Every August, some of the best sportfishing crews on the East Coast head to a single marina on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Their target: Blue Marlin measured in hundreds of pounds, a purse that recently topped $1.26 million, and bragging rights that last all year. The 43rd annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament is shaping up to be another blockbuster week of Billfish action off Manteo in North Carolina.
Whether you’re a tournament regular scouting this year’s schedule or a first-timer curious about entry fees and the points system, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Pirate’s Cove fishing tournament. It also breaks down the charity events and dockside festivities that make tournament week special – even if you just want to watch a monster Blue Marlin hit the scales.
What Is the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament?
The Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament (PCBT) is a multi-day offshore Billfish tournament held each August at Pirate’s Cove Marina in Manteo, North Carolina. Originally launched in 1983, the event has grown into a week-long competition. It now encompasses three distinct tournaments and draws top crews from up and down the Mid-Atlantic coast.
Teams launch through Oregon Inlet and run to the Gulf Stream, where warm blue water pushes within roughly 35 miles of shore. The primary Billfish species in play are Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish, and Spearfish. Meat fish categories also cover Tuna, Wahoo, and Dolphin (Mahi Mahi).
The 2025 tournament consisted of 88 boats competing for more than $1.26 million in prize money. Over four fishing days, crews recorded 292 Billfish releases, while three qualifying Blue Marlin were taken to the weigh station. The scale activity and volume of release fishing helped make the tournament one of the standout events of the Outer Banks offshore season.
History of the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament
The tournament’s roots go back to 1983, when the Outer Banks offshore fleet was already earning a reputation for producing giant Blue Marlin. Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that uses the tournament to support charitable initiatives in the Outer Banks
Over four decades, the event grew from a straightforward Billfish competition into a full week of fishing and community events. The Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament was added in 1990, and a Lay Day Tournament now fills the gap on each team’s off-day.
Since then, the Pirate’s Cove Tournaments team has taken charitable giving seriously – reaching $100,000 in donations in a single year during 2003 and surpassing $1 million in total donations to date.
Primary beneficiaries include Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO), which supports individuals facing emergency crises in Dare and Currituck Counties, and The Billfish Foundation, which works to conserve Billfish populations worldwide.
When Is the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament in 2026?
The 2026 Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament will start on August 8 and end on August 14, running for a full week straight.
The competition week opens with the 37th annual Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament, followed by the main event. The event concludes with weigh-ins, while the tournament officially ends with the awards ceremony.
Here’s the 2026 schedule at a glance:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Alice Kelly registration and festivities | August 8 |
| Alice Kelly fishing day | August 9 |
| Main tournament registration, captain’s meeting | August 10 |
| Main tournament fishing days (teams fish three of four) | August 11–14 |
| Final weigh-ins and awards ceremony | August 14 |
Each boat may compete on three fishing days, choosing one of the four scheduled days to sit out. Each team selects one day as their “lay day.” On that off-day, they can still compete in the Lay Day Tournament if they choose.
Registration for the main event typically takes place on the evening before the first fishing day at the Pirate’s Cove Pavilion, with a captain’s meeting to follow. A representative from each team should attend, as each team is responsible for knowing the rules.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Entry Fees and Divisions
Every team enters Category 1, also known as the base entry, plus at least two additional categories – a minimum of three categories total. The tournament retains 15% of each category to cover operating costs, and every team receives eight tickets to tournament week’s festivities.
| Category | Entry Fee | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 – Base Entry (required) | $3,000 | Overall points, top-three trophy |
| Category 2 – Meatfish | $1,500 | Heaviest Dolphin, Tuna, and Wahoo, split by species |
| Category 3 – Daily | $3,500 | Most points on a given fishing day |
| Category 4 – Blue Marlin | $2,500 | Heaviest Blue Marlin weighed |
| Category 5 – Team Jackpot | $2,500 | Overall points |
| Category 6 – Daily Winner Take All Jackpot | $3,500 | Most points on a given fishing day, winner take all |
| Category 7 – Winner Take All | $3,500 | Overall points, winner take all |
Entering every category adds up to $21,500 per boat, though most teams enter a smaller mix based on budget and strategy – the required minimum of three categories can run as low as $7,000.
