Auction Info

C.O.A.S.T. auctions provide a great platform for our members to offer their surplus stock and inventory as well as bid on the surplus stock and aquatic inventory of others. Auction items, donations, and non-paid volunteer hours provides the club with the ability to help upkeep the overhead costs to run our organization. All donations to our not-for-profit organization are greatly appreciated!


C.O.A.S.T. Auction Changes for 2026:

Auction categories have changed to being split into 5 main sections on the auction tables. The 5 category sections will be the following:

1. Small fish up to 2″ (from tip of head to tail)
2. Medium fish from 2″ to 6″ (from tip of head to tail)
3. Large fish 6″+ (from tip of head to tail)
4. Live Aquatic Plants
5. Miscellaneous (auction items that don’t fit in the other categories, such as live food cultures, etc.)

In 2026, the auction payout ratio will now be 75% to seller, 25% to buyer. This was effectively voted in by active club members on 11/2/2025 election cycle.

Auction Files:

How to Buy at Auction

• Bring a bag or bucket to transport any fish / livestock you purchase
• Bring a Styrofoam box or cooler to transport any livestock if the weather is very hot or very cold.
• Arrive by 12:00 pm noon to preview items up for auction.
• If you are already a C.O.A.S.T. member pick up your yellow member card from the Auction Registration table;
• IF you don’t see your card it might just be out of sequence OR your membership has expired.
• IF so, then check with the Membership Registration Table and renew your membership.
• Non-members need to sign-up as a guest and be assigned a YELLOW Auction card.
• When bidding hold your card up so the auctioneer can see you!
• Bidding increments are at the discretion of the Auctioneer and will not be less than $1 each
• The winning bidder is determined by the Auctioneer when the word “sold” is said
• A runner will bring your items you won with a slip to initial.  Check that you got the correct item, check the price, lot #, and MOST importantly your member # and then initial the slip.
• Payment is at the registration table when the auction has concluded.
• Members can pay by personal check, cash, or PayPal. Guests must pay with cash only, no exceptions to this rule! Guests are allowed to attend up to (3) meetings at C.O.A.S.T. before requiring membership with the club.

How to Sell at Auction

• You must be a dues-paid active member to be able participate in the auction.
• If not, you may join the club right before the auction begins and become a paid member at the club’s registration table. You may also direct yourself to our paid membership form link on this website to expedite your new or returning membership processing in person.
  
  Usually, we will have a number of guests or new members whom need to be processed at the start of every meeting. Each individual can take anywhere from 5-10 minutes to register, depending on having payment and forms readily signed. Please plan accordingly and help expedite the process by having any questions ready for the table, as well as having your payment readily on hand (cash preferred)!
• Sellers will receive 75%, the club receives 25% which helps pay for our organization’s overhead costs, such as rent, speakers, events, etc.
• Please do not bring sick, damaged, or illegal fish, livestock, or plants.
• Try and arrive early and distribute your items on the auction tables so as not to delay the start of the meeting.
• Sellers should always double-bag their fish and shy away from using Ziploc type bags as:
• Leaking bags have been a problem in the past!
• Bag adult males separately from females!
• Separate territorial or aggressive fish from each other to help minimize damage or death.
• Individual bags can be taped together to be sold as pairs or groups.
• Do not feed your fish the night before.
• Bag fish in clean water with a ratio of 1/3 water to 2/3 air.
• If you do not have an oxygen tank at home to fill your auction bags, consider using an air line attached to an active air pump. (The oxygen from the running air line from the atmosphere overall is better for the fish in the bag than the carbon dioxide ‘exhaust’ coming out from your mouth, and it’s more hygienic too!)
• Please bag and label all fish and plants at home!
• Plants may be single bagged and do not need to be submersed in water. You can provide a wet napkin in the bag to help provide/maintain moisture.
• Fill out the Auction Form BEFORE you arrive; place labels on the fish bag, etc.
• PLEASE include ALL relevant information for the fish or plant auction item being sold at auction. Include the full genus or species names and common trade name, sex, age, collection point, breeder origin (import / captive-bred / F1, F2, F3, etc.)
  
  *** This will assist the auctioneer and runners to identify your auction item for sale faster! ***
• ALL non-living related items, such as hard goods, soft goods, foods, packaged goods, new and used fish tank supplies, etc. are to be set aside for the SILENT AUCTION CORNER, hosted by club sponsor www.nolansaquarium.co. The SILENT AUCTION CORNER runs from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm, and it is run separately from the livestock auction event.
• Please number all your bags of fish and other items for sale with your member number, followed by a dash and the item number, starting with 1. (example. 999-001, 999-002, 999-003… and so on.)
• Remember, each bag should have the above information as well as the name of plant or fish species plus the sex IF known, and quantity. (Please don’t make the auctioneer and runners have to count or identify livestock for you, which just slows down the overall speed of the auction.)
• For ease in labeling your livestock, please try downloading the Auction forms at the top of this page, or writing on a label with a Sharpie will also suffice, 
• The interactive form is particularly useful as it also allows printing the auction summary page as well. 
• Hand in your Auction Form at the Auction registration table, NOT Membership.
• Find a clear spot on an auction table and set them up neatly for ease of viewing.
• At the end of the auction, collect your share of the auction price in cash at the check-out table.  
• Your purchases will be deducted from your sales balance.