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The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
Southport, North Carolina is a favorite spot among fishermen. With
plenty of marinas and fishing piers in the area, Southport
The U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is held during the first weekend of October in Southport each year. Originally started to showcase all of the great fall fishing that the Southport-Oak Island area has to offer, the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament has been held annually for the past 25 years. Anglers of all ages, sex and skill compete for cash prizes up to $100,000. A guaranteed prize structure adds to the tournament’s excitement. The tournament pays cash prizes to the first 55 places. The prize for the largest king mackerel includes $25,000 in cash, team & captain jackets and a U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament Trophy. Second place receives $10,000 while third place receives $5,000. The prizes continue down to $300 for 55th place. There are other prizes in addition to prizes for the largest king mackerels. For the 2003 U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, the 104th largest fish of all fished weighed won a prize of $810. Dosher Memorial Hospital paid $520 for the first king mackerel to weigh in at 15.30 lbs. A drawing was done where two people won $375 when their name was drawn from early bird entries. Each year there are different awards and prizes offered by area merchants. If all of these prizes aren’t already enough, there is also a Tournament Within a Tournament. This tournament has a $100 entry fee. The money from this tournament is pooled and is split among the top three finishers in the largest fish category. The size of the prize varies by how many entries there are, but can be quite substantial. If there were 300 entries, then there would be $27,000 to split among the top three finishers. First place receives 50% of the pool, second place receives 30% and third place received 20%. Each year, Southport’s U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament attracts around 500 boats. Land lovers can still enjoy weight-ins, entertainment, refreshments and even a fish fry. The fee to enter the competition is $250 for those who enter prior to September and $275 for late entries. To register or to learn more about the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament, please visit the Tournament's website at the following address: View Previous Tournament Winners
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boasts a
lot of great places to go fishing. One special fishing event that
takes place every year in Southport, NC is the