SKA National Championships

SKA Nationals

Get ready for the 31st Annual SKA National Championship in Biloxi, Mississippi, at Point Cadet Marina, December 4-8, 2024!

This is a TWO DAY, TWO FISH AGGREGATE event. Fishing Days Friday and Saturday. Weather days are Thursday and Sunday.

Qualifiers Registration Location Rules Payouts TWTs Schedule Marinas & Boat Ramps Bait, Tackle & Equipment

UPDATES for 2024

Bait Limits: SKA Teams are required to adhere to local, state and federal RECREATIONAL bait limits regardless of licensing.

Nationals Crew: Should your team qualify for the National Championships, any and all adult (age 18+) crew members must have fished in AT LEAST ONE regular season event with the qualifying team. This does not apply to Junior and NextGen anglers. Captains can fish with their original team or may pick their crew as long as crew members meet all criteria listed. ALL ANGLERS on a National Championship crew MUST BE CURRENT SKA competition members PRIOR TO the National Championship FISHING DAY 1. The addition of a hired "local captain" to your team is strictly prohibited.

Nationals Teams: Crew members may ONLY FISH WITH ONE TEAM during Nationals. Team members are declared at registration and no later than the end of the Nationals Captain's Meeting.

Category Awards: If a crew member does not fish one day for any reason, the team's points from that day will not be included in that crew member's Category Awards rankings. Category Awards points can only be earned if that crew member actively fishes. A crew member can still rank for Category Awards with a single day's points. Category Awards include Junior, NextGen, Lady, Senior and Veteran Anglers.

Additional Fuel: For the 2024 Nationals in Biloxi, teams may carry additional fuel in a safe and secure manner at the Captain's discretion, adhering to all laws and regulations as applicable.

Biloxi Start: All boats must leave from a Biloxi marina/boat ramp.

QUALIFIERS

To qualify for the National Championship a team must have:
1) Weighed a fish in AT LEAST ONE sanctioned event in the current tournament season;
2) AND finish in the current tournament season in the GREATER of:
A) Top 25%* of the Division's Class OR
B) The top 25* of the Division's Open Class / the top 15* of the Division's Small Boat Class.

* Number of teams is determined by the total number of participating teams in that Division Class fishing AT LEAST ONE sanctioned event for the current tournament season regardless of whether the team weighed a fish.

Additional Qualifiers and Exceptions:

1) If a team qualifies in multiple Divisions, that team will be excluded from qualifying ranking lists in all but the highest ranked Division.
2) Past National Champions, Hall of Fame inductees, AND past Anglers of the Year are automatically qualified for the Championship and will be excluded from any Divisional qualifying ranking lists.
3) Teams that ranked 1st, 2nd or 3rd in their Class in 2023's Divisional rankings are automatically qualified for the Championship and will be excluded from any Divisional qualifying ranking lists.
4) The SKA will allow for a current SKA Partner to nominate Teams otherwise not qualifying. The Team entered must be in good membership standing with the SKA.

Teams that meet these criteria will be invited to compete in the SKA's National Championship and will receive an invitation as notification of their selection.

Crew members may ONLY FISH WITH ONE TEAM during Nationals. Team members are declared at registration and no later than the end of the Nationals Captain's Meeting.

SKA Corporate Partners and members of the press are the only exceptions and must be approved by the SKA management prior to fishing. Captains must submit a request to the SKA for an exemption at least 60 days prior (by October 1) to the National Championship.

REGISTRATION

Registration for the 2024 SKA National Championships is by INVITATION ONLY. Invitations have gone out by email to qualified teams. If you believe you should have received an invitaton but did not, first check your SPAM/JUNK folder, then contact us.

Already registered? Check in your anglers here. You can make changes until the end of the Captain's Meeting.

Online pre-registration is CLOSED. In-person registration is $900 starting December 4. In-person registration in Biloxi at the Point Cadet Marina will be available December 4, 2024 between 9AM until around 4PM. After 4PM, registration and TWT entry will continue at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum. Card payments will include a 4% processing fee. Kingfish Calcuttas (TWTs) are CASH ONLY in-person December 4, 2024 between 9AM and 8PM.

