15th Annual NCBBA Red Drum Tournament Approaches with Rapid Registrations

The 15th annual North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) Red Drum Tournament is set to take place from October 23 to October 26, 2024. According to tournament organizers, the 500 available slots are being filled quickly, reflecting the growing popularity of this event among fishing enthusiasts.

A representative from the NCBBA stated, “Registration is ahead of previous years to date, and if you want to enjoy the competition and 60 hours of wide open fishing, it would be wise to register now.” Participants must register by Monday, September 23, to receive a tournament T-shirt. “This is the latest that we can order T-shirts and have them in time for the tournament,” added the NCBBA. “We may have some extra shirts for sale, but no guarantee of available sizes.”

The 2023 tournament saw a record participation of 455 anglers, who caught and released 120 red drum, highlighting the popularity of the species among recreational fishers. This year’s tournament will once again offer miles of naturally isolated fishing grounds along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with fishing permitted between ORV Ramp 23 and Ramp 45, as conditions allow.

“Because of a King Tide and beach erosion, we had to make some changes in the ramps that we were using for the 2023 tournament,” the NCBBA revealed. “The addition of ramp 45 was well received and was very popular. We will keep that ramp as part of this year‘s tournament [and] we hope to have all the previous ramps available to us as well.”

The tournament allows anglers to fish at their convenience during the 60 hours, provided the area is accessible by vehicle from midnight on Wednesday to noon on Saturday. With the competition also requiring judges, the NCBBA is welcoming applications. Judges who volunteer for two six-hour sessions are eligible for a fee refund and a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize in the “judges only” category. In 2023, additional prizes totaled over $13,000.

For further details on judging, individuals can reach out to Al Adam. Those interested in participating in the tournament are encouraged to register promptly to secure their spot.