Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation

Memorial Reef: Bruce Eugene Ernest
2026-05-25 08:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Florida

Lionfish Festival & Emerald Coast Open
2026-05-16 11:00 - 2026-05-17 18:00 | HarborWalk Village, 34 Harbor Blvd, Destin, FL, 32541, United States

Memorial Reef: Ronald William Mebust
2026-05-09 07:30 - 10:30 | Man in the Sea Museum, 17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, Florida, 32413, United States

Memorial Reef: Bernie Campoli
2026-05-02 07:30 - 19:00 | Man in the Sea Museum, 17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, Florida, 32413, United States

National First Responder Day
2025-10-28 08:00 - 17:00 | Man in the Sea Museum, 17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, Florida, 32413, United States
More information to come – stay tuned!

Reels & Spears Gulf Classic
2025-09-12 16:00 - 2025-09-13 19:00 | Point South Marina-Bay Point, 3824 Hatteras Lane, Panama City Beach, FL, 32408, United States
The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation’s Inaugural Reels & Spears Gulf Classic is an angling and spearfishing tournament benefiting the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to interring Veterans, First Responders, and their K9s in prepositioned artificial reefs. The tournament includes Spearfishing and Small Boat & Large Boat Angling targeting Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack and Lionfish, with cash awards to be announced.
All rules are subject to change, and will be solidified at the Mandatory Captain’s Meeting on Friday, September 12, 2025.
Click HERE to register.
Tournament Dates
• Friday, September 12, 2025: Mandatory Captain’s Meeting
• Saturday, September 13, 2025: Fishing and Spearfishing Tournament & Festival Day
Location
Point South Marina at Bay Point, 3824 Hatteras Lane, Panama City Beach, FL 32408
Schedule
Friday, September 12, 2025

Registration: 4:00 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. (all waivers must be signed by 5:00 P.M.) Location TBA
Mandatory Captain’s Meeting: 5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M. at TBA- TEAMS option for remote attendance) Teams have the option to get underway AFTER the Mandatory Captain’s Meeting (6:30 P.M.).
Dinner/Launch Party: Following Captain’s Meeting (included for registered participants; extra meal tickets available at registration.)

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Fishing/Spearfishing Begins: 5:00 A.M.
Festivities (games, vendors, food & beverage tastings): 12:00 P.M. at Point South Marina at Bay Point (Panama City Beach, FL)
Weigh-In/Scoring Station: 12:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
Awards Ceremony: Time TBA

Registration
Process: Register online via Zeffy at: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/reels-and-spearsgulf-classic , warriormemorialreefs.org, or on their social media, using the QR code. Payment is due at registration. All participants must read and agree to tournament rules and regulations. ALL Participants must have SIGNED waivers and releases turned in prior to the Captains’ Meeting, digitally or hardcopies.
Team Composition:

REELS: NO maximum participants per boat/ team.
SPEARS: Minimum 2, NO maximum participants per boat/ team. Each participant must dive with at least one buddy for spearfishing.
Team names must not be offensive. This is a family event. (determined by Tournament Director).

Packet: Includes one tournament T-shirt (for Early-bird Entries only), one dinner/ launch party ticket, and one raffle ticket per participant. Pick up at Captain’s Meeting.
Boat Requirements: Boats must meet Federal and Florida safety regulations. A tournament number card must be prominently displayed.
Contact: Each team must provide a phone number for post-weigh-in polygraph summons. Captains must be available within 20 minutes of a committee call.
Captain’s Meeting

Mandatory Attendance: At least one representative per team must attend in person or via TEAMS, checking in during the meeting. Failure to check in disqualifies the team.
Purpose: Review rules, announce changes, and answer questions. Rule changes will be posted on warriormemorialreefs.org and social media (Facebook, Instagram, X).
Time/Location: 5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M., Point South Marina at Bay Point, Marina Pool. 3824 Hatteras Lane, Panama City Beach, FL 32408.

Fishing/Spearfishing Hours

Start: 5:00 A.M- MUST be back for weigh in by 7:00 PM., September 13, 2025
End: All fish MUST be at the scoring station by 7:00 P.M., September 13, 2025
Weather: Tournament reserves the right to postpone/ cancel tournament due to inclement weather, small boat advisories, or warnings, and of course in case of a hurricane. If the tournament is called, the tournament will resume on September 14th, with the same time schedule.

