Tournaments are more and more becoming the lifeblood of our sport, bringing together anglers all for a common goal of catching the biggest fish and claiming the top prize. All around the country new events are popping up left and right and there are a handful of older events that have become a tradition. We’ve gathered a handful of events that you should be fishing this year for every region in the country. Check out these New England events now and don’t forget to sign up early so you have plenty of time to start training!
1) The Striper Cup
Starts May 2 (5 Month-Long Tourney)
One of the biggest and most popular events on the East Coast, the Striper Cup, presented by On The Water magazine, extends from Maine to New Jersey and brings together 4,500 anglers annually. With over 100 participating weigh stations, anglers have a chance to win prizes weekly, monthly and all year long. The event is open to all types of anglers, fishing from kayak, shore, boat and even youth anglers. Entries can be either catch and release or weigh in.
The final weigh in party, is way more than just an awards ceremony. The Striperfest is a big party that announces the winners and celebrates the striped bass fishery with fellow anglers. You don’t even have to catch a big fish in the tournament to win big. Entering into the event and attending Striperfest means you’ll also be entered to win the grand prize, a brand new Century 2200 boat with Yamaha engine and Simrad electronics.
How to Participate:
- $40, Register to fish in BOAT or SHORE division (or both!) Declare a TEAM affiliation to compete for the Striper Cup Trophy, or simply fish as an individual.
- Submit photos of released fish to compete for weekly Catch and Release Category prizes.
- Weigh in up to 1 fish per week at a local registered weighstation to compete for weekly and monthly prizes.
- Attend STRIPERFEST for the chance to win a brand-new boat!
Click here to sign up for the event now!
2) Why Knot Fishing Fall Run Striper Classic Tournament
September 23-24
“The Fall Run Striper Classic Tournament is a Catch & Release only tournament for Striped Bass on the North SHore of Massachusetts. There are divisions for fly fishing and spin fishing anglers from both boat and shore. There is also a special prize for the best Striper caught from a kayak! The 2-day tournament will start at 6pm on Friday, with an after party and awards held immediately after.” –Joe Gugino
How to Participate:
- $35, Tournament Cost includes Limited Edition Tournament Hat, Captains Bag and Raffle Ticket.
- Limited to fishing area between Boston Harbor to Merrimack River (Plum Island Side).
- All Scorecards Must Be Submitted by 6:00pm on 9/24 at Red’s Kitchen & Tavern
- This is a catch, photo, release tournament only. The divisions are: shore spin fishing; shore fly fishing; boat (including kayaks) spin fishing; and boat (including kayaks) fly fishing.
Click here to sign up for the event now!
3) NEKF Mass Bay Striper Shootout
August 19-21
http://www.newenglandkayakfishing.com
“The NEKF Striper Shootout is New England’s largest kayak fishing tournament, this mid-summer event features great striped bass fishing along the scenic Massachusetts coast. The tournament is held in Salem, MA and brings kayakers from all over the east coast together for a weekend of fishing and camping.” –Eric “Slappy” Harrison
How to Participate:
- $100 ($90 for supporting members), Register before August 1 to avoid late fee.
- Weigh in will start at 10:00AM August 16th, and you must be in the weigh in line by 12:00PM, August 16 to register your catch.
- This is a catch, photo, release tournament only. There are open, fly, artificial, and junior divisions.
- Longest fish wins. In the event of a tie, the second largest fish of the participants that are tied will determine the winner. A tie beyond that will go to third largest fish and so on. Because of this, it is very important to document every fish you wish to submit for judging. All waters within a 30 mile radius of Winter Island are open.
Click here to sign up for the event now!
