USAngling Kayak Fishing Saltwater is proud to announce the first Sanctioned Saltwater Kayak Fishing Tournament in our program. Congratulations Fish N Paddle – the winner of your Saltwater Slam, Catch Photo and Release Division-D, will qualify and receive a direct invite to represent Team USAngling at the upcoming World Championship of Saltwater Kayak Fishing this October 26-31 in Valencia, Spain. This is a unique opportunity for kayak anglers to be directly chosen to our National Team. In the years to come, anglers will have to earn a position on the National Team by competing through the regional qualifier series and earning a spot into the National Championships. Future National Team members will be chosen from the top finishers of the National Championship. National Team members will then be eligible to compete in Pan Am and World Championships. Indeed, this is very exciting news for saltwater kayak anglers across the nation to have a direct qualifier straight into the inaugural Spain World Championship.
The 6th Annual Fish N Paddle Saltwater Slam Kayak Fishing Tournament will be held in Ocean City, Maryland on June 22-23, 2024. Anglers have the ability to fish for eligible species in Maryland Coastal Atlantic Waters out to 3 miles. The $200 Basic Entry gives Anglers the opportunity to compete for an Absolute Guaranteed Purse of $7000 for the top three qualifying fish weighed over 2 days and are assigned a point system based on weight including a live release bonus. There are several qualifying species including Cobia, Stripers, Black and Red Drum, Sheepshead, King and Spanish Mackerel, Speckled and Gray Trout, Bluefish, and various other species.
There are several other levels including an additional $35 entry into the Catch Photo n Release Division-D for the longest Striped Bass, Red Drum, or Trout. The Largest CPnR fish wins this division! Also, the winner of the CPnR Division will become immediately qualified and invited to represent Team USAngling Kayak Fishing in the World Championships of Saltwater Kayak Fishing hosted in Spain October 26-31.
The tournament will donate all the Catch Photo n Release Entries Proceeds to the Coastal Conservation Anglers Maryland Chapter. The Tournament also donates an additional Flounder Level Entry to Heros on the Water Not for Profit. Additionally, all fish caught in the tournament that do not survive are donated to Diakonia Inc, Ocean City’s local homeless shelter. The Tournament has provided over 1000 lbs of quality fresh fish to feed the homeless over the last 6 years.
For more tournament information, please go to Fish N Paddle Saltwater Slam – Entry Levels – Ocean City, Maryland. You can also reach out to Brian Roberts, Tournament Director, at fishnpaddle@gmail.com or by calling (443) 783-7410.
For more information regarding the USAngling Kayak Fishing Saltwater Program, please reach out to Annie Nagel, Communications Director, at USAKFS@usangling.org or by calling (707) 495-2625.
Please continue to follow USAngling Saltwater Kayak Fishing for more updates and press releases at www.usangling.org/saltwater-kayak-fishing.
