Oettinger Offshore Open badge: a tuna leaping between two sportfishing boats, Oregon Inlet, October 9, 2026

Oregon Inlet · Since 2026

The Oettinger Offshore Open

Our family's annual offshore tournament. Two boats, one purse, and a year of bragging rights.

Once a year, family and friends split into two crews, run out of Oregon Inlet before sunrise, and fish for the purse. This page is the record of it, one chapter per year with the newest at the top.

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OOO 2026 coin logo with a leaping tuna

October 9, 2026 · The first one

Drifter takes the first title

Ten anglers, two boats, and a start at the dock before sunrise. The blackfin tuna were running hard, with a few king mackerel mixed in. The rules were simple: $600 to the winning boat, decided by the total weight of meat in the box rather than the single biggest fish. By the time the catch was weighed, Drifter had pulled ahead for the win.

The Boat

Qualifier

  • Kyle Dickerson
  • Brian Oettinger
  • Jeff Oettinger
  • Dave Morders
  • Karl Wappaus
2026 Champions

Drifter

  • Rick Tubman
  • Todd Huntt
  • Sean Mitchell
  • Neil Willoughby
  • Jason Moneymaker
The crews and the day's catch of blackfin tuna laid out on the dock at Oregon Inlet
The crews and the catch, back at the dock.

From the deck of Drifter

Drifter's winning catch of blackfin tuna and king mackerel laid out on the dock Two of the Drifter crew holding up a blackfin tuna Qualifier running offshore, seen from Drifter

From the deck of Qualifier

Qualifier tied up at the dock before dawn, rods rigged Rods in the holders as the sun comes up offshore The crew settling in on the cockpit on the run out Two anglers on the gunwale watching the lines Fighting a fish from the corner of the cockpit Bent rod and a determined angler in the first hour Leaning into a fish at the stern A blackfin tuna swung over the rail Reaching for a fish at the transom In the fighting chair with the crew looking on Drifter running past with her crew on deck A fish thrashing alongside as the mate goes to gaff it A tuna coming over the gunwale All smiles in the fighting chair Swinging a blackfin into the boat Cranking from the fighting chair The fish box filling up with blackfin tuna Another tuna swung aboard over Qualifier's name One more over the side in the afternoon

Tap any photo to see it full size.

Back on land

Both crews regrouped for dinner at Ketch 55, then headed back to the house for a fierce game of Qualifier. That's the dice game, not the boat: you need a 4 and a 1 to qualify, the rest of your dice are your score, and 24 is perfect. Dave Morders was the big winner at around $700, more than the tournament purse, and he rolled out first thing the next morning without buying anyone breakfast.

Players around the dining table at the beach house rolling dice for Qualifier, with cash on the table
Qualifier, the dice game, back at the house.

Fish the same water.

Oregon Inlet is about an hour up the road from the house. Run offshore by day, then come back to the oceanfront deck.

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