Trout de Mayo: A Fishing Tradition Turned Charity Tournament

Big Buzz Blog - April 2026

Trout de Mayo didn’t start as a fundraising fishing tournament. It started as a scheduling problem. 

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The origin of the Trout de Mayo tournament, according to organizer Matt Thompson, was simple, “A group of us kept trying to plan fishing trips, and it just wasn’t working,” said organizer Matt Thompson, “So we finally said, ‘Let’s just pick weekends and commit to them.’”

One of those weekends just happened to be the first weekend in May, right in the middle of prime speckled trout fishing season. With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner and a boat full of friends, the name came naturally; Trout de Mayo stuck.

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What began as a standing trip among friends quickly gained momentum and evolved into something more. Teams were formed; strategies were debated; secret fishing spots were scouted; and a friendly rivalry took hold.

“That’s really where the team format comes from,” Thompson says. “It’s just how we fish anyway: a group of friends in a boat, working together, trying to put together the best box we can.”

That friendly competition sparked an idea, which grew into what is now officially the Foundation of the Trout de Mayo Fishing Tournament. On May 2, the foundation will host its inaugural event at the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor.

The team-based format and shotgun start welcomes both kayaks and power boats, bringing a wide range of anglers together for one shared goal: five hours, three fish, and the best combined length. But at its core, Trout de Mayo is about more than competition.

 
“We wanted to keep that original feel,” Thompson says. “It’s supposed to be fun. It’s friends fishing together. The tournament just gives it a purpose.”

That purpose is giving back. The event will raise funds for Camp Able, a local summer camp for children of diverse abilities, turning a day on the water into something that reaches beyond the boats and into the community.

Check-in begins at 6:30 am and closes at 6:55 am, with the tournament kicking off at 7 am sharp. Measuring tables open at 10:30 am and will close at noon (those in line will be allowed to finish). Registration is open until Thursday, April 30; those who register by Friday, April 24 will receive tournament t-shirt. Up to five anglers may compete per fishing team, and registration is $50 per person. Registration, donations, and details can be found HERE. Competitors should review the website, which has details on check-in locations for power boats and kayaks and finishing details.

What started as a simple way to make time for fishing has grown into something bigger. Trout de Mayo is still about friends and fishing, but now it has a goal to make a d
​ifference in children’s lives.

For more information or to register, visit www.troutdemayo.org.

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