Inaugural Point Bluefin Tournament in Manteo Raises Funds for Battle Scarred Outdoors

The Point Bluefin Tuna Tournament opens at Shallowbag Bay Marina, 1100 N Club Bay Dr, Manteo, running March 3–7, 2026, and the event's organizers say 100% of the net proceeds benefit Battle Scarred Outdoors. The inaugural format stagings at Shallowbag Bay position Manteo as a bluefin stop for competitive anglers while routing fundraising directly to an all-volunteer veteran nonprofit.

Organizers publish the beneficiary language and nonprofit status in the tournament materials: "100% of the Net proceeds from this tournament benefits Battle Scarred Outdoors. We are a NC based, all-volunteer 501c3 Nonprofit. Our Mission is to facilitate and organize hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities for our Nation’s Heroes; Active Military, Veterans, and First Responders." That mission frames the event's fundraising focus and explains why teams are encouraged to involve veterans and first responders.

Tournament rules supplied in the announcement make team identity explicit. Rule 1A reads: "Team description: teams will be determined by the boat name, not Capt, Mate, or Anglers. Should a boat decide to fish with alternate anglers daily, this is accepted. This allows some boats to enter the tournament without the fishing party being invested in the tournament. This also allows boats to take Veterans and First Responders daily, without any invested interest in the tournament. All we ask is that anglers names be disclosed at registration." The boat-name rule means boats may swap anglers day by day while remaining a single tournament entry under the boat's name.

Prize details published in the rules list daily and overall awards with payout percentages. Rule 13A states: "Daily Bluefin $1000- This will be awarded to the single largest Bluefin weighed that day. 1 entry fee, 75% total payout. Should there be no Bluefins weighed on a day, that purse will be divided amongst the remaining days." Rule 13B reads: "Largest Overall Tournament Tuna $500: This will be awarded to the largest Overall Tuna weighed during the tournament, regardless of species, to exclude Giant Bluefin. Payout 75%." Rule 13C states: "Largest Yellowfin $500: This will be awarded to the largest Overall tournament Yellowfin weighed. Payout 75%." The 13B phrase "regardless of species, to exclude Giant Bluefin" is included as written in the rules and appears to require clarification from organizers on intended species scope.

Sponsors supporting the inaugural event include RTIC Outdoors; Shallowbag Bay Marina; Salt & Cypress; Titos Handmade Vodka; Morrissey Stump Grinding; Griffin Assessments; Dan Sells Waterstreet; The Odyssey Collective; Sunbelt Rentals; Cummins Inc; Laydens Supermarket; Inner Banks Canvas; Jack Links; Metalheads; Eye Catcher Lures; Canyon Candy Lures; TrueTimber; OBX Beverage (Budweiser & Phorm Energy); Pepsi Bottling Ventures; Dare Haven Motel; Kill Devil Rum; Carolina BBQ; and Fishing 4 Mortgages.

Organizers note that "detailed rules, registration deadlines, boundaries" are listed in their materials, but the public announcement available to media contains only the fragments above; registration deadlines, entry fee amounts, official boundaries, weigh-in procedures and full rules are not included in the distributed copy. Confirm registration deadlines, entry fees, weigh-in times and official boundaries with the tournament organizers before heading to Shallowbag Bay Marina. The five-day event combines competition with a direct fundraising channel for Battle Scarred Outdoors and will allocate the daily $1,000 Bluefin purse to the single largest Bluefin weighed each day or redistribute it if no Bluefin are weighed.