Tournament Rules

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: The deadline for entries shall be 9:00 PM on Friday Night, September 11, 2026.

ENTRY FEES: $300 per boat.

ONE DAY COMPETITION: In the event the Tournament Committee cancels the Tournament, 85% of the entry fee will be refunded, and 90% of TWT money will be refunded.

THIS IS A CAPTAINS CHOICE TOURNAMENT: It is the sole decision of the captain and crew to participate in this tournament. You must declare your fish day by 6:30 AM Saturday September 12th. If you do not declare a fish day, Saturday September 12th will automatically be counted as your fish day.

RIGHT TO REFUSE: The Tournament has the right to refuse any entry from an applicant. Should the Tournament decide to do so, 100% of the funds will be refunded.

HOURS OF COMPETITION: The competition shall begin at 7:00 AM on fishing day. There will be no lines in the water before 7:00 AM. This includes jigging. There is no check out. You must be checked in by 4:00 PM on Saturday September 12th and Sunday September 13th. Weigh-in station will be at Holden Beach Marina. You must declare your fish day by 6:30 AM Saturday September 12th. If you do not declare a fish day, Saturday September 12th will automatically be counted as your fish day.

CHECK POINT: A check-in boat will be located at each end of the No Wake Zone approaching Holden Beach Marina. We will have a check-in boat located at Provisions Company on the West side of Holden Beach Marina, and a check-in boat located on the East side of The Wharf.

ENTRY NUMBER: Each entrant shall be assigned an entry number and shall be required to display their number in a manner easily distinguishable to Tournament officials during competition hours.

BOUNDARIES: All boats must fish West of Longitude 76 degrees 55'00" and East of Longitude 79 degrees 02'00".

FISHING DURING TOURNAMENT COMPETITION HOURS: During competition hours there shall be no more than six king mackerel lines fished at one time on any entered boat.

OFF LOADING CATCH: Tournament competition is limited to boats only. All fish must be weighed in off the boat from which they were caught. Only emergency stops will be permitted. No overland transportation of fish permitted. Fish must be off-loaded at the designated dock. Boat must off-load catch with their representative; the boat then proceeds to a pickup point.

WEIGHING IN FISH: Scales open at 2:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. At the request of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, the Tournament will accept no King Mackerel less than 30 inches in length. Tournament will accept for weigh in, no more than one King Mackerel on tournament day. Tournament will not accept fish for donations, and the fish being weighed will be the responsibility of the party weighing the fish after it is weighed. You must take your fish with you once it is weighed. Your weigh slip must be signed for your fish to be eligible.

FISH ELIGIBILITY: All fish must be caught on rod and reel or hand line and entered on the day they are caught. King Mackerel must be 30-fork length inches for weigh-in.

CONDITION OF FISH: Fish shall not be mutilated in any way other than gaff and hook marks and must be in edible condition. Please properly ice fish prior to weigh in.

JUNIOR ANGLER, LADY ANGLER, & SENIOR ANGLER: This angler must be on board while the fish is caught and act as angler, boat driver, gaffer or other team member. Junior must be under 16 years of age. Lady Angler must be 16 years or older. Senior Angler must be 65 years or older. Fish must be identified before being weighed in, and should be accompanied by Junior, Lady, or Senior Angler when possible.

PRIMARY PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: Only one Primary Prize per boat will be awarded.

SECONDARY PRIZES: A boat can win more than one Secondary Prize. Secondary Prizes include, but are not limited to Lady, Junior and Senior Awards.

ADVERTISERS: Any advertiser in the Tournament can win any prize, as would be awarded to any other angler.

PRIZE PAYMENTS: All prize payments will be made to the captain, and subject to polygraph.

BOAT SUBSTITUTION: A boat may not be replaced without documented permission of the Tournament Rules Committee and entry fees are not refundable.

WEIGH IN: All boats must come to the dock under their own power. Upon entering the no wake zone, please monitor Channel #72 for communication and direction during weigh in and angler pick up.

BOATS CONGREGATING: Two or more boats congregating during competition hours may be disqualified. However, in the event of an emergency, please assist as necessary and notify Tournament Rules Committee as soon as possible. In a non-emergency event, if any boat is requiring assistance, it may be obtained by a dedicated service vessel only, and not another Tournament boat or other recreational vessel. The Tournament Rules Committee should be notified by phone immediately.

PROCEDURES IN THE EVENT OF TIES: If two or more King Mackerel are the same weight, the winner shall be determined by the date & time of the first fish weighed.

RULES COMMITTEE: The Committee's judgments and solutions to protests or situations shall be final. The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to inspect any boats entered.

SWORN AFFIDAVIT & PROTESTS: When the entry form is signed, this is a sworn affidavit adhering to all rules. Tournament reserves the right to refuse entry of a person or boat. All protests concerning the determination of the tournament winners shall be made to the Tournament Rules Committee and shall be accompanied by $200 cash. All protests shall be made no later than one hour after the last tournament fish has been weighed. In the event that a protest is made and upheld by the Tournament Rules Committee the $200 cash deposit shall be returned. Otherwise, the $200 deposit becomes the property of the Tournament. Any winners may be subject to polygraph examination at the discretion of the Tournament Rules Committee. All protests must be in writing and clearly specify what is being protested.

SIGNATURE: By signing the entry form the captain and crew consent that the Tournament may use without payment or restriction any photographs in which he/she appears for any purpose whatsoever including but not limited to resale, advertisement, commercial, and promotional material.

QUESTIONS NOT COVERED: The Tournament Rules Committee shall determine the solution to questions and situations, and its judgment shall be final.