August 29, 2011 -
Southport, NC - Thirty-three years ago a group of
forty community leaders met and decided that they
needed an event to showcase the great fall fishing
Southport-Oak Island area has to offer. Those
community leaders signing a promissory note at a
local financial institution guaranteed the $10,000
first place prize money for the first tournament -
thus the
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament was born.
The U.S. Open
King Mackerel Tournament was the largest king
mackerel tournament in the United States attracting
453 boats in 2009. An all CASH GUARANTEED prize
structure adds to the enjoyment of the event. The
tournament guarantees its entire prize structure; it
is not based on the number of boats that
participate. Lots of cash and ways to win! The
tournament pays 55 places in its primary prize
category including $25,000 for the largest king
mackerel. Sponsors such as the Primary Sponsor,
Southport Marina and Grand Patron sponsors, BEMC,
Dosher Memorial Hospital, add almost 50 more
supplementary cash prizes to the event.
Don't fish???
There's still plenty of excitement going on at the
Southport Marina. Thursday and Saturday nights there
will be entertainment. Enjoy your favorite tunes on
Thursday night from 4pm-8pm and Saturday night from
4:30pm-7pm. Saturday is also a great time to come
out and enjoy a good old-fashioned fish fry
beginning at 3pm.
Friday is always
exciting as the boats rush to checkout between
7:00am-9:00am at Lockwood Folly Inlet, N.C. Baptist
Assembly Pier at Fort Caswell, Little River,
Masonboro Inlet and Snows Cut. The action really
heats up between 3:00pm and 4:00pm when the boats
line up to weigh in at Southport Marina before the
scales close. Have some refreshments, buy a T-shirt
and enjoy the fun. Saturday's fishing is over at
4:00pm with the awards ceremony at 7pm.
This year's
tournament will be held September 30 & October 1st
at the Southport Marina, Southport North Carolina
with registration on Thursday, September 29th from
10am until midnight.
Complete
tournament coverage is available on our website,
www.usopenkmt.com, or contact the
Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce,
4841 Long Beach Road, SE, Southport, NC 28461.
910-457-5787 or 800-457-6964.
Quick Details
33rd Annual U.S.
Open King Mackerel Tournament
An event of the Southport Oak Island Area Chamber Of
Commerce
Southport Marina, Southport, North Carolina
September 29th
Registration 10am-12midnight
Entertainment - 4pm-8pm
Captain's Meeting - 7pm
September 30th & October 1st
Fishing
October 1st
Fish Fry - 3pm-7pm
Awards Ceremony - 7pm
Entertainment and Refreshments- 4:30pm-7:00pm
First Place - $25,000 Cash
Guaranteed Payout - 100 cash prizes totaling over
$100,000
2010 Tournament Winners $50,313
More Information About The U.S. Open King Mackerel
Tournament
U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament Previous Winners