Target Species

Snapper- Red Snapper
Grouper- Red & Gag Grouper
Amberjack- Greater Amberjack
Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles, aka Red Lionfish/Devil Firefish)

Divisions
1. Reels- Heaviest Fish Per Team, Per Species
◦ Heaviest Fish Per Team, Per Species
◦ Target Species Categories : Snapper, Grouper & Amberjack
2. Spearfishing- Heaviest Fish Per Team, Per Species*
◦ Target Species: Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack & Lionfish*.
◦ Rules:
▪ Snapper, Grouper and Amberjack must be speared during tournament hours and presented whole (no missing heads/tails).
▪ Protective gloves and first aid kits for Lionfish* stings are recommended.
▪ Fish may be kept, donated for research/consumption, or properly disposed of by participants.
*Lionfish Category will be won by MOST fish brought in.
Weigh-In/Scoring Station

Location: Point South Marina at Bay Point.
Time: 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M., September 13, 2025.
Check-in: All boats MUST confirm at Bay Point Harbor and confirm via radio, subject to approach. Latest Boats MUST check-in by 6:00 P.M.

Reels Rules

Must use rod and reel, hook and line for Reels Division.
All tackle types (spinning, casting, fly) allowed; deep trolling devices permitted if attached to rod/reel.
Fish may be brought by boat, or car/ truck (all crew present) to the scoring station.
Coolers must be iced, with Lionfish.
Staff weigh and count fish; team captain/designee should be present or nearby.
Freshly mutilated fish (e.g., by propellers/ gaffe/ spear) are allowed.
Lionfish must be preserved on ice; protective gloves recommended.
In case of a tie, the earliest weighed-in fish wins.

Spearfishing Rules

Lionfish, Snapper, Amberjack and Grouper must be speared using legal methods in permitted areas.
Fish must be brought by boat (all crew present) or vehicle to the scoring station.
Coolers must be iced, with Lionfish separated (in distinct containers, e.g., canisters, ziplock bags).
Staff weigh and count fish; team captain/designee should be present or nearby.
No freshly mutilated fish (e.g., by propellers) allowed. Weigh master may disqualify mutilated fish.
Lionfish must be preserved on ice; protective gloves recommended.
In case of a tie, the earliest weighed-in fish wins.

Regulations

Participants must comply with all federal and state regulations, including licensing, size/bag limits, and circle hook requirements.
All vessels targeting Snapper, Amberjack or Grouper must be Federally compliant in regards to boat safety and licensing.

Prizes and Awards

Cash Awards: TBA . Pay Structure is based on amount of boats registered. (Check warriormemorialreefs.org for updates).
Payment: Issued by bank check to the team’s designated payee within 7 days postceremony.
Trophies: Given for each Biggest (Heaviest) Species Category.
Raffle: Drawn at Captain’s Meeting & Awards Ceremony; participants must be registered.
Calcutta: Rules & Pay Schedule TBA at Captain’s Meeting.

Communications

Official channel: VHF 78
Latest check-in with marina by 6:00

Eligibility

Open to all sports fishermen (male and female).
Persons convicted of fishing violations are ineligible for 5 years from the violation date.
Eligibility disputes must be submitted in writing before the Captain’s Meeting.

Protests and Polygraph

Protests: Will not be allowed. This is a charity event.
Disqualification: This is a fundraising event. Unsportsmanlike conduct (e.g., aggressive behavior, social media attacks) or rule violations may lead to disqualification and forfeiture of fees/prizes.

Safety and Liability

Participants compete at their own risk. The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, Point South Marina, sponsors, donors, volunteers and vendors are not liable for injuries or property damage.
Captains are responsible for their vessel, crew, and wake per Federal Maritime Law.
Teams must select a “boat buddy” for mechanical emergencies.
All Spearfishers MUST have a dive buddy.

Promotional Use

Participants agree to allow their names, awards, and photos/videos to be used for media, social media and promotional purposes by the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation and sponsors.

Tax Liability

Anglers are responsible for any tax liability from cash or prize winnings.

Sportsmanship

This is a family friendly fundraiser benefiting the families of fallen warriors. Uphold honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Vulgar profanity, aggression, or vulgar/ volatile behavior may result in disqualification from this and future tournaments.

