Apex Predator Summer Showdown
About this race
Apex Predator Summer Showdown – 2026
The Hunt Expands. The Mission Continues.
The Apex Predator Summer Showdown returns in August 2026 with an expanded format that opens participation to personal boats, and multiple dive outfitters as well as expanded hunt areas. This two-day conservation-focused tournament brings together the dive community to combat one of the greatest threats to Florida’s reefs — invasive lionfish.
Event Dates & Times
The Summer Showdown (Two Day Derby):
Tournament Start: Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 7:00AM
Tournament End: Sunday, August 30, 2026 – 4:00 PM
Awards: Sunday, August 30, 2026 – 5:00 PM
Mini Showdown (Single Dive Derby):
Tournament Start: Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 8:00AM
Tournament End: Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 1:30 PM
Awards: Saturday, August 29, 2026 – 1:00 PM
Tournament Format
The Summer Showdown (2 Day Derby)
The Summer Showdown Derby runs both Saturday and Sunday and is open to:
• Personal boats
• Divers using their own selected dive outfitters
Divers will compete in teams of two to remove as many lionfish as possible. Each participant will receive a commemorative Apex Predator challenge coin as well as a long sleeve hooded SPF shirt. Participants may hunt anytime between daylight Saturday morning and 4:00 PM Sunday, submitting fish for official measure and count on Sunday. Hunters may hunt anywhere in Florida, but all fish must be presented during the official count and measure ceremony on Sunday August 30th for the fish to count.
Mini Showdown – South Florida Diving Headquarters
In addition to the main derby, a Mini Derby will be hosted at South Florida Diving Headquarters. Participants will board a chartered dive boat and head out to designated dive sites to hunt. Divers will compete in teams of two to remove as many lionfish as possible during a two-tank dive. Each participant will receive a commemorative Apex Predator challenge coin as well as a long sleeve hooded SPF shirt. If you need rental gear and/or tanks please contact South Florida Diving Headquarters directly. 954-783-2299
• Single-boat, single-dive tournament (Saturday Morning)
• Participation limited to divers on the chartered boat
• Mini Derby awards at approximately 1:30 PM Saturday
• All fish caught during the Mini derby will be counted toward the Summer Showdown Derby totals if the participant has registered for both derbies.
Packet Pickup & Check-In
All participants for the Summer Showdown must attend packet pickup and check-in on Saturday morning in Pompano Beach or virtually at a Friday night MS Teams meeting.
This applies to both Main Derby and Mini Derby participants.
Awards & Scoring
Summer Showdown Awards
Main Derby awards will be presented Sunday at 5:00 PM following the official close of the tournament. Fish will be turned in in Pompano Beach.
Categories:
1. Most Lionfish Caught: $300 cash prize
2. Largest Lionfish: $200 cash prize
3. Smallest Lionfish: $100 cash prize
Mini Derby Awards
Mini Derby awards will be presented Saturday at 1:30 PM following completion of the single dive.
This derby will happen on a chartered boat with South Florida Diving Headquarters. Your Registration includes entry on the boat but participants must provide their own dive gear. If you need rental gear and/or tanks please contact South Florida Diving Headquarters directly. 954-783-2299
Categories:
1. Most Lionfish Caught: $150 cash prize
2. Largest Lionfish: $100 cash prize
3. Smallest Lionfish: $50 cash prize
Final Notes
• Tournament rules, safety requirements, and scoring details will be provided prior to the event
• All participants must complete packet pickup and check-in to be eligible for awards
• Conservation, safety, and sportsmanship are core expectations of the Apex Predator series
Join us and help protect Florida’s reefs while competing in the 2026 Apex Predator Summer Showdown.
Pick your distance
Running
Summer Showdown (2 Day Derby)
Summer Showdown (Main Derby) The Summer Showdown is a two-day lionfish tournament open to all participants. Divers may compete: From personal boats Through participating dive outfitters As part of the DX Divers Mini Showdown Participants will compete in teams of two to harvest as many lionfish as possible between the start of the tournament on Saturday morning and the official close on Sunday at 4:00 PM. Hunters may dive anywhere in Florida during the tournament period; however, all fish must be presented during the official fish count and measurement on Sunday in Pompano Beach to qualify for awards. Each participant will receive: Official Apex Predator Challenge Coin Car Seat Cover Awards & Prizes Summer Showdown Awards Presented Sunday, August 30 at 5:00 PM. Categories 🥇 Most Lionfish Caught — $150 Cash Prize 🐟 Largest Lionfish — $100 Cash Prize 🐟 Smallest Lionfish — $50 Cash Prize
Mini Showdown (Morning Dive Derby)
Mini Showdown Host at DX Divers The Mini Showdown automatically registers you for the full derby and the mini. The mini is a single morning two tank competition held aboard a chartered DX Divers (Lady Go) on Saturday. Participants will compete in teams of two during a two-tank dive to harvest as many lionfish as possible. This mini derby is only for those on the chartered boat and helps keep the competition fair and equitable, making it a unique competition where the best hunters will come out on top! Each participant will receive: Official Apex Predator Challenge Coin Apex Predator Car Seat Cover Important: The Mini Derby Registration includes your seat on the DX Divers charter. Divers must provide their own equipment. Tank rentals and gear rentals are available through DX Divers. Contact DX Divers directly for rental information: 954-420-0009 The Best Part Every lionfish harvested during the Mini Showdown will also count toward the Summer Showdown Main Derby. This means participants aboard the DX Divers boat have the opportunity to compete for awards in both tournaments! Mini Showdown Awards Presented Saturday, August 29 at approximately 1:30 PM. Categories 🥇 Most Lionfish Caught — $150 Cash Prize 🐟 Largest Lionfish — $100 Cash Prize 🐟 Smallest Lionfish — $50 Cash Prize
Typical race-day weather
Based on 2 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Pompano Beach, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 6:59 AM and sets at 7:43 PM local time (EDT) in Pompano Beach on August 29, 2026 — 12h 44m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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🏃 Plan Your Next Race in Pompano Beach
Find upcoming events by distance:
- Pompano Beach 5K Races 19 races
- 10K Run Events in Pompano Beach 14 races
- Pompano Beach Running Calendar 2026 23 races
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 23 Pompano Beach events
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