The Outer Banks of North Carolina is rich in culture and heritage, especially when it comes to its history of recreational and commercial fishing.
This tournament is to celebrate and recognize that culture and heritage.
The Battle Royal is a two-day kayak fishing tournament that opens for fishing all sound and ocean waters along the Outer Banks from Corolla to Ocracoke -- more than 100 miles of shoreline. Participants will have 33 hours nonstop to fish as long and as hard as they can and where they want on the Outer Banks.
The goal is to amass the highest combined weight catch of all the official tournament species, which are listed below. The angler is limited to the possession of these fish only, and there is only one weigh-in.
Like any battle, strategy is imperative. The anglers will have to use their best judgment to manage and maintain their catch for the 33-hour period. In the spirit of commercial fishing, anglers must properly maintain their catch to insure the best weight.
After the final weigh-in, all fish harvested by participants will be cleaned and prepared on site for an Outer Banks fish fry. The fish fry is a staple of family, group, community, and fundraising events on the Outer Banks.
We will open our fish fry to all participants and the public -- complete with an awards ceremony, door prizes, music, and a live radio broadcast to celebrate a true island tradition. There will be a charge of $10 per plate for this meal. All proceeds will benefit Hatteras Island Meals and the Hatteras Island Food Pantry.
Registration day will feature another island favorite -- North Carolina barbecue. The meal will be at tournament headquarters and free to all participants. This registration will also include demos, seminars, music, and a live radio broadcast. Registration day events are also open to the general public and the barbecue dinner will be available for sale to non-participants.
All participants will receive an official T-shirt, captain’s bag with goodies, barbecue meal ticket, and raffle ticket for an entry fee of $100. This tournament is open to 300 participants.
So, the rules are simple, the territory vast, strategy imperative, and only one can be deemed KING.
Are you ready for a “Battle Royal” ?
Official Tournament Species and Total Fish that can be brought to weigh-in
Species Size Total for Event Red Drum slot 18-27 inches TL 1
Speckled Trout min 14 inches TL 8
Flounder min 15 inches TL 8
Bluefish min 12 inches TL 15
Spanish Mackerel min 12 inches FL 15
False Albacore min 16 inches TL 1
* Participants cannot weigh more then the event allotment.
* Event allotments represent the current NCDMF creel limits. To be in possession of
more than the event allotment would be breaking the law.Excludes Albacore
* Creel limits, species and event allotments are subject to change.
Categories and Prizes
Best Combined Weight of All Tournament Species.
1st Place = Wilderness Systems Ride 135 Kayak + $2,500 - Total Prize Value = $3550.00 Top Youth (15&under) = $250 Savings Bond
Largest Fish Overall (largest legal fish of any kind)
1st Place = Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 Kayak + $350 - Total Prize Value = $1500.00
Youth (15&under) = $250 Savings Bond
Inshore Slam (red drum, speckled trout, flounder)
1st Place = $450
Ocean Slam (Spanish mackerel, bluefish, albacore)
1st Place = $450
Largest of Tournament Species
Red Drum
1st Place = $200
Speckled Trout
1st Place = $200
Flounder
1st Place = $200
Bluefish
1st Place = $200
Spanish Mackerel
1st Place = $200
False Albacore
1st Place = $200
Tournament Schedule of Events.
Thursday-May 20th - 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. - Participant Check -In, Demos, Seminars, Barbecue Dinner, Live Music,
Live Radio Broadcast, and more. Open to the public.
Friday- May 21st – 6 a.m.- Tournament Fishing Begins
Saturday- May 22nd -3 p.m. - Weigh-in Begin
*All Participants must be at Kitty Hawk Kites and in line for weigh-in prior to 4 p.m.
6 p.m. - Awards Ceremony, Door Prizes, Fish Fry, and more. Open to the Public.
Rules
* Participants must check in at the official tournament headquarters prior to beginning tournament fishing.
* Participants must fish within the designated areas and during the allotted time frame.
* This is a single person event. Participants may not receive help in anyway, except in
situations of distress.
* All weigh-in ties will be settled by first weighed.
* No mutilated fish will be weighed.
* Any species of legal fish, except for sharks, may be brought into weigh-in for the largest
overall fish category. You will be provided a current copy of the NCDMF rules and
regulations at check-in.
* No mother shipping kayaks.
* This is a kayak event. Sit-in or Sit-on-top only
* No motorized kayaks are allowed. Peddle propelled kayaks are acceptable.
* Participants cannot win more than one category. We want to award as many participants as possible
* Tournament officials reserve the right to examine any fish.
* All fish must be caught while sitting or standing in kayak. No wading.
* Any participant that is caught in violation of any NCDMF regulation will be disqualified.
* All fish must be taken using rod and reel only. No snagging, netting, or spearing.
* Parents are responsible at all times during the tournament for all participants under the age of 18.
* All winning participants are subject to a polygraph test.
* Should any placing category be left open at the end of weigh-in, the prize money will be
divided. One half going to local charity and one half being up for grabs as a door prize.