LOCATION

The SKA Nationals will take place at Point Cadet Marina in Biloxi, MS.

RULES

No checkout. Lines in at 7:30 AM each fishing day. One fish weighed per day; two fishing days. Boats must leave from a Biloxi marina/boat ramp.For complete rules, view the PDF. Last updated December 2, 2024 3:25 PM.

Payout Schedule

The payouts below are based on 100 Open Class and 25 Small Boat teams. We'll adjust the final payment structure according to the number of registered teams. For the National Championship, the SKA will pay out 100% of entry fees.

OPEN CLASS:

(10 Places based on 100 Boats)

$50,000 plus Loadmaster Trailers credit
$9,000 plus Loadmaster Trailers credit and Cannon Downrigger prize package
$7,000 plus Cannon Downrigger prize package
$5,000
$3,000
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000
$800
$700

SMALL BOAT CLASS:

(5 Places based on 25 Boats)

$12,500 plus Loadmaster Trailers credit and Cannon Downrigger prize package
$3,000 plus Cannon Downrigger prize package
$2,000
$1,500
$1,000

TWTS

All TWTs are optional. Kingfish Calcuttas (TWTs) are CASH ONLY in-person December 4, 2024 between 9AM and 8PM.

50/30/20 Split TWTs:
Open Class Big Fish Day 1 TWT - $100
Open Class Big Fish Day 2 TWT - $100
Small Boat Big Fish Day 1 TWT - $100
Small Boat Big Fish Day 2 TWT - $100
Big Fish TWT - $250
High Roller TWT - $1,000
Big 40 TWT - $100 (Closest to 40lbs)
2-Fish Aggregate TWT - $250

Winner Take All TWTs:
2-Fish Aggregate WTA TWT - $500
Big Money 2-Fish Aggregate WTA TWT - $2,000

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, Nov 30
Last day of online Pre-registration ($800) at 11:59PM

WEDNESDAY, Dec 4 at Point Cadet Marina and the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum
In-person pre-registration: 9AM - 8PM
Division Awards & Captain's Party: 5:30 - 8PM (Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum)
Captain's Meeting: 7PM
(Last day for Pre-Registration ($900), Kingfish Calcutta (TWT Cash ONLY) )

THURSDAY, Dec 5 at Point Cadet Marina
SKA Media Day (Team pictures/interviews)
Weather Day Option (if bad weather forecasted for weekend)

FRIDAY, Dec 6 at Point Cadet Marina
Fishing Day 1: Lines in the water at 7:30AM
Boats must leave from a Biloxi marina/boat ramp
Tournament Village Opens at 12PM
Weigh-In: Opens at 3PM, must be at check in by 5PM

SATURDAY, Dec 7 at Point Cadet Marina
Fishing Day 2: Lines in the water at 7:30AM
Boats must leave from a Biloxi marina/boat ramp
Tournament Village Opens at 11AM
Weigh-in: 2PM, must be at check-in by 4PM
SKA Nationals Awards: 7PM

SUNDAY, Dec 8 at Point Cadet Marina
Weather Day 2 (alternative fishing day if weather was a factor on previously scheduled fishing days)

*Special Weather Note - The SKA will monitor all weather and sea conditions for the week and will alert teams of any changes of schedule and fishing times. If weather is an issue, the SKA may elect to go to a Captains Choice option for days that could be better option. Our main goal is safety of all our SKA Teams and anglers.

