pay the deposit.
If you don’t have an invitation, there’s still a path. Teams may request to be added to the waiting list. Teams must submit a new waiting-list request each year because previous requests are not automatically renewed. So, if you didn’t receive an invitation but still wish to be considered, you’ll need to add your name when the list reopens each year on September 1.
Here’s how registration works:
- Receive invitation
- RSVP with $2,500 deposit by April 1
- Pay $8,000 balance by July 15
- Enter optional jackpots (Legacy $5,000, 20-Year $2,000) at check-in
In case you have additional questions about invitations, contact the tournament staff.
Don’t own a boat? You can book a charter.
The VBBT itself requires an invitation and a tournament-rigged sportfisher, but if you don’t own a boat you can still compete. The event welcomes both privately owned vessels and professionally operated charter boats, making it accessible to anglers who don’t have their own offshore boat.
If you’re planning to fish the VBBT on a charter, it’s a good idea to reserve your trip well in advance. Tournament dates are popular, and the most experienced Virginia Beach charter captains often book quickly.
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Notable Winners and Records
Across more than two decades of competition, just six Blue Marlin have reached the scales: one in 2004, one in 2017, two in 2018, and two in 2022. This fact alone shows how rare it is for a Blue Marlin to meet the 110″ and 400 lb requirements in these waters, which is why most of the scoring action comes from White Marlin releases. Here’s a look at some of the tournament’s standout years.
2025 – Waterman Claims the Win
Waterman, a 67′ Ricky Scarborough captained by Ben Horning out of Virginia Beach, took first place in the most recent VBBT, releasing 33 White Marlin for 2,310 points. Combined with wins in the Billfish Jackpot, High Rollers Jackpot, Blue Marlin Jackpot, Legacy Jackpot, and 20-Year Jackpot, Waterman’s total purse reached $298,500, and the boat’s angler Tony Huerta also topped the Gamefish Division with a 74.1 lb Tuna.
2024 – Sea Toy Sweeps the Board
Sea Toy, a 59′ Spencer Yacht captained by Bull Tolson out of Manteo, North Carolina, won the 2024 VBBT with 750 points, sweeping the Billfish Jackpot, High Rollers Jackpot, Blue Marlin Jackpot, Legacy Jackpot, and 20-Year Jackpot on the way to a $452,400 total purse – out of an overall tournament purse of $837,000 across 70 teams. Sea Toy also earned the Wayne McLeskey Top Boat Award, while Stacy Allen, fishing aboard Wall Hanger with Capt. Brian Allen, swept the Kitty Falk Memorial Lady Angler, Overall Angler, and Release Angler awards after releasing three Blue Marlin.
2023 – The Tournament’s Richest Payout
The highest purse ever paid to a single VBBT team came in 2023, when Just Right, a 56′ Viking captained by Robbie Brown out of Virginia Beach, earned $463,850 out of an $845,750 overall purse – still the largest total purse in tournament history. The winning catch was a single verified Blue Marlin release plus 10 Sailfish releases, and Just Right also picked up that year’s Wayne McLeskey Top Boat Award.
All-Time Tournament Record
The heaviest Blue Marlin ever weighed at the VBBT came in 2017. It was an 801 lb fish brought to the scale by Qualifier, a 57′ Paul Mann run by Captain Fin Gaddy out of Oregon Inlet, NC. It remains the tournament’s all-time record catch, and one of only six Blue Marlin ever weighed in the event’s 20-plus year history.
Virginia Beach Ladies Billfish Tournament
The VBBT family is expanding. The Virginia Beach Ladies Billfish Tournament (VBLT) debuted August 20, 2025 – the day before fishing in the VBBT began. This one-day, women’s tournament blends fun and fierce competition with a powerful cause, raising funds for the McLeskey Comprehensive Breast Center.
Virginia Beach has seen a few different versions of a ladies tournament over the years, but the VBLT was designed to create a lasting tradition under the VBBT banner.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Erin forced the cancellation of the inaugural 2025 VBLT, as organizers prioritized participant safety. The event is expected to return in 2026.
The entry fee is $2,500, broken down as follows: $1,000 donation to the McLeskey Comprehensive Breast Center, $1,250 Billfish release calcutta, and $250 Mahi Mahi calcutta. For its inaugural year, the tournament is open exclusively to boats already registered for the VBBT.
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Spectator Experience
If you’re hoping to watch from the docks, know this: the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is a private event, open to sponsors, participants, and guests. Activities take place under the tent at Southside Marina, and there’s no public access to the event tent. This isn’t an open spectator event like some larger Mid-Atlantic tournaments.
That said, each fishing day ends with the weigh station opening (scales open at noon, closing at 8:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 7:00 p.m. Saturday), and the dock parties feature live music and catered dinners each evening. The atmosphere is one of the tournament’s biggest draws for participants and their guests.
For those following along from home, live scoring is usually available during the event via Reel Time Apps. No confirmed live-stream or webcam has been announced for 2026.
For broader trip planning around the Virginia Beach area, our Virginia Beach fishing guide and deep sea fishing in Virginia Beach article cover everything from seasonal species patterns to what to expect on a charter.
Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament FAQs
The Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier Billfish events, and the waters off Virginia Beach deliver productive White Marlin fishing throughout August – whether you’re competing or just exploring. If you want to experience the same canyons and currents that produce tournament-winning numbers, FishingBooker makes it easy to find fishing charters in Virginia Beach. Filter by trip type, group size, and price to find an offshore trip that fits your crew.
The concept and outline of this article were created by people engaged by FishingBooker. Artificial intelligence tools were used to flesh out and reformat information into a blog article. Before being published, this article was edited and fact-checked by FishingBooker staff.
The post Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament 2026: Dates, Fees, Prizes, Rules, and How to Fish and Watch appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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