2008 TOURNAMENT DATES

May 23rd - Registration

May 24th King Mackerel and Blue Water Tournament

May 25th Blue Water Tournament

See schedule page for details

REGISTRATION ONLINE NOW OPEN !!!

Important Letter on Trailering

With a guaranteed purse, it seems like more anglers are choosing to enter the Swansboro Rotary Club’s King Mackerel Blue Water Fishing Tournament Memorial Day weekend.

The 2007 tournament drew a field of 212 king mackerel boats, a 15 percent increase over the 2006 total of 184. There were 59 blue water boats last year, up 20 from 2006. The numbers can be attributed to a couple of things, good weather, of course, but also to the fact that club now guarantees a $25,000 prize for the largest king weighed in and a $21,500 2060 Bayliner skiff with motor and trailer for the second-place king.Last year’s tournament, which was blessed with nice weather, produced one of the most exciting finishes in tournament history.

When Wayne Hewitt brought the last king of the day to the scales, he was a half-pound short of claiming the top prize. Dale Walker’s king weighed 25.88 pounds and Hewitt’s weighed 25.34. A total purse of nearly $165,000 was awarded in 2007.The one-day king tournament will be fished May 24, weather permitting. In the event of poor conditions, the tournament could be postponed until May 25, a Sunday, as happened in 2006.

This is a Southern Kingfish Association-sanctioned event. The blue water fishermen will be offshore May 24 and 25. Basic entry fee for the king mackerel event is $300 until May 15, $350 thereafter. Early entry for the blue water portion of the tournament is $400, $500 after May 15.King mackerel will be weighed at Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro. Blue water species can be weighed at Hammocks Beach or at the Big Rock Weigh Station in Morehead City.

Blue water release forms may be turned it at either station as well as at Odens Dock in Hatteras or Bridge Tender in Wrightsville Beach.Funds raised through the Rotary tourney benefit a variety of community projects, specifically the scholarship program. In its 30-year history, the club has provided more than $550,000 to high school seniors at Swansboro and Croatan high schools to be used for their college educations.

For information on how to sign up for the 28th annual Swansboro Rotary King Mackerel Blue Water Tournament, visit www.swansbororotary.com and click on the tournament logo or call (910) 326-FISH (3474).

Jimmy Williams, Tideland News