Inshore Trail Welcome

2025 INSHORE TRAIL WELCOME

Welcome to another year of the Fisherman’s Post Inshore Trail. We’ve kept the payout and qualifying structure from last year, and we predict that this year will continue to be another competitive (and fun) Inshore Trail in North Carolina.

Again this year, boats will need to enter the Inshore Trail via an entry fee. To be clear, you don’t have to pay the Inshore Trail entry fee to fish any of the five Inshore Challenge tournaments. Any boat—whether in the Trail or not—can still fish any of the individual events, as the five Inshore Challenge events continue to be great stand-alone events, but you will need to enter the Inshore Trail for the opportunity at an additional $18,000 in prize money (based on 50 boats in the Trail). That’s $18,000 in addition to all the prize money boats can win from the leaderboards of the five Inshore Challenge events.

The Inshore Trail will continue this year to focus exclusively on the Red Drum Division, as we still mourn the flounder closures and eagerly await the fishery’s reinstatement.

And just as it’s been every year, the Inshore Trail is paying out 90% of entry fees back to the competitors.

The Inshore Trail offers a separate Championship event (free entry fee to boats that qualify), with only the top 10 teams invited to participate. In addition, the top Inshore Trail boat in each individual Inshore Challenge event automatically qualifies for the Championship (a maximum of 15 boats can qualify for Championship). This Championship event has predicted payouts of 1st-$5000, 2nd-$2500, and 3rd-$1500 (based on 50 boats in the Inshore Trail), as well as a guaranteed $500 Single Big Fish payout.

Qualifying for the Championship will be based on the total weight of a team’s three heaviest red drum over the five-event season. There’s no minimum number of events you’re required to enter, as Inshore Trail boats can fish as many or as few of the Inshore Challenge events as they wish, but those boats that fish more of the five qualifying events will have a better chance of weighing in more fish to cull their heaviest three-fish aggregate.

There is no deadline for signing up for the Inshore Trail, but none of a boat’s fish in an event can count towards Inshore Trail points unless they have paid the Inshore Trail entry fee prior to that qualifying event. Also remember that the Inshore Trail is limited to the first 50 boats that sign up, so make sure you get entered for this exciting year of the Fisherman’s Post Inshore Trail.

There are more details on the Inshore Trail online. You’re also welcome to call Fisherman’s Post at (910) 452-6378, or send an email to trail@fishermanspost.com.

Gary Hurley / Inshore Trail Director
(910) 452-6378
trail@fishermanspost.com