Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge

September 11 – 12, 2026, at Inlet Watch Marina

REGISTER ONLINE:

DOWNLOAD PRINT ENTRY FORM:

2026 Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge Entry Form

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE RULES:

2026 Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge Rules

QUICK FACTS

Entry Fee: $190 per boat by August 31; $220 per boat after August 31
Two Divisions: Red Drum & Flounder (the one entry fee gets your boat in both divisions)
Split Leaderboard: Winners based on boat’s single heaviest red drum and/or single heaviest flounder
TWTs: Single Big Red Drum, High Roller Single Big Red Drum, Single Big Flounder, High Roller Single Big Flounder, and “Trash Fish” (oyster toad or lizardfish)

Over $15,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded (based on 100 entries)

Use live, dead, or artificial bait!
One Day of Fishing
No Checkouts & No Boundaries
Live Weigh-In encouraged but not required (no penalties)
Fish with as many anglers on your boat as you like (no limitations)

Complimentary Captains’ Party (Friday)
Complimentary Awards Party (Saturday)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Registration: Friday, Sept. 11, from 4:00-8:00 pm at Inlet Watch Marina
Captains’ Meeting: Friday, Sept. 11, at 6:00 pm at Inlet Watch Marina. Captains’ Meeting will be broadcast via Facebook Live.
Captains’ Party: Friday, Sept. 11, from 5:00-7:00 pm at Inlet Watch Marina
Fishing Day: Saturday, Sept. 12, from 6:30 am-4:00 pm (no lines in the water before 6:30 am)
Weigh-In: Saturday, Sept. 12, from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm at Inlet Watch Marina (scales open at 2:00 pm; must be in line by 4:00 pm). Weigh-In will be broadcast via Facebook Live.
Awards Party: Saturday, Sept. 12, from 4:00-5:30 pm at Inlet Watch Marina
Awards Ceremony: Saturday, Sept. 12, at 5:30 pm. Awards Ceremony will be broadcast via Facebook Live.

PRIMARY PAYOUT *

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
Single Red Drum	$1500	$1200	$900	$600	$350	$200
Single Flounder	$1500	$1200	$900	$600	$350	$200

* All Primary Payouts based on 100 paid entries.

SECONDARY PAYOUTS **

JUNIOR ANGLER: $50
LADY ANGLER: $50
SENIOR ANGLER: $50

** Secondary Payouts guaranteed.

TOURNAMENTS WITHIN A TOURNAMENT

Single Big Red Drum TWT ($50): 1st–$1,275; 2nd–$765; 3rd–$510
(based on 60 TWT entries)
High Roller Single Big Red Drum TWT ($150): 1st–$2,550; 2nd–$1,530; 3rd–$1,020
(based on 40 TWT entries)
Single Big Flounder TWT ($50): 1st–$1,275; 2nd–$765; 3rd–$510
(based on 60 TWT entries)
High Roller Single Big Flounder TWT ($150): 1st–$2,550; 2nd–$1,530; 3rd–$1,020
(based on 40 TWT entries)
“Trash Fish” (oyster toad or lizardfish) TWT ($50): 1st–$1,275; 2nd–$765; 3rd–$510
(based on 60 TWT entries)

* TWT’s are voluntary. They are offered as another way to win money.

SPECIAL PRIZES

Live Weigh-In Bonus: Weigh in your red drum alive and get an extra $20 payout. Red drum must be on the primary leaderboard. (no flounder live release payouts–all flounder weighed in will be handed back to the angler)

Intracoastal Angler Special Weight Prizes:
1.5 lb. Flounder – $50 gift card
2.5 lb. Flounder – $50 gift card

3.0 lb. Red Drum – $50 gift card (extra $25 if alive)
4.0 lb. Red Drum – $50 gift card (extra $25 if alive)

Don’s Rod & Reel Prize: Every boat that weighs in a fish be automatically entered into the Carolina Beach Inshore Challenge raffle where we are giving away (among many other prizes) a Don’s Rod & Reel custom rod (retail value $300). The raffles will be drawn on Saturday after Awards, and you must be present to win.

SeaTow Prize: The SeaTow prize (a $100 gift certificate to Island Tackle & Hardware) is based on the single heaviest fish (red drum or flounder) and goes to the boat whose owner has a current SeaTow membership.

BENEFICIARY

The Wilmington Elks invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet need, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

CONTACT INFO

Please direct all questions to Fisherman’s Post at (910) 452-6378, or you can send an email to trail@fishermanspost.com.