Southport Magazine

King Mackerel, Peer Fishing & MAD

Story by Lisa Stites

Since 1979, the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament has brought fishermen near and far together to compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. This year’s Tournament is October 3-5, with the Southport Marina serving as headquarters. Boats can head out from other areas, but the fish weigh-ins happen in Southport. 

“We have one of the largest weigh-in crowds of any tournament,” said Karen Sphar, Executive Vice President of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. 

“Watching the fish offloading from the docks is an in-water boat show,” Sphar said. “Standing along the railing at the Southport Marina and watching the different boats…sizes are from a small skiff to larger 4-engine center console boats, all with hopes of weighing in a winning fish is exciting. Peak time to watch weigh-ins starts two hours before scales close — 3-5 p.m. on Friday and 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.”

Weigh-in is highly anticipated, especially as the Tournament draws to a close and there are cash prizes at stake. Crowds gather to watch the fish being unloaded and weighed, and the fishermen and spectators keep a close watch on the leaderboard. 

There will also be live entertainment with Big House Bands on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 5, Island Fever will play from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The Island Eatery food truck will be onsite Saturday as well. 

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 more than 40 event sponsors, such as Primary Sponsor Southport Marina, Grand Patron sponsors, BEMC, Wades Jewelers, Wilmington’s Big Talker and Garmin, and 36 more sponsors who add supplementary cash prizes to the event.  

Registration is open until the end of the day Oct. 2, and costs $340 per boat. Visit https://www.usopenkmt.com/registration/ for a registration form or for more information. 

Another fishing tournament in Southport is aimed at supporting our active military personnel and their families. September 14 is Military Appreciation Day (MAD) in Southport. During this annual event, military personnel will enjoy a day of fishing out on the water provided by volunteers with boats. While they fish, their families will be entertained at the Southport Marina. After the boats return, there will be a big, family-style picnic for all. 

MAD events have been organized at various locations in the Carolinas and Virginia since the first event in 2006 at Fort Macon. Since then, the non-profit organization has grown, with chapters in Southport, Morehead City, Tidewater, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. For more information about the event or to find out how to volunteer, visit http://militaryappreciationday.org/wp/

Another fishing event is aimed at honoring wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their families. The Sixth Annual Peer Fishing Festival is Oct. 4 at the Ocean Crest Fishing Pier on Oak Island (1409 E. Beach Drive). The festival had to be cancelled last year due to Hurricane Florence, but organizers with Operation North State expect to treat 350 participants and their families to a fun day of pier fishing next month. Rods, reels, tackle and bait are provided, as well as lunch, beverages, t-shirts and prizes. 

For more information or to volunteer to help, send an email to mailbox@operationnorthstate.com or call 336-764-5967. This event is also sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas and the Town of Oak Island, Parks and Recreation Department.

“We have one of the largest weigh-in crowds of any tournament,” said Karen Sphar, Executive Vice President of the Southport-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce. 

“Watching the fish offloading from the docks is an in-water boat show,” Sphar said. “Standing along the railing at the Southport Marina and watching the different boats…sizes are from a small skiff to larger 4-engine center console boats, all with hopes of weighing in a winning fish is exciting. Peak time to watch weigh-ins starts two hours before scales close — 3-5 p.m. on Friday and 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.”

Weigh-in is highly anticipated, especially as the Tournament draws to a close and there are cash prizes at stake. Crowds gather to watch the fish being unloaded and weighed, and the fishermen and spectators keep a close watch on the leaderboard. 

There will also be live entertainment with Big House Bands on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 4-7 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 5, Island Fever will play from 4:30-7:30 p.m. The Island Eatery food truck will be onsite Saturday as well. 

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 more than 40 event sponsors, such as Primary Sponsor Southport Marina, Grand Patron sponsors, BEMC, Wades Jewelers, Wilmington’s Big Talker and Garmin, and 36 more sponsors who add supplementary cash prizes to the event.  

Registration is open until the end of the day Oct. 2, and costs $340 per boat. Visit https://www.usopenkmt.com/registration/ for a registration form or for more information. 

Another fishing tournament in Southport is aimed at supporting our active military personnel and their families. September 14 is Military Appreciation Day (MAD) in Southport. During this annual event, military personnel will enjoy a day of fishing out on the water provided by volunteers with boats. While they fish, their families will be entertained at the Southport Marina. After the boats return, there will be a big, family-style picnic for all. 

MAD events have been organized at various locations in the Carolinas and Virginia since the first event in 2006 at Fort Macon. Since then, the non-profit organization has grown, with chapters in Southport, Morehead City, Tidewater, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina. For more information about the event or to find out how to volunteer, visit http://militaryappreciationday.org/wp/

Another fishing event is aimed at honoring wounded warriors, disabled veterans and their families. The Sixth Annual Peer Fishing Festival is Oct. 4 at the Ocean Crest Fishing Pier on Oak Island (1409 E. Beach Drive). The festival had to be cancelled last year due to Hurricane Florence, but organizers with Operation North State expect to treat 350 participants and their families to a fun day of pier fishing next month. Rods, reels, tackle and bait are provided, as well as lunch, beverages, t-shirts and prizes. 

For more information or to volunteer to help, send an email to mailbox@operationnorthstate.com or call 336-764-5967. This event is also sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas and the Town of Oak Island, Parks and Recreation Department.