MOST OF ALL- HAVE FUN!!!
TREASURE RAFFLE
Click here to purchase ticket(s) for your chance to win!
Join our nonprofit’s Reel’s & Spears Gulf Classic “Treasure” raffle for a chance to win various raffle prizes throughout the festival day (9/13/2025), plus an amazing mega BOTE package, worth $1.3K, whose winner will be chosen on September 30th, and announced on October 1st!!

1 Ticket – $10
3 Tickets – $25
6 Tickets – $50
14 Tickets – $100
32 Tickets – $200

Winners do not need to be present to win.

At-Sea Burial 07/04/2025
2025-07-04 07:30 | Lighthouse Marina, 5325 N Lagoon Drive, Panama City Beach,, Florida, 32408

At-Sea Burial 05/26/2025 - SGT Tommy Walter Mullis
2025-05-26 08:00 - 11:00 | Man in the Sea Museum, 17314 Panama City Beach Pkwy, Panama City Beach, Florida, 32413, United States
Panama City, FL – May 1, 2025 – The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation is proud to announce a heartfelt Celebration of Life for US Army Sergeant Tommy Walter Mullis, a Vietnam Veteran whose legacy will be honored through a unique underwater memorial reef donated by Harman Metal Arts. This special event, scheduled for Memorial Day, will begin at 8:00 AM at the Man in the Sea Museum, followed by a procession to Lighthouse Marina, where the community is invited and encouraged to take their boats out, fly their flags high, and line the harbor in tribute to this American hero, and his contributions to our nation.
Sergeant Tommy Walter Mullis served his country with courage and dedication during the Vietnam War. His son, John Mullis, will personally lay his father to rest within the serene underwater memorial reef, a fitting tribute to a life of service. In a profound act of devotion, John is in the process of getting his Open Water SCUBA certificate at RED Alert Diving, specifically to embark on this sacred adventure, ensuring his father’s memory is honored in the tranquil depths of the ocean.
Kim Mullis, who is married to Tommy’s son, reacted, “When John and I were presented with the opportunity to celebrate the life and service of his dad, through the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, we knew it was an answer to prayer. It has been four long years leading up to this moment. On May 26, 2025, we will honor our dad in a true celebration of life, in a spectacular way, because of Joe and Gretchen Theodorou, and the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation.”
The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation is dedicated to creating living underwater memorials that honor fallen veterans while fostering marine ecosystems. The raw steel reef, crafted with care by Harman Metal Arts, symbolizes both a lasting tribute to Sergeant Mullis and a contribution to the vitality of our oceans. “I am so incredibly proud of our team, and the effort that they are taking to put these reefs in the water. Harman Metal Arts has been awesome in the fabrication. East Coast Foils has committed a boat, and has really embraced our mission. But of course we couldn’t get these out to sea without Buck Buchanan and Dive911! This is the perfect start to the enduring memory of our warriors,” said, Joe Theodorou, Founder and President of the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation. “ We would like to invite the community to come out and join us in celebrating the life of Sergeant Tommy Walter Mullis. This Memorial Day, let us come together to honor his service, support his son John in this meaningful journey, and recognize the enduring impact of our veterans,’ Joe added.
This is one of two of the first reefs that Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation will be deploying in early May. The second reef structure is already slated for Mark Phillips’ Celebration of Life on July 4th. “There is a lot more to this story, besides this being our first artificial reef interment, which really makes this event even more special. The way I met John, the lengths that he’s going to to have this adventure with his dad, it is incredibly special,” said Gretchen Theodorou, Vice President of Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation. “He really is one of the nicest people that we have ever met, and we know a lot of wonderful people, so that is saying a lot. We are just so humbled to be able to do this for Tommy and John.”
For more information about the event, to sponsor or donate a reef, or to learn about the Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation, please visit WarriorMemorialReefs.org , or contact info@warriormemorialreefs.org.
Media Contact:
Gretchen Theodorou, Vice President, Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation
gretchen.Theodorou@WarriorMemorialReefs.org
www.WarriorMemorialReefs.org
About Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation: The Warrior Memorial Reefs Foundation is committed to honoring veterans through the creation of underwater memorial reefs. These living tributes provide a lasting legacy for our heroes while promoting marine conservation and environmental stewardship. Honoring the Past. Restoring the Future.
