spanish mackerel mayhem - august 16, 2025

saturday, August 16th

Get ready to cast off for a cause! The Mathews Rotary Club is excited to launch its inaugural Spanish Mackerel Mayhem Fishing Tournament on Saturday, August 16th. Join us at sunrise for a fun-filled day on the water, friendly competition, and a shot at big cash prizes—all while supporting local community projects. Whether you're a seasoned angler or just in it for the thrill, this is your chance to reel in some serious bragging rights and enjoy good eats and great company at the dock.

Details:

• Tournament begins at sunrise on Saturday, August 16th
• Weigh-in is from 12:00 to 2:00pm at Morningstar Marina
• Brats & Hotdogs available at the dock
• Cash prizes will be determined by weighing the 5 heaviest fish per boat                                                  
• Awards at 2:15 pm   

cash prizes:

1st Place - $2,000
2nd Place - $1,000
3rd Place - $700

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Registration:

This are two steps to register:
Step 1 - Captains should register their boat using the form directly below. Submitting your registration means that you have read and agreed to the  tournament rules. 

Step 2- Pay for your boat registration by following the links below the form. You will be  directed to a secure checkout through Square. Early registration is $200 per boat and ends August 1st. After the registration fee is $250. Use the appropriate form below.

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Step 2 - pay online

​Pay for your boat registration by following the links below the form. You will be  directed to a secure checkout through Square. Early registration is $200 per boat and ends August 1st. After the registration fee is $250. Use the appropriate link below.

after august 1:

pay online

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Tournament rules:

Mathews Rotary’s Spanish Mackerel Mayhem 
August 16th, 2025

Guaranteed $4,000 in cash prizes.

Open Category:

• 1st - $2,000
• 2nd - $1,000
• 3rd - $7,00

Special prizes of $100 for the heaviest fish landed in each of these categories:

1. Junior (15 years and younger)
2. Senior (65 or older)
3. Female (16 years and older)

 

• Each team is eligible to weigh-in their 5 heaviest Spanish Mackerel fish that meet the state regulations for the grand prize. Winner will be determined by the total aggregate weight of 5 Spanish Mackerel weighed. If there is a tie, the team who weighs in first will be the winner. 
• All fish in all categories must be a minimum size of 14 inches and compliant to all rules outlined by Virginia Marine Resources (VMR) for 2025.
• Early Registration opens June 15th-August 1st  $200 per boat. After August 1st $250.00 per boat.
  
  

(Unlimited Anglers).  Entry forms can be found on our website: http://www.mathewsrotaryclub.org or presented at the registration on Friday, August 15th. 
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• Categories: Other weighed Spanish Mackerel from that boat may be eligible to compete for one or more of the special category cash prizes.  Boats must decide what category to place each fish, for example, open, junior, senior, and woman. The same fish cannot be used for two categories. Each boat will be given tags for the special categories (heaviest 1 fish).

• All entry forms must be signed by the vessel captain, or a designated responsible person.  Entry form signer must be at least 18 years old and be onboard the boat during the tournament.  Every angler that will be fishing in the tournament must be listed on the entry form.
• All participants must adhere to the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament and the Salt Water Fishing Regulations as determined by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. We encourage all anglers to catch and release all fish that are not in the running to win a category.   
• The tournament director is ineligible to compete.
• This is a CAPTAIN’S CHOICE tournament.  It is the captain’s responsibility to decide whether to fish.   A GAIL WARNING is the ONLY weather condition that will cancel fishing.  If a gale warning is posted by NOAA at 6:00am on Saturday, the tournament will be canceled.
  • If there are no fish weighed or the tournament is canceled due to weather, the money will be raffled off at the rate of $100 per boat entered at a payout the same as the tournament (1st Place: 50%, 2nd Place: 30%, 3rd Place: 20%

• No lines in the water prior to sunrise.
• All fish must be caught in a sportsman like manner on hook and line.  Any fish showing fresh marks other than those made by landing nets or hooks may be disqualified.  Failure to maintain a contestant’s fish on ice and in good condition may result in disqualification.   Anglers presenting a fish to be weighed will be required to attest to the above at weigh in.
• WEIGH-IN PROCEDURE: The tournament committee will monitor VHF channels 69.  Please use other channels to communicate between boats.
• If weighing in by boat you must be in Milford Haven before 2:00 p.m., in sight of the Morningstar Marina docks and contact the Weigh Master Stan Allen on VHF channel 69 or by phone, 908-410-9015, with the boat number and that there are fish to be weighed.  Then proceed in an orderly safe manner to Morningstar Marina.  Please use the outside of “L” dock for unloading.  Do not tie up any longer than needed.
• If you are coming to the weigh-in by vehicle, the angler must be in line by 2:00 at the waterside weigh station at Morningstar Marina.  If you are in route at 1:45 a.m. please call 908-410-9015, we will wait.
• The weigh station will be open from 12:00-2:00 p.m.
• The weigh master, Stan Allen, will confirm that the fish being weighed have not been tampered with and were freshly caught the day of the tournament.  Any fish weighed may be dissected.
• ALL PRIZES WILL BE PAID TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THE ENTRY FORM, regardless of the person who caught the fish.  To avoid misunderstandings, the Tournament Committee urges all participants to develop their own arrangement for the distribution of prizes among captain and crew.
• The Awards Ceremony will be held at 2:15 p.m. Winners need to be present.
• All boats should be equipped with a functioning VHF radio.  To reach tournament headquarters use VHF channel 69 or call 908-410-9015
• The Tournament Committee reserves the right to inspect any boat that participates in the tournament.
• Any protest concerning a violation of the rules must be presented to the Tournament Committee in writing at weigh-in between 12:00 and 2:00 on the day of the alleged violation.
• Tournament fishing is limited to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries but not beyond the MD/VA state line and 200 yds east of the CBBT.
• FISH CONSERVATION IS ENCOURAGED!  Please limit your catch on tournament days.  All boats should have a functional safe de-hooking device and an accurate hand scale on board. Please support catch and release.
• Violation of any of the above rules will constitute grounds for disqualification. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE’S DECISIONS SHALL BE FINAL.

 
WAIVER/DISCLAIMER: It is expressly understood that participants in this tournament enter at their own risk, and that the Tournament Directors, Officers, Sponsors, Committees and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with the operation of said tournament, shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever for liable, slander, loss, damage, negligence, harm, injury or death suffered by any participant, entrant, vessel and equipment, companions and guests, boat captains, mates, crew members, which may occur during or in conjunction with this tournament. By signing the official tournament registration form, the boat owner, captain and mate(s), anglers and guests, consent that the tournament may use without payment or restriction any photographs, video footage, in which he or she may appear for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to resale, advertising, commercial or promotional material.

For more information, please call or text the Tournament Chairman, Karl Braun-908-410-9015 or Co-Chairman, Jessica Dehoux-804-725-6213