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.
Friday’s Fishing Brings No Leaderboard Changes
While the weighed fish bring the most excitement to the viewing crowds during the Open, the 17 boats that fished today (in 5-8 foot seas) didn’t change the leaderboard of cash winners.
That allows the focus to turn to the most prestigious honors. The category that is unseen by the thousands of fans following the tournament goes to the boats and anglers catching and releasing the most billfish during the event. These are fish, (rarely seen at the scales), that represent a team effort between the boat, captain, mate, and angler to rank high in the standings. While luck plays a larger part in landing the heaviest fish, the effort needed to place high in the billfish points categories requires more team skill than netting the biggest fish.