The Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament is one of the longest-running offshore fishing tournaments in North Carolina, held every spring out of Wrightsville Beach for more than five decades. The CFBMT draws competitive anglers from across the Southeast to chase blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and dolphin (mahi-mahi) through the Gulf Stream waters off the Cape Fear coast.
Whether you're registering a boat, thinking about watching the weigh-ins, or just wondering what all those sportfishing yachts are doing lined up at the marina, here's how the tournament works. Current-year dates and schedules post at capefearbluemarlin.com.
Where It's Held Where Is the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament Held?
Tournament headquarters, the weigh station, and events are at Seapath Marina & Yacht Club in Wrightsville Beach, NC (330 Causeway Drive). The 2026 edition ran in late May with a Wednesday registration and captain's meeting followed by three fishing days.
Watching Can Spectators Watch the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament?
Yes, and it's free. Weigh-ins are open to the public at Seapath Marina, where boats return in the late afternoon on fishing days and bring their catch to the scale. In recent years weigh-ins have run roughly 4:30 to 7:00 PM on fishing days. Confirm times on the official site before heading out.
The Format What Kind of Tournament Is the CFBMT?
The CFBMT is primarily a catch-and-release billfish tournament. Teams earn points for releasing blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, and spearfish, with meat fish categories for the heaviest dolphin (mahi-mahi) and wahoo brought to the scale.
The tournament uses a tiered entry level system with multiple payout levels, daily prizes, and a billfish lottery. It's part of the NC Billfish Series, which promotes conservation-focused sportfishing competition across North Carolina's offshore tournaments.
Registering How to Register for the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament
Registration forms, entry level details, and lay day forms are on the official tournament site at capefearbluemarlin.com. The tournament committee can be reached at info@capefearbluemarlin.com or (910) 520-0442.
Apparel and Charity Tournament Apparel and Charity Auction
Official CFBMT apparel has been available at Seapath Yacht Club and Intracoastal Angler in Wrightsville Beach during tournament week. The tournament supports First Fruit Ministries through a charity auction held during the week, with past items including custom-framed vintage tournament prints, handcrafted duck calls, and engraved sterling silver belt buckles donated by local businesses.
Following Along How to Follow the Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament
The best way to follow fishing days is the tournament's social media. Real-time release reports and weigh-in updates hit Facebook and Instagram before anywhere else.
While You're There Things to Do at Wrightsville Beach During Tournament Week
The tournament runs in late spring, when Wrightsville Beach fills up fast, so anyone coming from out of town should book accommodations early.
Between weigh-ins, Oceanic is right on the beach for dinner with a view. For a change of scenery, downtown Wilmington is about 20 minutes from Seapath. Walk the Riverwalk and check out the brewery scene. Families tagging along can hit the Carolina Beach Boardwalk for arcade games and Britt's Donuts, or browse things to do with kids in Wilmington.
For a full breakdown of the area's beaches, see the guide to Wilmington's beaches.