51st Annual White Marlin Open Concludes with Impressive Catches and $8.59 Million in Prize Money
The 51st Annual White Marlin Open has concluded, marking another thrilling chapter in the world’s largest offshore billfish tournament. Despite rough weather conditions that extended the tournament by an extra day, 318 boats competed for a share of the $8.59 million prize pool, bringing in five impressive billfish to the scales and delivering unforgettable moments on the water.
This year’s tournament will be remembered for the incredible appearance of huge blue marlin and bigeye tuna in Ocean City, dominating the leaderboard. The historic first-place blue marlin secured its spot as one of the top five heaviest in WMO history.
Final Fishing Day Brings Few Changes
After day 6 of the 51st White Marlin Open, the big-money winners remained the same. The wahoo division finally had a qualifier as Ian Horowitz from North Wales, PA brought in a 70-pounder, caught off the American Lady out of Indian River, DE good for first place, and $68,500 in winnings. The other categories remained unchanged.
The white marlin division has the Waste Knot out of Raliegh, NC in first with a 77.5-pound white winning nearly $3.7 million. The local boat Billfisher from OC, MD, holds 2nd and $1,797,119 for Noah McVicker from Ocean City, MD.
The blue marlin were huge this year with the Stone Cutter out of St Augustine, FL, landing a monster 897.5-pounder and holding over $520,000 for angler Lance Blakemore from Horseheads, NY. The Moore Bills out of OC, MD, weighed a 894-pounder, grabbing 2nd and $410,900 for angler Phil Key from Millers Island, MD. Third place was claimed by the Bobojo from Manteo, NC. They weighed a 789.5-pound blue earning Hershel Martin from Montross, VA, $112,700.