NCBBA Red Drum Tournament 2026: Angler's Guide

The North Carolina Beach Buggy Association's Red Drum Tournament returns to Hatteras Island October 21–24, 2026. Now in its 17th year, the tournament gives surf anglers a 60-hour window to pursue red drum along designated National Seashore beaches while competing for individual and team recognition.

Fishing begins at 6:01 p.m. Wednesday, October 21, and ends at 6 a.m. Saturday, October 24. Rather than assigning every competitor to a fixed station, the format allows registered anglers to choose when and where to fish within the accessible tournament area. That freedom makes beach knowledge, changing conditions, and a flexible plan important parts of the challenge.

Tournament Area and Format

The designated surf stretches from Ramp 23 southward, with the organizer noting that the available area may extend as far as the south beach at Ramp 45. Actual access depends on National Park Service conditions and any active resource closures. Competitors must remain in the authorized fishing area and fish from the ocean side; sound-side fishing does not count.

This is primarily an individual tournament, but it includes a team component. Teams may have three to six anglers, and each participant can still compete for individual honors. The organizer lists more than $14,000 in prizes across the tournament, led by awards for the longest red drum, with additional categories and drawings.

The event emphasizes catch and release for eligible tournament fish. Red drum and most scored species are released after measurement under the published rules. Bluefish and mullet are identified exceptions. Anglers should read the complete rules before the first cast, because measurement, photography, witness, and score-reporting requirements determine whether a catch qualifies.

Registration and Wednesday Check-In

Entry is limited to the first 600 anglers. The deadline to qualify for a complimentary tournament shirt is September 21. Mail registration closes October 1, and online registration closes October 16, subject to the field filling earlier.

Check-in and late registration are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Avon Volunteer Fire Department, 40159 Harbor Road in Avon. Registered anglers receive a tournament packet that includes event items and fishing rigs. Do not postpone check-in until the fishing window is about to open; allowing extra time lets you review the packet, ask questions, and adjust your beach plan.

Two Wednesday seminars are also listed at Ramp 34: a 9 a.m. casting session with Tommy Farmer and an 11 a.m. program with Ryan White focused on alternative techniques and reading the beach. These are useful additions for anglers who want to sharpen their approach before competition begins.

Licenses, ORV Permits, and Beach Readiness

Every competitor is responsible for holding a current North Carolina coastal recreational fishing license. Anyone driving on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches also needs a current National Park Service off-road vehicle permit. A tournament entry does not replace either requirement.

Prepare for long hours and rapidly changing fall conditions. Bring surf tackle suited to drum fishing, measuring equipment that complies with the rules, headlamps, weather layers, food, water, and a safe system for airing down and reinflating tires if you will drive on the beach. Monitor tides and weather, respect posted closures, and keep access ramps clear.

Tournament rules require anglers to have their feet on the sand while fishing. They also stress beach stewardship. Pack out line, bait packaging, and every other item you bring; teams are expected to help keep the tournament shoreline clean.

Awards and Final-Day Plans

The awards gathering is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Family Life Center Activity Building, 48733 Highway 12 in Buxton, across from the school tennis courts. Seating is first come, first served, and food is guaranteed for the first 300 attendees. Even after fishing ends at dawn, build enough time into the morning to secure gear, clean up, rest, and reach Buxton before the presentation.

Registration links, the current prize breakdown, boundaries, rules, and possible schedule changes are posted on the official NCBBA Red Drum Tournament page. Recheck it immediately before the event, especially for beach-access updates that can alter the fishable area.

For anglers who enjoy making their own decisions rather than moving on a fixed rotation, the NCBBA tournament offers an unusually immersive Hatteras experience: three nights of surf, open beach strategy, and a community built around one of the coast's signature fish.