2024 SFKMT Press Release

ROTARY CLUB OF SNEADS FERRY
2024 KING MACKEREL TOURNAMENT –  NEWS RELEASE

Crew of “Surf N Turf” with Winning 49.44 lb King in 2023 KMT

The 33rd Annual King Mackerel Tournament (KMT) sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sneads Ferry is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, August 16 through 18, 2024 at the Pelagic Hunter Fishing Center (New River Marina) in
Sneads Ferry.  This Southern Kingfish Association (SKA) event continues to be acclaimed by North Carolina sports fishermen as one of the best king mackerel tournaments in the Carolinas.  Cash and other prizes in 2023 exceeded $115,000, spread amongst over 20 different boats.  The overall first-place prize is $10,000 based on 100 boat entries.

The owners of the Pelagic Hunter Fishing Center (comprising New River Marina and Power Marine Outfitters), John and Jessica Cruise, again have their superb fishing venue available for this spectacular event for the Rotary
Club of Sneads Ferry.  The tournament remains the Club’s major fund-raising event, allowing the members of the Rotary Club of Sneads Ferry to remain dedicated to the welfare and well-being of area residents.  Proceeds from the KMT are used by the Club to assist in funding its charitable giving to the Sneads Ferry community in the form of scholarships, local projects, education in local schools, aid to seniors, and much more.

Complete KMT information and pre-registration are available online:  www.SFKMT.com.  Onsite registration for the 2024 KMT begins at noon on Friday, August 16, 2023 and closes at 8:00 PM that night.  The Friday night’s Captains’ Shrimp Dinner is open to the public and the $15 tickets may be purchased from any Club Rotarian, or at the door.   Hours for the  Dinner are 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and the location is again the Sneads Ferry Community Center, 126 Park Lane in Sneads Ferry.  The delicious seafood meal is prepared and served by Rotarians and faithful volunteers.  The festivities officially begin at 6:00 PM on Friday evening with the “Presentation of Colors” by US Marines, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Fishing Day headquarters on August 17 and 18 is, as always, the New River Marina in Sneads Ferry.  Tournament fishing begins at 7:00 AM (Sunrise 6:33 AM) on both Saturday and Sunday, August 17 and 18, 2024 and closes at 5:00 PM that evening.  Weigh-in scales will open at 2:00 PM and with fish due dockside for weigh-in not later than 5 PM. The Awards Ceremony is open to the public and starts approximately at 6:30 PM at New River Marina on Aug 18.

Contributing Major Sponsors include the Pelagic Hunter Fishing Center (Power Marine Outfitters and New River Marina), Onslow County Tourism, D.A. Davidson Vestal Financial Group, JOEMC, Topsul Fitness, Providence Bank, and IPM Computers.

The always popular Official KMT T-Shirts will be available for sale on Saturdays starting in mid-June, 9AM-4PM outside Ace Hardware in Sneads Ferry, and at Yopp Brothers Marine.   Short sleeve: $25, Long
sleeve $35 in a wide variety of colors.

For further KMT information, contact Brent Youngblood, 2024 KMT Director,
at (910) 548-8894.