For 2026, all boats compete under the same scoring system regardless of whether they use Omni-Directional Sonar. Unlike the previous seasons, there are no separate release points for sonar-equipped boats this year.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Prize Money
The PCBT has consistently produced seven-figure purses in recent years. Here’s what recent editions looked like:
| Year | Boats | Total Purse |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 88 | $1.26M+ |
| 2024 | 84 | $1.26M |
Prize money is distributed across the same seven entry categories, plus the separate Lay Day Tournament:
| Category | Payout Basis |
|---|---|
| Category 1 – Base Entry | Overall points, top-three trophy |
| Category 2 – Meatfish | Heaviest Dolphin, Tuna, and Wahoo, split by species |
| Category 3 – Daily | Top points on each individual fishing day |
| Category 4 – Blue Marlin | Heaviest Blue Marlin weighed |
| Category 5 – Team Jackpot | Overall points |
| Category 6 – Daily Winner Take All Jackpot | Most points on a given fishing day, winner take all |
| Category 7 – Winner Take All | Overall points, winner take all |
| Lay Day Tournament | Billfish releases only, on each team’s designated lay day |
The payouts can be staggering for teams that enter multiple categories. In 2025, Marsh Madness secured the tournament’s single largest payout of $537,872.50 for weighing an 878 lb Blue Marlin. The overall champion, Team Deep Color, took home $156,387.50. Because individual categories stack, a single fish can trigger payouts in the Heaviest Marlin, Daily Jackpot, and Winner Take All pools simultaneously.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Rules and Eligibility
The PCBT follows IGFA rules as a baseline, with several tournament-specific modifications. Here are the key points.
Point System
The PCBT updated its scoring rules for 2026, with all boats now competing under the same release-point system regardless of whether they use Omni-Directional Sonar.
Release points are awarded as follows:
- Verified Blue Marlin release: 300 points (video must show both the fish and the tournament’s daily card color)
- White Marlin, Sailfish, Spearfish, or an unverified Blue Marlin release: 100 points each
White Marlin, Sailfish, and Spearfish are release-only in this tournament. Blue Marlin may be brought to the scales if they weigh at least 400 pounds or measure at least 110 inches in fork length.
A qualifying Blue Marlin earns 1 point per pound unless it weighs 700 pounds or more, in which case it earns 1.5 points per pound. That means a fish measuring at least 110 inches but weighing under 400 pounds still scores 1 point per pound without penalty.
A Blue Marlin that fails to meet both the 110-inch minimum length and the 400-pound minimum weight is subject to the tournament’s penalty provisions outlined in the official rules.
Fishing Format
Fishing hours run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and official tournament time is tracked by GPS, with each fishing day scored as its own separate clock. Teams fish three of the four designated days – all within 75 nautical miles of the Oregon Inlet Sea Buoy – choosing their own lay day.
This is a trolling-only tournament: pitching baits, casting, jigging, live bait, live bait teasers, and backing into schools are all prohibited. All IGFA rules apply except where noted in the tournament-specific guidelines.
Lay Day Tournament
On their designated lay day, teams can enter the Lay Day Tournament for $1,000. This event scores Billfish releases only, with Omni and Non-Omni divisions combined. Half the entry fee goes to the winner and half to charity.
Licensing and Permits
- Vessels must have a valid HMS Angling or HMS Charterboat/Headboat permit to fish for Atlantic Billfish, obtained through the NOAA HMS Permit Shop.
- Anyone age 16 or older fishing in North Carolina coastal waters needs a Coastal Recreational Fishing License, available through the NC Wildlife Resources Commission – anglers fishing aboard a licensed charter boat don’t need an individual license, since the charter’s license covers passengers.
- Under NC and federal regulations, Blue Marlin have a 99″ lower-jaw fork length minimum and a limit of one per vessel per trip (either Blue Marlin or White Marlin).
Rules can change – always check with the relevant state or federal authority before heading out.
How to Enter the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament
Registration for the PCBT takes place the evening before the first fishing day at the Pirate’s Cove Pavilion. Registration forms and participation materials are available through the official tournament website.
Here’s the basic process:
- Assemble your team. There’s no cap on the number of anglers aboard, but your boat determines how many you can practically carry.
- Secure your boat. If you don’t own a sportfishing boat, you can charter one. More on that below.
- Complete registration at Pirate’s Cove Marina on the designated evening. All boats must be registered and all entry fees paid to qualify for prizes and trophies.
- Attend the captain’s meeting. This is where any rule clarifications are announced.
Don’t own a boat? You can book a charter.
Plenty of teams charter tournament-rigged boats from the local fleet instead of running their own. The Outer Banks, Wanchese, and Manteo are home to some of the finest sportfishing vessels and captains in the Mid-Atlantic.
Plus, many of these crews fish the tournament circuit every summer and know the Gulf Stream grounds off Oregon Inlet intimately. You’ll register the charter boat for the tournament, and your captain handles the rest – from choosing added-entry categories to rigging and strategy.
