Every July, VHF radios up and down the Cape Fear coast crackle with the same old victory call. “Got Em On” isn’t just a phrase around here. It’s basically a battle cry.
The East Coast Got-Em-On King Mackerel Classic returns to Carolina Beach July 10-12, 2026, and this tournament carries serious weight. Nearly 200 boats descend on the Municipal Docks each year, turning a quiet beach town into the epicenter of competitive offshore fishing.
A Tournament Born From Radio Chatter
Most fishing tournaments start with a committee meeting. This one started with a nickname.
Back in the mid-1970s, local anglers off Carolina and Kure Beaches built a reputation around live bait fishing. Whenever someone hooked a big king mackerel, the celebratory call “Got Em On!!!” would echo across the water and through every boat’s radio. That phrase eventually became the tournament’s namesake, born from a tight-knit group who simply loved the chase.
The event officially formed as a joint venture between the Got Em On Live Bait Club, Kure Beach Fire Department, and Carolina Beach Fire Department. Decades later, it stands as one of the oldest king mackerel tournaments still running on the East Coast.
Insider tip:
Longtime locals still refer to the tournament simply as “Got Em On,” dropping the full title entirely. If you hear someone mention it casually at a dock bar, that’s exactly what they mean.
Where and When It All Happens
This year’s tournament runs Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, right across from Carolina Beach’s Municipal Docks. That location isn’t incidental either, since the tournament has anchored itself there for decades.
The format follows a familiar rhythm each year. Friday brings the captain’s meeting, where rules, boundaries, and logistics get finalized before boats head out. Saturday and Sunday deliver the actual fishing days, followed by an awards ceremony that wraps up the weekend.
What most visitors don’t realize:
The tournament always falls on the second full weekend in July, making it remarkably easy to plan around year after year. Locals build entire summer schedules knowing exactly when Got Em On rolls around.
The Scale of Competition
Nearly 200 boats from across North and South Carolina typically compete, making this one of the larger king mackerel tournaments in the region. That number alone puts it well above many smaller regional competitions along this coast.
Prize money reflects that scale too. First place regularly earns a $20,000 payout, while total prizes across all divisions and specialty awards often exceed $100,000. Several of those specialty awards honor founding members and families, keeping the tournament’s original spirit alive even as it’s grown considerably larger.
Local’s take:
This tournament runs as a sanctioned Southern Kingfish Association event, which means serious competitive anglers treat it as a legitimate stop on their season, not just a local weekend outing.
Why King Mackerel, Specifically
King mackerel fishing exploded in popularity along this stretch of coast decades ago, and the species remains a genuine draw for offshore anglers today. Kings put up an aggressive fight and often require live bait techniques, which explains this tournament’s deep roots in that specific style of fishing.
The waters off Carolina and Kure Beaches offer consistently strong king mackerel runs throughout summer, giving competitors a legitimate shot at landing a tournament-winning fish. That reliability is part of why this event has survived and grown for so many decades.
Insider tip:
Conditions and fish behavior shift year to year based on water temperature and bait movement, so even veteran captains treat every tournament weekend as its own unpredictable challenge.
Watching From the Dock
You don’t need a boat to enjoy tournament weekend. Spectators regularly gather at the Municipal Docks to watch weigh-ins, soak up the competitive energy, and admire an impressive lineup of sportfishing boats docked in one place.
Weigh-in times typically draw a crowd, since watching a potential tournament-winning king mackerel come off a boat carries its own kind of drama. Between fishing days, the surrounding boardwalk and downtown area stay lively with visitors soaking up the weekend atmosphere.
What most visitors don’t know:
Many local restaurants and bars near the boardwalk see a genuine bump in traffic during tournament weekend, since competitors and their families stick around between fishing days rather than heading straight home.
Getting There and Where to Stay
Carolina Beach sits just south of Wilmington, making it an easy drive for visitors already staying in the greater Cape Fear area. Highway 421 runs directly into town, connecting visitors from Wilmington and beyond without much hassle.
Given the tournament’s popularity, lodging fills up fast during this particular weekend. Booking accommodations well in advance makes sense, whether you’re aiming for a beachfront rental or a spot closer to the Boardwalk district.
Local’s take:
If you’re purely spectating rather than competing, staying flexible on dates and checking accommodations slightly outside Carolina Beach proper, such as Kure Beach or Wilmington, can save both money and hassle during peak tournament demand.
A Weekend Built on Tradition
What makes this tournament genuinely special isn’t just the prize money or the boat count. It’s the fact that a casual radio call from fifty years ago still shapes an entire weekend’s identity today.
Few tournaments along this coast carry that kind of authentic, homegrown backstory. The Got Em On Classic didn’t get built by a marketing team chasing tourism dollars. It grew organically from a community of anglers who loved what they did, and that spirit still defines the event today.
FAQ: East Coast Got-Em-On King Mackerel Classic
When does the tournament take place in 2026?
The tournament runs Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12, always falling on the second full weekend in July.
Where is the tournament headquartered?
Carolina Beach, directly across from the Municipal Docks.
How many boats typically compete?
Close to 200 boats from across North and South Carolina participate most years.
What’s the prize structure like?
First place typically earns $20,000, with total payouts across divisions and specialty awards often exceeding $100,000.
Can spectators watch without competing?
Yes. Weigh-ins and dockside activity are open to the public and draw a steady crowd throughout the weekend.
Fifty years after that first “Got Em On” crackled over the radio, Carolina Beach still answers the call every July.
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