September 5 – 6, 2025, at Inlet Watch Marina
Welcome to the Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge, a fun and competitive event that is a great way for area anglers to try their luck at red drum tournament fishing.
This year’s event will feature an eight-place leaderboard based on a boat’s heaviest single red drum. We believe more anglers can be competitive in a search for one instead of two upper-slot red drum, and our goal is to get the most teams possible participating in and enjoying this event.
Alongside the main leaderboard, TWT’s for Single Big Red Drum, Two Red Drum, High Roller Single Big Red Drum, and “Trash Fish” (heaviest oyster toad or lizardfish) are offered to give participants chances to further fatten their winnings.
This event follows a more casual approach, offering anglers (1) the option to use live, dead, or artificial bait; (2) no live weigh-in required; and (3) the choice to fish as many anglers on their boat as they prefer. Our hope is that these relaxed rules encourage more people to join in on the fun and excitement of red drum tournament fishing.
Fisherman’s Post strives to put on events and not just competitions, and to that end, we’ll be hosting a Captains’ Party on Friday sponsored by Adams Beverages and Anheuser Busch. Then to add to the excitement of big payouts at Saturday’s awards, we will be offering a complimentary dinner featuring Papa Murphy’s pizzas, as well as our popular hot dogs off the grill along with sides and watermelon, and yes, there will be more from Adams Beverages and Anheuser Busch.
We’re thrilled to be returning to Inlet Watch Yacht Club. Inlet Watch features the iconic background of Carolina Beach Inlet, and the location is central to some of North Carolina’s finest red drum fishing.
We’re still encouraging teams to bring the whole family out to fish by offering $50 bounties for the heaviest single red drum weighed in by crews with junior, lady, and/or senior anglers onboard, and we continue our commitment to release as many fish alive as possible, so the bonus payouts remain a constant—get an extra $20 payout for each red drum weighed in alive and in releasable condition that makes the leaderboard.
More special prizes include a SeaTow prize ($100 gift certificate to Island Tackle), the Mudpuppy Salt Stix Raffle (every boat that weighs in a fish is automatically entered for a chance at a $300+ custom rod), the Pigford Homes Big Cash Drawing (a potential $250 prize just for weighing in), and the Intracoastal Angler Special Weight prizes ($50 gift cards, plus an additional $25 if the fish is weighed in alive).
Finally, we’ll be donating proceeds from the event to the Wilmington Elks to aid their mission of helping children, enhancing communities, and honoring the service and sacrifices of our military veterans.
If you’ve never fished a tournament before, Fisherman’s Post events are a great way to join in on the experience. Come eat and drink with us on Friday, bring in a heavy fish (or two) on Saturday, and then eat and drink with us again after weigh-in to celebrate both a good day of fishing and a great season of camaraderie and competition.
The sponsors who support these events make everything we do possible, so please take time to support and thank the businesses who help make the Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge possible.
Gary Hurley / Tournament Director
(910) 452-6378
trail@fishermanspost.com