The old saying, “There’s no time like the present,” has a special ring to it right now! The seasons for the Big King and Big Buck Classics presented by EJW Outdoors in Morehead City, may have begun a few months ago, but savvy Tar Heel fishermen and hunters know the prime time for bagging the winning king or deer is right now.
With four different entry levels, there are many ways to be a winner in the Big King and Big Buck Classics. The Big King Classic recognizes the heaviest kings caught by registered fishermen, plus top lady anglers, junior anglers and even a tournament-within-a-tournament for the heaviest two-fish aggregate weight.
The Big Buck Classic uses the Boone and Crockett Scoring System to recognize the top bucks taken by registered hunters, plus top bow and muzzleloader bucks and even a special unlimited tournament-within-a-tournament that is open to hunters visiting other areas.
Twelve years ago, EJW Outdoors began a small Big Buck Contest. In just a couple of years it had grown to the level the Crystal Coast Civic Center was the only place in the area large enough to hold the banquet. Last year, over 275 men, women and children participated in the contest and over 600 people attended the banquet at the Civic Center, where over $10,000 in cash and prizes was awarded.
With that growing success in hand, EJW owner, David Willis, decided he wanted to expand on the idea and carry it over to fishing also. By late spring, plans for the 2008 EJW Outdoors Big King Classic and Big Buck Classic had been finalized and the events announced.
Presented by Collins Inc. of Smithfield and sponsored by Hydra-Sports, Yamaha, Berkley, Sea Striker, Star Rods &0 West Marina, Eastman Carpet, Kittrell Auto Parts, Coastal Yacht Hanger Dry Stack and North Carolina Sportsman magazine, the EJW Big King Classic began on May 1 and runs through December 31. Any king caught legally in N.C. waters by a previously registered fisherman eligible for prizes. Even pier fishermen can compete.
If a king is caught during a tournament, the weight receipt from the tournament will be accepted for entry. Otherwise the king must be weighed at one of the participating weigh stations. North to south across the N.C. coast, they are; TW’s Bait and Tackle in Kitty Hawk, Corolla and Nags Head; The Roost Bait and Tackle at Teacher’s Lair in Hatteras; EJW Outdoors in Morehead City or Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington. The minimum size for entering the contest is 25 pounds or 44 inches long and fishermen may only win one prize in each category.
Kings are not required to be caught during a tournament—just between May 1 and December 31—but the fisherman must be registered prior to catching and entering a king. As tournament director Bill Raper said, “In the Big King Classic, you can fish on your own schedule. If you leave work early Wednesday afternoons and catch a big king during one of those trips, just take it by the closest weigh station and have them weigh it.”
A Big King Banquet will be held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on April 24, 2009 for all participants in the 2008 EJW Big King Classic and their guests. This banquet will serve as the Awards Banquet for the 2008 contest and the Kick-off Party for the 2009 event.
The 2008 Big Buck Classic began on September 13, with the opening of the eastern deer season. Offering four different levels of competition, it will continue through January 1, when all N.C. deer hunting seasons close. With the exception of level IV, Unlimited, all deer must be taken during the eastern N.C. deer season.
The 2008 EJW Big Buck Classic is presented by North Carolina Sportsman Magazine, with assistance from Britt Motorsports. All deer must be scored at EJW Outdoors. In the event of a scoring tie, the deer entered earliest will win the tiebreaker.
The Big Buck Banquet will be held at the Crystal Coast Civic Center on January 23, 2009 for all participants in the 2008 EJW Big Buck Classic and their guests. At this time all the winners will be announced. Cash and prizes will be awarded to the five largest bucks overall, plus the largest bow buck, largest blackpowder buck and three places each in largest youth buck and largest ladies buck. Hunters may only win one prize in each category.
For more information, call EJW Outdoors at 252-247-4725 or visit www.ejwoutdoors.com. Entry forms that may be printed and mailed are also available on-line.
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