Annual Fish N Paddle this weekend

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(June 23, 2023) The fifth annual Fish N Paddle Saltwater Slam will go on as planned despite questionable weather forecasted earlier in the week for Saturday and Sunday.

“It will be a little windy, but it will lay down some. It will be more of a south wind,” Tournament Director Brian Roberts said Wednesday. “We’re limiting finishing to inside the bay, [so] there will be no ocean fishing for safety reasons.

“Saturday doesn’t look bad at all, not much different than in years past,” he added. “Eleven to 14 mph winds on Saturday and 9-12 on Sunday, so it’s falling out.”

As of earlier this week, about 40 anglers had already registered for the competition. Many are new to the event, but some who fish it annually will participate as well.

“It will be a great tournament, I think,” Roberts said. “I’m looking forward to seeing everybody.”

Final registration will take place today, Friday, from 5:30-7 p.m. at Atlantic Tackle on Sunset Avenue in West Ocean City. An anglers’ meeting will follow.

The cost is $175 per angler.

Participants can fish from a kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard from 5:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the safety of the anglers, there will be no fishing past the inlet this year.

Weigh-ins, which are open to the public, will run each day from noon to 4 p.m. at Atlantic Tackle. DJ Wax will play music during weigh-ins.

Qualifying fish include flounder, striped bass, bluefish, sea trout, sheepshead, trigger fish, spadefish, black sea bass, spot, croaker, cobia, red and black drum and Spanish and king mackerel.

The guaranteed payout is $7,000. First-place winner will receive $4,000, second place $2,000, and third $1,000, along with other prizes. Fourth-place winner will be presented a Lightning kayak with pedal drive.

There are optional added entry level divisions available, which include heaviest fish/daily, heaviest fish winner take all, and catch photo release for striper, drum and trout (proceeds from this calcutta will benefit Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland).

The heaviest flounder level will benefit Heroes on the Water, an organization that focuses on providing healing experiences to veterans, first responders and their families

Each angler is permitted to weigh up to six fish per day. The three heaviest combined weight will win cash prizes.

The person who catches the largest fish of the tournament – and is entered into Division B – will win a trip to Los Buzos, Panama, fish with Robert Field and $1,000 for travel expenses.

Each fish will be given a weight point system equal to 100 points per pound. Anglers will receive a bonus 50 points for each fish released and deemed alive by the weighmaster.

There is also a junior angler division for youth 16 and younger.

The inaugural event in 2019 was a success, with 34 anglers competing and $7,000 awarded to the winners. The 2020 edition was even bigger, with 47 participating and a $4,725 purse. In 2021, 70 anglers competed and over $8,000 was awarded.

The fourth annual Fish N Paddle Saltwater Slam last year included 72 anglers and $8,700 awarded to the winners, in addition to about $10,000 in prizes.

For more information, rules and added entry level calcuttas, visit https://fishnpaddle.com.