Book early – the best boats fill up months in advance. Tournament charters are typically priced as full-day private trips, but entry fees, fuel surcharges, and crew gratuity are usually separate, so discuss all costs upfront with your captain before committing.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Notable Winners and Records
The PCBT has produced some remarkable catches over its 40-plus-year history. Here are the highlights that any tournament follower should know.
2025 – Team Deep Color Takes the Crown
Deep Color, a 48′ Ocean led by Captain Trey Goodson, captured the overall victory with an 806.2 lb Blue Marlin and 2,012.4 total points. The biggest fish of the week, however, belonged to another boat entirely. Marsh Madness, a 65′ Island Boatworks captained by Shane Brafford, weighed an 878 lb Blue Marlin and earned the tournament’s single largest payout of $537,872.50.
Across four days, the fleet combined for 292 Billfish releases, including 34 Blue Marlin, 191 White Marlin, 26 Sailfish, and other qualifying species.
2024 – Team Pelican
Team Pelican, led by Captain Arch Bracher, won the 41st annual PCBT. The tournament hosted 84 boats and distributed $1.26 million in prize money.
2018 – Builder’s Choice and the 911 lb Blue Marlin
During the tournament’s 35th year in 2018, angler Harris Huddle weighed a 911 lb Blue Marlin aboard Builder’s Choice on the very first day of fishing. No other boat caught up to that fish for the rest of the week, and Builder’s Choice held the lead all the way to a $347,302 payout.
2008 – The All-Time Tournament Record
The PCBT’s all-time record dates back to the tournament’s 25th year in 2008, when Trey Irvine landed a 1,228.5 lb Blue Marlin aboard the Mimi – still the heaviest fish ever weighed in the tournament’s history, and reportedly the largest Blue Marlin caught in US Atlantic waters at the time. The catch pushed North Carolina’s state record up by 86.5 pounds over the previous best. Pirate’s Cove Marina later named its dockside Mimi’s Tiki Hut after the boat and its record-setting catch.
Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament
The PCBT doesn’t start with the main event. The Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament celebrates 37 years in 2026 and is one of the largest ladies-only Billfish tournaments in the world, running August 8–9.
Friends and members of the local fishing community created the event in Kelly’s memory, using it to support the Outer Banks Cancer Support Group, an organization she had helped establish. That organization later merged with Interfaith Community Outreach, which remains the primary beneficiary.
The numbers have grown dramatically. The 34th anniversary event in 2023 drew about 1,000 lady anglers on 163 boats, with a purse of $107,950. The format is release-only: a Blue Marlin release confirmed by video (showing the species and the day’s ribbon color) earns 300 points, while a Blue Marlin release confirmed only by Radio Control, along with any White Marlin, Sailfish, or Spearfish release, earns 100 points.
Boats may fish from Oregon Inlet, with approved teams also permitted to depart from Hatteras Inlet under tournament rules.
Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Spectator Experience
You don’t have to fish to enjoy tournament week. The daily weigh-ins at the Pirate’s Cove docks are open to the public and genuinely exciting to watch – especially when a Blue Marlin swings onto the scale.
Events throughout the week include kids’ activities like NC Aquarium education and fish print art, plus clubhouse evenings with crafts, games, dinner, and outdoor movies. Dolphin cruises also depart directly from the Pirate’s Cove docks during the tournament.
You can follow the action in real time through CatchStat live scoring at pcbt.catchstat.com, which tracks releases, weigh-ins, and standings as they happen throughout each fishing day.
Even if you’re visiting the Outer Banks without a tournament entry, stopping by the docks in the late afternoon for weigh-ins is a must-do during tournament week.
Pirate's Cove Billfish Tournament FAQs
The Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament is one of those events that captures everything great about Outer Banks sportfishing – serious competition, community spirit, and the chance to tangle with truly giant Blue Marlin just a short run from the dock. Whether you’re assembling a team for the 2026 event or just want to experience tournament week as a spectator, it’s worth the trip.
If you’re looking to book a charter in the area – for tournament fishing or just to explore the Gulf Stream on your own schedule – FishingBooker makes it easy to browse Outer Banks fishing charters by trip type, boat size, and price.
The concept and outline of this article were created by people engaged by FishingBooker. Artificial intelligence tools were used to flesh out and reformat information into a blog article. Before being published, this article was edited and fact-checked by FishingBooker staff.
The post Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament 2026: Dates, Fees, Prizes, Rules, and How to Fish and Watch appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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