Does OCEANCITY.MD sell entries for Battle for the Buckles?

No—register only through the official tournament or host marina channels linked on this page. We publish planning context, not entry desks.

Will this tournament affect my recreational charter day?

Often yes near host docks—weigh-in crowds, trailer traffic, and reserved slips can slow staging. Ask your captain, and keep a non-tournament backup window. See charter trip picker and marinas .

Where is the tournament based?

The 2026 listing names Sunset Marina in West Ocean City; confirm slip, registration, and weigh procedures with the organizer.

Offshore mixed · 4th Annual

Battle for the Buckles Tournament

Name: Battle for the Buckles Tournament
Start: 2026-06-25
End: 2026-06-28
Location: Sunset Marina

Four-day Sunset Marina offshore tournament with buckle prizes, giving canyon crews a late-June warm-up before the holiday tournament run.

June 25–28, 2026

Status (Eastern US date): Loading…

Confirm entry fees, lines-out times, and public weigh-in access with organizers before you travel. Status uses US Eastern calendar dates.

All fishing tournaments Events calendar page Official website

About this tournament

Battle for the Buckles returns for its fourth annual run June 25–28 at Sunset Marina in West Ocean City.

The multi-day offshore format and buckle prizes make it a useful early-season checkpoint for crews building toward July tuna and billfish events.

Sunset Avenue is a working marina corridor, so leave time for fuel, ice, trailer movement, and boats returning at similar hours.

The event falls immediately before the July 4 holiday period, when lodging and road traffic begin to tighten.

Visitors can use marinas, weather, and offshore fishing to plan around a canyon day.

At a glance

Host: Sunset Marina
Venue: Sunset Marina
Format: Four-day offshore tournament at Sunset Marina; confirm eligible species, fishing days, scoring, and prize divisions directly with the host.
Target species: Offshore species (verify rules)
Phone: 443-807-0822

For spectators

This is not advertised as a public scale festival; ask Sunset Marina before planning dock access.
West Ocean City restaurant and marina parking can be busiest near return windows.

For anglers & crews

Confirm the current rules and buckle categories with the organizer at 443-807-0822.
Build weather contingencies into a multi-day offshore plan.

Planning tips

Pad marina and Route 50 minutes—tournament weeks compress West Ocean City and inlet corridors.
Book lodging early; billfish and tuna weeks stack with summer beach demand.
Confirm weigh-in windows and public viewing rules with the host marina before you promise kids a “scale night.”
Book West Ocean City lodging before the holiday-week rush.
Leave a fuel and ice buffer before morning departure.

Tickets, registration & official links

Related fishing tournaments

Fish N Paddle Saltwater Slam — June 27–28, 2026
Canyon Kick-Off — July 3–5, 2026 (fish 1 of 3 days; registration July 2)
Ocean City Tuna Tournament — July 9–12, 2026 (registration July 9 · fish 2 of 3 days July 10–12)

FAQs

Does OCEANCITY.MD sell entries for Battle for the Buckles?: No—register only through the official tournament or host marina channels linked on this page. We publish planning context, not entry desks.
Will this tournament affect my recreational charter day?: Often yes near host docks—weigh-in crowds, trailer traffic, and reserved slips can slow staging. Ask your captain, and keep a non-tournament backup window. See charter trip picker and marinas.
Where is the tournament based?: The 2026 listing names Sunset Marina in West Ocean City; confirm slip, registration, and weigh procedures with the organizer.