Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

At the awards event of the 2023 North Carolina Beach Buggy Association Red Drum Tournament, President Al Adam told the crowd, “I need to tell you that there is nowhere I would wish to be more than in the company of a room full of anglers. We have a strong community and you’re a great bunch. Thank you …”

Some 455 anglers made this year’s tournament the largest ever. Adam told the crowd at Koru Beach Klub in Avon, “I feel as though I have the greatest privilege of calling many of you friends both old and new. Thank you for that and thank each of you for being one of the 455 who have made this our biggest tournament ever.”

This tournament’s proceeds are earmarked for the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association’s four-year scholarships to graduating seniors from Manteo High, First Flight High, Cape Hatteras Secondary and Ocracoke School and one student from the membership. The $3,400 scholarship is renewable for three more years.

At this year’s closing ceremony, the association honored one of the beneficiaries. The Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men, a non-denominational group, which has raised 14 trailers out of flood waters and is now installing lifts.

Adam said scholarships and beneficiaries received over $30,000 last year.

To put on one of these tournaments takes a lot of volunteers and Adam told the crowd about some of them.

A Red Drum Tournament Committee sets out a six-page action plan. Heading that committee are Bill King and his co-chair Mike Regan and members vice president Jay Dimig, director Tom Brueckner, Adam and Janice Regan, the committee’s engine that keeps the committee on track.

Board member Carol Mowers, who handles merchandise and members, and treasurer Tom Heggie have been an integral part of the tournament for years. At this event, Heggie hands out checks and makes sure IRS forms are filled out.

On the beach measuring fish are judges. George Mood is the head judge, assistant head judge is Bobby Halstead and helping Halstead is Lee Barrett. People who sign up for one session get half off the entry fee; two sessions and the entire entry fee is paid. Plus, judges compete in their own category. Mike Burnett won that category and $1,000 for a drum fish 33.25 inches long.

While George is judging, his spouse Marge is helping with late registration and scoring.

More volunteers load angler packets, help at registration and the final event. Members of the “Cousins Club,” all Janice Regan’s cousins, come from Florida, New York and other places to help out.

The Virginia contingency led by Gary Houchins and Beth Houchins arranged and managed this awards event. Jason King, part of that contingency, handled this year’s 50-50 raffle. The winner left with $970.

Some 17 states were represented at the tournament. Chris Kennedy from the Channel Islands in the United Kingdom traveled a long way to participate in this tournament.

Adam gave a brief history of the tournament. Joe Moore and Liz Moore created and ran the tournament for several years in the 1980s. The Moores turned the tournament over the Frank and Fran’s Fishermen’s Friend. Frank Folb ran it for 10 years. He sold the business and the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association took over the tournament with support from current owners. Tournament headquarters is at Frank and Fran’s.

Adam listed long familiar and new sponsors, including Hatteras Jack’s and Ryan White. Adam figured that over the years the Whites have contributed $17,000.
At the start of the event, Dare County commissioner Danny Couch spoke to the crowd.

The tournament started at midnight, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 and ran through Saturday, Oct. 28 at noon. The awards banquet started at 2 p.m. with a feast of shrimp, fried catfish and barbecue.

Listed below are the tournament winners and sponsors.

2023 NCBBA Red Drum Tournament Results

Longest Red Drum Overall: (1) Louis Guzman. 47.5 inches. Award totals $2,000. (2) Chris Linton. 46 inches. Award totals $1,000.

Longest Red Drum Daily:

Day 1: (1) Luis Guzman. 45.5 inches. Award totals $500. (2) Scott Williams. 44.25 inches. Award totals $300.

Day 2: (1) Travis Kemp. 44.5 inches. Award totals $500. (2) Brandon Elinich. 34.25 inches. Award totals $300.

Day 3. (1) Travis Kemp. 43.5 inches. Award totals $500. (2) Scott Williams. 40.5 inches. Award totals 300.

Most Drum Registered: Kyle Berry. 11 drum. Award totals $900.

Joe Moore Team challenge: (1) Fool Proof. 27 fish with team members Gale Johnson, Kyle Perry, Scott Williams and Travis Kemp. (2) Black Pelican. 18 fish with team members Chris Kennedy, Jerry Brewer, Brandon Elinich, Charles Rityer, Mildred Ritter.

Senior Longest Drum: (1) Scott Allsbrook. 35.5 inches. Award totals $500. (2) Charles Durrer. 31.25 inches. Award totals $300.

Ladies Longest Drum: (1) Mildred Ritter. 33.5 inches. Award totals $500. (2) Mildred Ritter. 31.5 inches. The Ginger Knight Memorial award totals $300.

Youth Longest Drum: (1) HenryLee Bowman. 31 inches. Award totals $500. (2) HenryLee Bowman. 31 inches. Award totals $300

Judges Longest Drum: Mike Burnett. 33.25 inches. Award totals $1,000.

Sea Mullet: Adult: Alex Rabb. 16.75 inches. Award totals $500.

Bluefish: Adult: Roy Boos. 23 inches. Award totals $500. Youth: HenryLee Bowman. 20.5 inches. Award totals $175.

The North Carolina Beach Buggy Association extended thanks to all of the 22 tournament sponsors: Akios/One More Cast, Avon; Atlantic Coast Sign & Electric, Ruckersville, Va.; Avon Pier/Koru Village, Avon; Black Pelican Custom Rods, Reading, Pa.; Carolina Cast Pro/Tommy Farmer, Rocky Point; Century Rods/Advanced Fishing, Rodanthe; Deerfield Fabricating and Wilding LLC, High Point; Fishbites, St. Augustine, Fla.; Flying Fish Ink, Kill Devil Hills; Frank and Fran’s, Avon; Frisco Rod and Gun, Frisco; Holiday Ice, Suffolk, Va.; KOA Resort Campground, Rodanthe; Lighthouse Sports Bar, Buxton; Midgett Realty, Hatteras Island; Ninja Tackle, Chester, Va.; Outer Banks Visitors Bureau; Red Drum Tackle, Buxton; Shore Lure Distributing Co., Raleigh; SORD Fishing Products, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; Surf Hippie Fishing, Greensboro; and The Sinker Guy, Jacksonville, Fla.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE COASTLAND TIMES TODAY!