100% of the Net proceeds from this tournament benefits Battle Scarred Outdoors. We are a NC based, all-volunteer 501c3 Nonprofit. Our Mission is to facilitate and organize hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities for our Nation’s Heroes; Active Military, Veterans, and First Responders.
Tournament Information:
March 3-7, 2026
Shallowbag Bay Marina
1100 N Club Bay Dr
Manteo, NC 27954
Rules & Regulations:
1. Registration: All boats are required to be registered prior to 8:00 PM on March 3rd, 2026. Any substitute boat may be registered prior to lines in the water on the first day. Tournament committee reserves the right to deny entry for any reason.
1A. Team description: teams will be determined by the boat name, not Capt, Mate, or Anglers. Should a boat decide to fish with alternate anglers daily, this is accepted. This allows some boats to enter the tournament without the fishing party being invested in the tournament. This also allows boats to take Veterans and First Responders daily, without any invested interest in the tournament. All we ask is that anglers names be disclosed at registration.
2. Fishing Time and Laydays: No lines, teasers, kites or sonar may be deployed prior to lines in each day of fishing. Fishing days and times are Wednesday March 4th, 2025 thru Saturday March 7th 2026, 7:00AM until 2:00PM. Non-fishing days must be reported via official form prior to 7:00AM the day declared as a non-fishing day and the form must be signed by a member of the crew. If not declared that day will be counted as a fishing day for that boat. Mandatory 1 Lay day. Board Committee can mandate a 2nd Layday, if the board deems the weather forecast unsafe. This decision will be made prior to lines in.
3. Boundaries: All fish must be hooked within tournament boundaries which are defined as all Atlantic Ocean waters within 75 nautical miles of the Oregon Inlet Sea Buoy; fish can then be played outside boundaries until captured or released.
4. Federal and State Regulations: In addition to complying with all other Tournament rules, all boats and participants must comply with all Federal and State laws and regulations regarding fishing licenses, permits, fishing gear, and size and bag limits. No fish will be weighed unless a current HMS permit is produced for that boat (Verified at registration). All crew, anglers, and any other individuals participating in fishing activity shall have a valid NC Coastal Recreational Fishing License (CRFL) or be covered under a valid For Hire CRFL blanket license at all times while participating in the Tournament. This is a SPORT tournament, all fish must be caught under posrt regualtions, no commercial fishing or fish to be sold.
5. Tackle and etiquette: This is a rod and reel tournament and all fish caught on rod and reel, no green stick fishing allowed or electric reels. All I.G.F.A. rules apply except where noted. If there is a difference between IGFA rules and the rules stated here or modified at the captains meeting. No rod passing limitations.
6. Reporting: All blluefin tuna must be reported to the tournament committee via channel VHF 74 with CRFL measurement at time of boating.
7. Weigh-In: All fish eligible must be offloaded and weighed at the official tournament weigh station from the boat landing the fish. The tournament weigh master will record the species, boat name, angler’s name and official weight and measurements. The Tournament weigh station will be closed at 7:00 PM. All bluefin tuna brought to the scales must be a minimum of 27″ curved fork length. No Bluefin over 73” will be weighed during the tournament. Boats can weigh 1 bluefin tuna under 73” per day, 1 yellowfin tuna, or any other tuna species.
8. Giant Bluefin Tuna: No Bluefin Tuna 73″ or longer will be weighed for any reason during the tournament for the 2026 season.
9. Prize Money: Prize money checks will be made payable to the person or entity indicated on the registration form of the winning boat. A social security number or Taxpayer ID of the prize recipient must be provided at the time of prize distribution. A boat must be entered in a level to receive prize money from that level. 1 check will be issued per team, within 15 days of the tournament closing. Winners must fill out a 1099 prior to Checks being issued. Overall payouts will be 50% of the main entry, and 75% of thr calcuttas.
10. Protests: Any protest by any participant against the catch of another participant must be submitted in writing to the Tournament Rules Committee within one hour of weighing the last fish for the day on which the disputed catch occurred.
11. WEIGHT ALTERATION-MUTILATION: The Rules Committee reserves the right to cut open any fish for inspection of any suspected weight altering efforts such as inserted weights, ice, water, etc. Attempted weight alteration of any fish will automatically disqualify the boat from the Tournament. IGFA rules apply regarding mutilated fish. This includes, but is not limited to, disqualification of any fish that has flesh penetrated or removed prior to landing or boating by sharks, other fish, mammals, or propellers. Injuries caused by leader or line, scratches, healed scars, or regeneration deformities are not considered disqualifying injuries. All determinations of mutilation shall be made in the sole discretion of the Tournament Committee.( do we really need this. Its not a billfish tournament)
12. MANDATORY ENTRY – Boats must enter Bluefin division (the main entry) to be eligible for calcuttas.
13. Calcuttas– eligible Calcuttas will be:
13A: Daily Bluefin $1000- This will be awarded to the single largest Bluefin weighed that day. 1 entry fee, 75% total payout. Should there be no Bluefins weighed on a day, that purse will be divided amongst the remaining days.
13B: Largest Overall Tournament Tuna $500: This will be awarded to the largest Overall Tuna weighed during the tournament, regardless of species, to exclude Giant Bluefin. Payout 75%
13C Largest Yellowfin $500: This will be awarded to the largest Overall tournament Yellowfin weighed. Payout 75%.
14. Scoring– scoring for the main tournament will be a combined weight of up to 3 bluefin. Weighed to the nearest half pound. Calcuttas will be the single fish weight to the nearest half pound. For tournament purposes, we will round up to the nearest half pound.
15. Tiebreakers– should a weight tie occur, the tiebreaker will be the combined CRFL total of the main entry. The tiebreaker for Calcuttas will be the largest Overall CRFL of the fish weighed. Should a 2nd tie occur, the default winner will be the first boat weighed in.
16. DISQUALIFICATION – Any boat violating any of the above Tournament rules is subject to disqualification, unless another sanction for a particular violation is expressly set forth herein. By participating in the Tournament, all participants acknowledge that all Tournament rules are material and that disqualification is a permitted and appropriate sanction for any violation of any Tournament rule. Decisions regarding the interpretation of rules, violation of rules, penalties, and the suspension of any rules or penalties will be made by the Tournament or Rules Committee in their sole and absolute discretion. All decisions of the Rules Committee, Tournament Committee, and Board of Directors are final and are not subject to further challenge by participants.
17. INDEMNIFICATION AND WAIVER: If a participant does not secure the signature of the vessel’s owner and/or pro hoc owner for purposes of the Tournament, the participant(s) agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Tournament against all claims brought by the owner and or pro hoc owners of the vessel(s). Further, all participants, by participating in the Tournament, acknowledge the risks associated with participation in the Tournament, including, but not limited to, financial loss, personal injuries, and death. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all participants release and hold harmless the Tournament and its officers, directors, employees, and agents, from an against all claims of any kind arising out of or related to the Tournament. All participants further agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Tournament and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against all claims and damages arising out of the Tournament resulting from their own negligent, reckless, willful, or intentional conduct or omissions.
- Click here for preregistration form.
Tournament Sponsors:
