Red, White and Blue fishing tournament set for Hatteras Island

Published 10:47 am Tuesday, October 20, 2020

A Red, White and Blue Freedom Tournament is set for Oct. 22 through 24 on Hatteras Island.

This surf fishing tournament is sponsored by Frank & Fran’s Bait and Tackle in Avon. Registration closes Oct. 21. Entry fee is $50. Go to hatteras-island.com or to Frank & Fran’s at 40210 NC 12 in Avon to register.

Organizers have made several moves to make this a coronavirus-safe tournament. This event has no mass gatherings such as a registration/rules meeting or awards banquet. No judges will be on the beach. Instead, participants will take pictures of caught fish alongside a tournament-provided measuring tape and fill out a scorecard.

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Participants start fishing at 12:01 a.m. (midnight) on Thursday, Oct. 22 and continue until noon on Saturday, Oct. 24. Tournament winners will be announced by 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24.

Fishing is permitted on all oceanside beaches between Ramp 23 (south of Salvo) to Ramp 55 (below Hatteras village), excluding Ramp 44 at Cape Point. “Fishing must be done from the beach with feet in the sand using a rod and reel. No kayak, pier or boat fishing allowed,” state the rules. Participants are limited to two rods.

The tournament features competition for the longest red drum, whiting (sea mullet) and bluefish, thus red, white and blue. Anglers will pick up at Frank & Fran’s a one page rule sheet, the tournament measuring tape and a scorecard for recording the fish species, length of fish and time of catch. The scorecard entry must be witnessed. Scorecards are to be turned in by 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Frank & Fran’s to be qualified. Detailed instructions for taking the required photographs are included in the rules.

As of Friday, Oct. 16, the payout for catching the longest red drum is about $1,500, longest bluefish $900 and the longest whiting $600.

About the event, Stephanie Bayne at Frank & Fran’s said “we’re excited to be hosting the tournament.”

READ MORE IN OUR ON THE WATER SECTION HERE.