Spanish & King Mackerel

1. The tournament is a week-long format. You can fish as many days of the tournament as you like.

2. Because of the week-long format, no weather dates will occur. Each boat will determine which days to fish. There are no minimum or maximum number of days to fish.

3. Fish must be caught between the tournament start and end fishing times on tournament dates. Fishing starts at 6 a.m. on July 19, 2025. Fish must be weighed prior to the closing of the weigh stations on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 2 p.m.

1. The Captains’ meeting is on July 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center at Carteret Community College. The Captain’s bucket will be distributed at the meeting. You must sign a copy of the rules to be eligible to compete.

2. Fish can be caught by boat, pier or beach. Fish can be transported by land.

3. All fish must be caught by hook and line to qualify for tournament – no other methods will be accepted.

4. Boats may be replaced if needed. Anglers may not be substituted.

5. Boats congregating or passing fish from boat to boat during competition time will be disqualified.

6. Any boat violating tournament rules will be disqualified from the entire event.

7. All sponsors and committee members are eligible to participate in the event.

8. Small King Mackerel and big Spanish Mackerel are similar, know the difference. See Diagram on the NC Division of Marine Fisheries webpage or the diagram included in the bucket.

9. It is encouraged and the captains’ obligation to follow all U.S.C.G., State and Federal Regulations.

1. Weigh-in is located at Town Creek Marina, 114 Town Creek Drive, Beaufort, NC 28516.

2. Scales are open from:

Saturday, July 19 – Friday, July 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, July 26 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

3. Each boat is not required to weigh fish daily.

4. Regulation lengths are Spanish Mackerel 12” FL minimum, King Mackerel 24” FL minimum.

5. All hooks must be removed from fish before weigh-in.

6. Fish should not be mutilated in any way other than gaff or hook marks and must be in edible condition to be eligible for competition.

7. All times are subject to the Weigh Station official time.

8. A single team or angler is not allowed to visit the weigh station more than one time per day. Anglers must accompany fish to scale.

9. Anglers can weigh the same species each day. No more than 3 fish per species can be weighed per angler per day.

10. One Spanish Mackerel per person will count towards competition. Angler’s heaviest fish weight for the week will be recorded and the least will be eliminated.

11. One King Mackerel, one Bluefish, and one Spanish Mackerel artificial lure will count for competition per boat. Boat’s heaviest fish weight for the week will be recorded and the least will be eliminated. Boat must be entered in species category to compete. These are overall boat prizes not angler prizes. 

12. All fish weighed will become the property of the tournament. The tournament is also open to donations of fish that are not being weighed.

13. Fish that meet citation requirements will be recorded by the weigh station after weight is recorded.

14. In the event more than one fish of the same weight is brought in by different boats or anglers, the fish weighed first by the weigh-in time is leading.

Visit www.Carteret.edu/SMT for up-to-date payouts.

1. Cash payouts are based on the number of entries in each category.

2. Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel Boat prizes are based on the number of boats entered PLUS a $1,000 base for 1^st Prize payouts will be awarded to the top five boats.

3. TWT: Payouts for prizes will be split 50/50 based on number of boats entered in each category. Prize payouts will be awarded to the top three boats.

4. Daily Prize: The angler with the heaviest Spanish Mackerel for the day will win $250.

5. Individual awards for Spanish Mackerel (age as of July 18, 2024). Anglers must accompany fish to scale. A boat is not limited to angler prizes.

Kid Angler (age 0-9) & Junior Angler (age 10-17)

• • • 1^st Place – $300
    • 2^nd Place – $200
    • 3^rd Place – $150
    • 4^th Place – $100
    • 5^th Place – $50

6. Spanish Mackerel 3-Fish aggregate fish must be weighed at the same time and all together. An aggregate is 2 or 3 fish. A total weight comprised of a single fish will not qualify for the aggregate category prize. Spanish Mackerel can be weighed each day. Boats are NOT able to use a fish weight from the day before. Adding recorded fish weights together will not be allowed.

7. Cash prizes totaling $600 and over are required to complete an IRS W-9.

8. Awards are based on weight of fish, not the length. No foreign matter (weights, ice, etc.).

9. Each boat can place in any or all of the categories for which it is registered, but only place once in each of the overall boat categories. Boat must be registered in that category to qualify.

10. Prizes not claimed at the awards party can be picked up at Carteret Community College Foundation within 30 days. No prizes will be mailed.

11. Any winners may be subject to polygraph examination at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.