Tuna Rule Day One
Tuna were the big winners at the weigh-ins on day one of the 50th Annual White Marlin Open. While 378 of the 400 registered boats fished, a lot of billfish were caught but all were released as none looked big enough to weigh. And while over $6 million is still reserved for billfish, the prize money for the weighed tuna was not shabby. Robert Wagner from Blue Bell, PA weighed a 199-pound bigeye tuna to claim first place and is now holding $1,000,000 for the fish that was caught off the Instigator out of Ocean City, MD. The BowDown out of Shark River, NJ weighed a 118-pound bigeye tuna caught by Angelo Ponte from New York, NY. Ponte’s tuna is currently winning $429,000. Nestled in third place with $38,000 is local Philip Houck from Ocean City, MD with a 64.5-pound yellowfin tuna caught off the Skid Row out of Ocean City, MD.
400 Boats Chasing a Record $10.3 Million in Total Prize Money
The White Marlin Open launches its 50th Annual edition Monday morning, Aug 7, with “lines in” at 8:00 AM. The 400 registered boats will be vying for a tournament record of $10.3 million dollars in total prize money.
Most boats will head to the gamefish-rich canyon areas from 60 to 75 miles off the Ocean City coast in search of fish worth their weight in gold. Each boat is permitted to fish any three of the five fishing days from Monday, Aug 7 through Friday, Aug 11. Because Monday’s offshore weather forecast looks like the best over the next three days, most boats should fish, and the early risers should see a great boat parade between 4:00 and 6:00 AM at the Ocean City Inlet Monday morning.