Signing Out Wins South Carolina King Mackerel Classic
Captain Bobby Stalvey's crew took the Fall Classic title with a 104.3-pound winning weight among 83 entries.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Fishing
Signing Out won the South Carolina Fall Classic king mackerel tournament with a winning weight of 104.3 pounds, earning $12,000. The tournament, which drew 83 entries, paid the top seven finishers.
Why it matters
The result reflects how anglers can build a winning total from two strong fish days within the tournament's Sept. 21 to Oct. 23 window. It also shows how competitive South Carolina's fall king mackerel fishery remains for participants across the state.
The winning total of 104.3 pounds came from king mackerel of 38, 29.9, 34.1 and 32.2 pounds caught over two fish days, with the tournament's largest fish a 39.6-pound catch by Last Minute. Water temperatures stayed warm late into the season, which the tournament director said probably kept any 40-pound fish from being boated.
The players
Signing Out
The winning boat of the South Carolina Fall Classic king mackerel tournament, captained by Bobby Stalvey of Conway.
The details
Participants chose any two fish days between Sept. 21 and Oct. 23 and weighed two fish each day, discarding the smaller one. Signing Out, captained by Bobby Stalvey of Conway, returned for a second day after a strong first outing on Oct. 15.
Timeline
Sept. 21 - Oct. 23: Window for selecting two fish days in the tournament
Oct. 15: Signing Out's first fish day
Oct. 16: Signing Out's second fish day
Season Trajectory
The Fall Classic's fish-day format, which lets anglers select their best two days and weigh two fish each day, shapes how winning totals are built across the season. The result follows the tournament's established pattern of rewarding consistent multi-day catches over single standout fish.
Anglers planning to enter future king mackerel tournaments should note the two-fish-per-day format and the Sept. 21 to Oct. 23 selection window. Entry costs and the size of the potential payout will factor into whether crews commit to the Hang 'Em High event.
The takeaway
Consistent catches across two fish days can outweigh a single big fish in tournament scoring. Anglers aiming for the top spots should plan both days carefully rather than relying on one standout catch.
What happens next
The Hang 'Em High King Mackerel Tournament will hold its captain's meeting Nov. 3 at Hilton Head Island, with fish days set for Nov. 6-7. Entries cost $5,000 per boat, with a potential $100,000 payout for the winner.
Further reading
For more on competitive angling, see Fishing coverage across the state.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Post and Courier.
