All you all ready for some Maui Wowie!!! Cheee hoooo!!! USAngling is very excited to announce the 2nd Regional Qualifier in the Regional Qualifier Series. The Makena Landing Kayak Fishing Tournament will be held October 5th-6th in Kihei, Maui. The top 10 anglers with the biggest fish will receive a direct invite to USAngling’s Saltwater Kayak Fishing’s National Championship; to be held with Extreme Kayak Fishing in Pompano Beach, Florida 2025. David Elgas, Vice President of USAngling Saltwater Kayak Fishing said “This is the very first time that a Regional Qualifier has ever been held in Hawaiian waters and we are very proud to give Hawaii kayak anglers a path forward to the National Championship.”

Maui’s Makena Landing Tournament is one of the nations premier big game kayak fishing tournaments with a variety of pelagic species on tap including wahoo, mahi, tuna, sailfish and billfish. The tournament offers an Inshore Division, and a Youth Division too. Working together with the community, this year’s event will also feature a Limu Restoration Project, to help restore local seaweed onto reefs. This family tournament will offer live music and a traditionally cooked pig. 18 years running, the Makena Landing Tournament will surely highlight some of Hawaii’s top kayak anglers, who will make a fine selection to the National Championship. “Here on Maui, and on the outer islands, the athletes take this sport very seriously. We are looking forward to seeing the island’s best kayak anglers compete to find out who will represent the Hawaii region in the 2025 National Championships”, said Regional Tournament Director Tai Over. Regional Athlete Gilbert Tabon says” being able to show off what we can do and what we have learned in the culture of fishing here in the islands on a National stage gives us anglers an opportunity of a lifetime.” USA Team Member and Pan American gold medal winner Corey Apo said, “to see how far Tai Over and the Maui Kayak community have brought this event has been truly amazing.”

The Regional Qualifier Series consists of 6 Regional Qualifiers held across the USA. The Top 10 anglers from each 6 Regions (60) will be selected to compete in the National Championship, along with Team Alumni and select Wild Cards. The top 14 anglers from the National Championship will then be selected to represent Team USA in future Pan American and World Championships. The 3rd Regional Qualifier in the series will be the Extreme Kayak Fishing Sailfish Smackdown held late Jan 2025 in Pompano Beach, Florida. FYI: The next World Championships are in Italy 2025, and in Portugal 2026.

For more information about a Regional Qualifier near you, and how you can qualify for the 2025 National Championships and Team USA, please visit our website at https://usangling.org/saltwater-kayak-fishing/

Or contact Annie Nagel at usakfs@usangling.org or (707) 495-2625