The 43rd Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is right around the corner. This year’s tournament will be…
The 43rd Annual U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament is right around the corner. This year’s tournament will be September 30th – October 2nd at Brunswick County’s Dutchman Creek Park. The U.S. Open is one of the largest king mackerel tournaments on the East Coast of the United States and part of the SKA (Southern Kingfish Association) Tournament Trail.
In 2020, the tournament attracted 521 boats and paid out over $359,775. The tournament has an all-cash guaranteed prize structure that is not based on participation numbers. It pays 55 places in its primary prize category, including $25,000 for the largest king mackerel. There are also thirty-six sponsors, such as the Grand Patron sponsors (BEMC, Curtis Stokes & Associates, Dutchman Creek Bait & Tackle, Garmin, Hamilton Realty Group EXP Realty, and Mosquito Joe of Southeastern NC) with 27 more who add supplementary cash prizes to the event.
The tournament organizers, the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce, recently announced its location change from the Southport Marina. The Southport Marina is open (fuel and transient docks have opened), but dock reconstruction continues from damage sustained during Hurricane Isaias in 2020. The marina may be fully restored soon, but it will not be ready to host this year’s tournament.
The tournament hopes to return to Southport Marina in 2022.
PointClickFish.com will stream weigh-ins at the scales live from the tournament on Friday from 2:00 pm-5:00 pm and on Saturday from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. You can pick up the link to the live feed at www.usopenkmtlive.com.
The Awards Ceremony will be held virtually at www.usopenkmtlive.com and in person at Dutchman Creek Park beginning at 7:30 pm on October 2.
Tournament details are available on the event’s website, www.usopenkmt.com, or for a brochure contact the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce by calling (910) 457-5787 or (800) 457-6964, or by emailing events@southport-oakisland.com.
