Registration is open for NCBBA’s 2021 Red Drum Tournament on October 20-23
Registration is currently open for the 12th Annual North Carolina Beach Buggy Association’s (NCBBA) Red Drum Tournament, which is scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, October 20-23. The tournament features more than $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs.
The tournament offers miles of naturally isolated fishing grounds along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, allowing anglers to maintain social distance while enjoying the exceptional fall fishing conditions of the Outer Banks. Anglers fish from ORV Ramp 23 to Ramp 38, and possiblly Ramps 43 and 44 if judge availability permits. Anglers may fish where they please within the tournament boundaries, as there are no station assignments during the 60 hours of wide-open fishing. This year’s banquet and awards ceremony may be subject to restrictions by state or local authorities in regard to group gatherings, depending on the state of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Interested anglers can sign up as individuals or teams online at https://www.ncbba.org/2021-red-drum-tournament.html. The $100 tournament entry fee includes a tournament T-shirt, a hat and other goodies. The tournament is open to approximately 400 anglers, both individual and teams of 3-6, and participants are encouraged to sign up early to ensure their space is available.
Though the tournament was canceled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, in 2019 more than $ 10,000 in cash and prizes was distributed to winners in thirteen of the tournament’s fourteen categories. After 60 hours of fishing, the 361 anglers – a tournament record – caught 60 red drum, all of which were released to swim again.
All proceeds from the annual event go to help out local organizations and programs in the Hatteras and Ocracoke island communities. In 2019, NCBBA donated $10,000 of the proceeds from the tournament to the Outer Banks Community Foundation, which assisted in 2019’s Hurricane Dorian relief.
A list of this year’s sponsors can be found online at https://www.ncbba.org/programs/red-drum-tournament/ncbba-sponsors-boosters.html, and an outline of the 2021 official rules can be reviewed at https://www.ncbba.org/programs/red-drum-tournament/rdt-rules.html.
The Co-Chairman, Head Judge, or NCBBA Board of Directors may cancel the complete tournament or any portion of the tournament if circumstances such as bad weather arise. If the complete tournament is cancelled before it begins, a total refund of entry fee will be made.
As always, volunteers are needed and are much appreciated during the event. Judges fish for free if working two six-hour sessions, or for half price if working one six-hour session. For questions regarding tournament judging please contact Chris Worthington at chris.worthington@ncbba.org or 910-676-2565.