Spanish Mackerel Open Rules

June 13 – 15, 2025, at Intracoastal Angler and Motts Channel Seafood

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2025 SPANISH MACKEREL OPEN RULES

Click here for a printable version of the rules: 2024 Spanish Mackerel Open Rules

1. The primary payouts go to the boats with the heaviest aggregate weight of up to three spanish mackerel.
2. This is a Captain’s Choice tournament. You must declare whether your day to fish will be Saturday, June 14, or Sunday, June 15, by 6:30 am on Saturday, June 14. You may declare your fish day when you register, or you can call (910) 452-6378 by 6:30 am on Saturday, June 14. If you do not declare your fish day, then Saturday, June 14, will automatically be your fish day.
3. The tournament’s entry fee allows you to have as many anglers on your boat as you’d like (within safety limitations).
4. There are no checkouts and no boundaries.
5. Fish must be caught during tournament hours. No lines in the water until after 6:30 a.m.
6. All boats must be within 50 yards of the Motts Channel Seafood weigh-in dock by 2:00 p.m.
7. Scales will open at 12:00 noon at the Motts Channel Seafood dock. No weigh-ins allowed before 12:00 noon.
8. All fish weighed in will become the property of the Spanish Mackerel Open.
9. Any angler, if directed by the tournament committee, must submit to a polygraph test within 72 hours after the last fish has been weighed. This decision is at the sole discretion of the tournament committee. Should the test be failed or if the angler fails to participate in the polygraph test within the 72 hours, the tournament committee reserves the right to forfeit all winnings awarded to the winner in question.
10. All protests made to the tournament committee shall be accompanied by a $350 cash deposit. All protests shall be made no later than one hour after the last fish has been weighed. The $350 cash deposit will be returned if the tournament committee upholds the protest. The $350 cash deposit will become the property of the Spanish Mackerel Open if the protest is not upheld. All decisions of the tournament committee shall be final.
11. The four TWTs (tournament within a tournament)—Three-Spanish TWT, Single Big Spanish TWT, Single Big Bluefish TWT, and Single Big Lizardfish TWT—all have a payout ratio of 1^st—50%, 2^nd—30%, and 3^rd—20%. Participants in the tournament are not required to enter the TWTs. They are offered as another way to win money.
12. Prizes are awarded solely based on fish weight. In the event of identical weights, the first fish weighed shall be declared the winner.
13. All fish must be caught on hook and line and from the registered boat.
14. All fish must adhere to North Carolina state size regulations.
15. All fish must be weighed in from the boat in which they were caught. All fish must remain aboard the boat on which they were caught until a crewmember takes the fish to the scales. No overland transport to the weigh station will be allowed, and a crewmember must accompany the fish to the scales.
16. By signing the entry form, the captain and crew, etc. consent that the Spanish Mackerel Open may use without payment or restrictions any photographs in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial, or promotional material.
17. Two or more boats seen congregating may be disqualified from the tournament.
18. All fish will be received, inspected, measured, and weighed by the terms of the weigh master.
19. No cut or mutilated fish will be accepted, and fish must be in edible condition.
20. A boat may only win one primary prize, but a boat may win more than one secondary prize. However, a boat cannot win more than one of the same secondary prize (ex. a boat can’t place twice in the Teen Angler Division).
21. The Junior Angler must be 8-years-old or younger (as of June 13, 2025). This prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel.
22. The Pre-Teen Angler must be ages 9-12 (as of June 13, 2025). This prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel.
23. The Teen Angler must be ages 13-17 (as of June 13, 2025). This prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel.
24. The Lady Angler is any female 18-years-old or older (as of June 13, 2025). This prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel.
25. The Senior Angler is any male 60-years-old or older (as of June 13, 2025). This prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel.
26. The SeaTow prize is based on the single heaviest spanish mackerel and goes to the boat whose owner has a current SeaTow membership..
27. By signing the entry form, the participant consents that the Spanish Mackerel Open may use without payment or restrictions any photographs in which he or she appears for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial, or promotional material.
28. The tournament committee has the right to refuse entry from any applicant. If an entry is refused, then 100% of the applicant’s entry fee will be returned.
29. All captains and crewmembers are responsible for reading and following all rules and regulations set forth by the Spanish Mackerel Open.

Questions? Contact Fisherman’s Post at (910) 452-6378 or spanish@fishermanspost.com.