U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament
Dutchman Creek Park
| Dates | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 10/1/2026 | ||
| 10/2/2026 | ||
| 10/3/2026 |
Known as the “Granddaddy of King Mackerel Tournaments,” the U.S. Open King Mackerel Tournament returns to the Southport-Oak Island area October 1–3, 2026. What began nearly five decades ago as a way to showcase the area’s outstanding fall fishing has grown into one of the East Coast’s premier king mackerel tournaments, attracting more than 400 boats each year.
Anglers compete for an extensive guaranteed prize structure, including a $25,000 grand prize, with awards extending well beyond the top finishers. Junior and senior angler categories and additional prizes add to the competition throughout the weekend.
You don’t have to be fishing to enjoy the action. Spectators can head to Dutchman Creek Park to watch the weigh-ins as boats return with their catches. The tournament also features food vendors, live coverage of the weigh-ins and Saturday evening entertainment followed by the awards ceremony.
Thursday, October 1 is primarily registration and packet pickup, followed by the Captain’s Meeting at 7 p.m. Fishing and weigh-in activity takes center stage Friday and Saturday, culminating with Saturday evening’s awards ceremony.
