Notes on NCKFA Tournaments

I have been asked several times in the last three weeks how NCKFA tournaments work so I thought I would take a moment to write up how they work and hopefully that will get more and more NCKFA members out at these fun events.
I know that the first time or two you sign up for a kayak tournament there are a lot of thoughts that go through your head and heart.
I think the best way to start is to describe the two types of fishing tournaments the NCKFA hosts. The first one is what I call the “Sprint” type. These types are the Midnight Madness, Smallmouth Slam or the Specs and Spots. What occurs is that the anglers show up the day of the event, normally about a hour or hour and half before the event, and at that point they start unloading their kayaks and getting their gear together, meeting other anglers, rigging rods/lures , etc. At some point they (the anglers) come over to the NCKFA tent and sign the waiver, pay the entry fee and pick up the ID and rent a ruler if they need one for that particular event. Then NCKFA events have rulers for rent if you the angler do not have a tourney approved ruler for 20.00 which we return to you when the ruler is returned at the end of the event. With about 15 minutes before the start of the event the tournament official will call everyone together (Captains Meeting) and go over the rules and answer any questions. Then with about 5 minutes to go everyone gets their kayaks ready to launch…some people avoid the rush and let everyone get out of the way (me).
A whistle will then be blown and it’s on!
Anglers then fish until they are either tired and come in early or come in with about 20 mintues before the event is over (if you are late to the scoring table you are DQ’d).
You will then fill out a score sheet with the largest fish you catch. Everyone then starts loading up and lying to each other about what happened to them on the water (lol). If you in the top 3 you then get called up to submit your photo for review. Once that is checked out you get your loot!
The other type of event is what I call a “overnight event”. This is the Battle in the ‘Boro or the Oak Island Classic.
These are normally bigger events in the sense that they involve a Captains Meeting the night before and there is a light dinner served, selling of raffle tickets, lots of stories about the pre-fishing and general all around story telling, going over of rules, handing out of ID packet and free raffle ticket. Then there is a small raffle and everyone goes to tell more stories and try to get some sleep in anticipation of the fishing the next day.
Day of Tourney: everyone returns to the place the Captains meeting was held at and photos are looked at. Then one by one the winners are called and between them a raffle takes place.
Both of these types are fairly simple and I invite all those who have never attended a on the water event to come out and give it a try.
Final note: I have found that most kayak anglers are kayak anglers because we like to be one on one with the water, wild and fish. We are a independent group of anglers who like to rely on ourselves and the solitude that it brings. However, once in a while it is nice to get together with like minded anglers for fun and fellowship and these events are meant to do that. Of course everyone wants to do well and catch a lot of big fish but even if that does not happen the relationships that begin at these events do not end when the event is over. I personally have met so many good men and women who have become near and dear to my heart, I have spent days with them on trips, had them in my home and even vacationed with them. I think that you to will find new friends who will become old friends if you will come out and be part of at least one of the NCKFA, or other kayak fishing events.