Planning is well under way for the 17th Annual Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo hosted by Bald Head Island Limited. We would like to extend a personal invitation for you to join us once again and participate in this year’s tournament.

Last year’s tournament had 32 boats competing and distributed $26,760 in prize money—the largest in our tournament history! We also had more competition than ever in the Lady Angler and Junior Angler categories. The team to beat this year is Captain Don Pierce and his crew from the Robin Hood IV. They reeled in last year’s first place prize of $11,640 with a combined weight of 270.28 pounds. Angler Bill Riddick of Big Hunter took first place in the billfish category with a payout of $2,916.

The Bald Head Island Marina will again be the official headquarters of the fishing competition, which takes place Friday, May 30th, and Saturday, May 31st, with final weigh-in on Saturday. The tournament concludes Saturday night with a festive party and awards ceremony. Please pay special attention to the schedule listed below as we have adjusted the Captains’ Meeting time on Friday and days of fishing and weigh station hours on Saturday:

Thursday, May 29
6-8 p.m. Welcome Dinner
7:30 p.m. Captain’s Meeting

Friday, May 30
8:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. First Day Fishing
5:30-8 p.m. Weigh-in
7-9 p.m. Dinner

Saturday, May 31
8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. 2nd Day Fishing
4-6 p.m. Final Weigh-in
6:30-9:30 p.m. Party with DJ/Dinner
7:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony

Prizes are awarded based on total weight of tuna, dolphin, and wahoo caught during the two days of fishing. Top prize is $10,800; second prize is $5,400; and third prize is $1,800. In addition, a $500 prize will be awarded for the largest tuna, dolphin and wahoo catch of the day. These prize levels are based on 30 boats participating; prize money will increase or decrease proportionally to the number of boats participating. Prizes will also be awarded to the Lady Angler and Junior Angler (juniors must be 15 or under) with the largest catch. Also, be sure to register for the catch and release billfish category. Entry fees from the billfish category will be pooled and distributed to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers.

General entry fee is $700 per team until May 22nd and $800 from May 23rd – May 29th. Fees include: four passes to tournament meals and functions, an angler kit which includes four shirts, four hats and various gifts, Lady Angler and Junior Angler entry, and four ferry tickets for Thursday, Friday, Saturday (only for those boats not staying in our marina). Entry fee for the catch and release billfish category is an additional $200.

For the 2008 tournament, we have again joined with Southport nc magazine and WMFD ESPN AM630 to ensure that this year’s Fishing Rodeo is the largest and most successful yet. As a non-profit event, the Bald Head Island Fishing Rodeo is pleased to support the Old Baldy Foundation with proceeds from this year’s tournament. The Old Baldy Foundation works to maintain the island’s lighthouse, Old Baldy, the oldest in North Carolina.

Tournament participants may dock at the Bald Head Island Marina, Indigo Plantation & Marina, or a marina of choice. Bald Head Island offers a 10-acre marina and provides an attentive dock staff as well as gas and diesel fuel, a bathhouse with key-padded restrooms, showers, laundry and power hook-ups. Dock space in the Bald Head Island Marina will be available at an additional fee on a first come, first serve basis. Please call our Dockmaster at 910-457-7380 to reserve your dock space. Boaters who wish to dock at Bald Head Island on a more permanent basis may find it helpful to know the Bald Head Island Yacht Club has memberships for sale.

A small convenience store is located in the marina and stocks basic marine supplies, ice, beverages and a limited variety of food. The Maritime Market located in the maritime forest is a full service supermarket. Island accommodations and golf carts are also available for rent. As a participant in the BHI Fishing Rodeo, you’ll receive a 15% discount on rental accommodations when you call 1-800-432-RENT (7368).

For your convenience, we’ve enclosed the official Fishing Rodeo Entry Form so that you can make plans, get your crew together, and beat the early entry deadline. If you have any questions regarding this year’s competition, please call our toll free number, 1-800-234-1666, ext. 7393 or 910-457-7393. You may visit our Web site at www.baldheadisland.com for a complete listing of Rodeo Rules. We look forward to seeing you on the island!