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Strong Fishing and Big Payouts Sets the Stage for 53rd White Marlin Open
The stage is set for the 53rd Annual White Marlin Open, with 334 boats competing for an estimated $9.9 million in prize money during the six-day tournament beginning Monday, August 3.
Offshore fishing has been red hot. Boats have returned to port flying multiple white and blue marlin release flags throughout the past week. Last Sunday, the Ocean City boat Maverick released 19 white marlin and one blue marlin. On Thursday, Max Bet raised 51 white marlin in Spencer Canyon and released 30. Shark Bite followed Friday with 27
white marlin and one blue marlin released. Tuna fishing has also remained productive for the past month. This year’s tournament includes two major changes. Boats may now select their three fishing days from a six-day window rather than the traditional five days. That added flexibility could prove important immediately, with rough conditions forecast for Monday
before seas improve to approximately 3 to 4 feet for much of the remaining week. The tournament has also added two billfish entry levels for boats competing without
omnidirectional sonar, giving non-sonar boats additional opportunities in both weighed marlin and billfish-release competition.
Gear Up for the White Marlin Open
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53 Years and Over $121,000,000 in Prize Money
The White Marlin Open is a 53-year-old deep-sea fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland. Long known as the “World’s Largest Billfishing Tournament,” the Open has awarded over $121 million for catches of the gamefish that migrate up the Gulf Stream each summer. The first tournament was held in 1974 and drew 57 boats, 150 anglers, and paid $20,000 in prize money. The 2025 event drew 282 boats, over 3,000 contestants, and awarded over $7.24 million dollars in prize money, including the top individual prize of $3.9 million dollars.