WB Inshore Challenge Welcome

July 18 – 19, 2025, at Tex’s Tackle and Bridge Tender Marina

WELCOME

Welcome to the Wrightsville Beach Inshore Challenge, the longest standing Fisherman’s Post tournament tradition (in its 22nd year).

This year we are grateful once again to be hosting Friday’s Registration, Captains’ Meeting, and Captains’ Party, as well as Saturday’s Awards Dinner and Awards Ceremony, at the iconic Tex’s Tackle. We will be offering a variety of drinks on both days, and Saturday’s Awards Dinner will feature Papa Murphy’s Pizza (and hot dogs and sides).

The weigh-in location unexpectedly changed last year to Bridge Tender Marina. The Bridge Tender Marina crew came through big time to provide boat space on their fuel dock facing the ICW, and additional space for our scales under their gazebo on the end, and we will be setting up there again this year to easily and smoothly accommodate all boats weighing in.

This event continues to present a more casual approach, offering anglers (1) the option to use live, dead, or artificial bait; (2) no live weigh-in required; and (3) the choice to fish as many anglers on their boat as they prefer. Our hope is that these relaxed rules encourage more people to join in on the fun and excitement of red drum tournament fishing.

Like previous years, the WBIC will feature an eight-place leaderboard focusing on one red drum, as we believe more anglers can be competitive in a search for one instead of two upper-slot red drum.

For those anglers looking to enhance their winnings beyond the substantial cash on our main leaderboard, there are also Single Big Red Drum, Two Red Drum, and High Roller Single Big Red Drum TWTs offered, as well as a “Trash Fish” TWT. The “Trash Fish” TWT payouts will go to the boats that weigh in the heaviest weight of either one oyster toad or one lizardfish.

We’re also continuing to encourage teams to bring the whole family out to fish by offering $50 bounties for the heaviest single red drum weighed in by crews with junior, lady, and/or senior anglers onboard.

More special prizes include a Tex’s Tackle gift certificate for the heaviest single red drum weighed in by a SeaTow member, the Mudpuppy Salt Stix Raffle (every boat that weighs in a fish is automatically entered for a chance at a $300+ custom rod), the Pigford Homes Big Cash Drawing (a potential $250 cash prize just for weighing in), and the Intracoastal Angler Special Weight prizes ($50 gift cards, plus additional $25 gift cards if the fish is weighed in alive).

Fisherman’s Post continues its commitment to releasing as many fish alive as possible, so the bonus payouts remain a constant—get an extra $20 payout for each red drum weighed in alive and in releasable condition that makes the leaderboard.

The volunteers from Wilmington Elks will be helping us release fish, and they’ll be receiving proceeds from the event to aid their mission of helping children, enhancing communities, and honoring the service and sacrifices of our military veterans.

If you’ve never fished a tournament before, this event is a great way to join in on the experience. We hope to see you—old and new friends alike—for a weekend of fun, fishing, food and drink, competition, and camaraderie.

Gary Hurley / Tournament Director
(910) 452-6378
trail@fishermanspost.com