HOTELS & RENTALS

HOTELS

Golden Nugget Casino, Biloxi – 4035 Arendell St (Map) - hilton.com - 252-246-2300
Palace Casino and Resort, Biloxi – 151 Beach Blvd (Map) - goldennugget.com - 228-435-5400
Margaritaville Resort, Biloxi – 195 Beach Blvd (Map) - margaritavilleresortbiloxi.com - 228-271-6377
Beau Rivage Resort, Biloxi – 875 Beach Blvd (Map) - beaurivage.mgmresorts.com - 228-386-7111
Hard Rock Hotel, Biloxi – 777 Beach Blvd (Map) - hrhcbiloxi.com - 228-374-7625
Hyatt Place Biloxi, Biloxi – 1150 Beach Blvd (Map) - hyatt.com - 228-206-0950
Holiday Inn Express, Biloxi – 1686 Beach Blvd (Map) - ihg.com - 888-465-4329)
Hampton Inn, Biloxi – 1138 Beach Blvd (Map) - hilton.com - 228-435-9010
Hilton Garden Inn, Biloxi – 648 Beach Blvd (Map) - hilton.com - 228-325-2900

MARINAS & BOAT RAMPS

MARINAS

Point Cadet Marina – 119 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (Map) - 228-436-9312, facebook.com/pointcadetmarina/ (fuel, slip rentals)
The Point Cadet Marina is the largest marina in Biloxi. It is located on the East point of Biloxi. The harbor features 29 new floating docks with full-length finger piers and in-slip pump-out stations as well as 212 fixed docks which can accommodate boats from 25' to 100' and transient vessels up to 135'.

Number of Berths: 241
Berth Sizes: 25 – 100 feet
Amenities: Water, electricity, showers, restrooms, laundry facility, bait shop, fuel dock, security cameras, wireless internet, pump out station, on-site oil disposal area for recycling used oil, and harbormasters on duty at all times.

BOAT RAMPS

Small Craft Harbor and Boat Ramp – 679 Beach Blvd., Biloxi (Map), 228-436-4062
The Biloxi Small Craft Harbor is conveniently located in downtown "Ole Biloxi". The building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and rebuilt in August 2010. Located on site is McElroy's Harbor House Seafood Restaurant. There is a boat ramp with trailer parking available for public use.
Number of Berths: 119
Berth Sizes: 25 – 50 feet

Parker's Creek Boat Launch – Parker's Creek (Off Woolmarket Exit) (Map)
Located on East Oaklawn Road (Exit 41), this boat launch is ideal for smaller boats and has ample trailer parking. Located on Parker's Creek, the boat launch is minutes away from the Biloxi River.

Lee Street Boat Launching Ramp – Lee Street at Bayview, Biloxi (Map)
The Lee Street Boat Ramp is located within the Sherman V. Canaan Back Bay Fishing Dock at Bayview Avenue and Lee Street. It provides quick access to the Back Bay of Biloxi.

Kuhn Street Boat Launching Ramp – Kuhn St. at US Hwy 90, Biloxi (Map)
Located on Beach Boulevard and Kuhn Street, the Kuhn Street Boat Ramp was rebuilt in 2012 and has close access to the barrier islands. There is a public parking lot with ample trailer parking.

Hiller Park Boat Launch – Located in Hiller Park off Pass Road, Biloxi (Map)
Located in Hiller Park, the Hiller Park Boat Ramp was recently rebuilt. It provides quick access to the Biloxi Bay. There is a large parking lot on site with ample trailer parking. The launch includes two finger piers.

BAIT, TACKLE, EQUIPMENT

Gorenflo's Tackle and Marina Store – 119 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (Map) - 228-432-7387, gorenflostackle.com
Point Cadet Fuel & Ice – 119 Beach Blvd, Biloxi (Map) - 228-432-0454

From Gorenflo's Tackle and Marina Store:
We have 89 octane / No Ethanol fuel. If you like, you may start an account at the beginning of the tournament and pay at the end with a check or cash. This will save you the 3.5% credit card fee.

We have access to ribbon fish if you need them. There are 20 ribbon fish to a case wrapped 2 to a pack. They will need to be reserved by Nov. 18, 2024. Please contact us to reserve them. We also stock other bait including shrimp, squid, finger mullet, cigar minnows, ballyhoo, pogies, and large trolling squid.

We have 7lb ice for $2.00 a bag and 20lb ice for $4.00 a bag.

In the tackle area we stock downrigger weights 8# and 10#, sabiki rigs, assorted weights including bell sinkers from 1/4 oz. to 5 oz. and plenty of other tackle.