Thursday has long been known as “Moving Day” for the White Marlin Open and today was no exception. “Moving Day” refers to the money movement on the leader board. For the first three days, the bigeye tuna took the spotlight and were holding the bulk of the $8.6 million money because no marlin had qualified.
That changed at about 6:00 PM when the “Cabana,” out of Fenwick Island, DE, came to the scales with a 511-pound blue marlin. The blue was taken by Bill Britt from Sandy Spring, MD, to vault into first place as the only qualifier in that division and Bill is currently winning $960,000 for his efforts. Within a half-hour after weighing the “Cabana’s” blue, the “C- Student” out of Southside Place, TX, cruised to the scales with a boated white marlin flag flying. Their white was first measured to test the length, (which must meet our 70” minimum) before it can be weighed. The white measured 73” but still needed to cross one more hurdle: it needed to meet our minimum weight of 70-pounds to qualify for prize money. As angler Keeley Megarity from Houston, TX watched, the digital scale confirmed their hopes as it settled at 71.5-pounds taking over first place and the $2,800,000 that came with that achievement.
The top two bigeye tuna caught earlier in the tournament held their position. The “Southern C's” 247.5-pound bigeye and the “Big Stick’s” 246.5-pounder are still holding $960,000 and $100,000, respectively. A new 3rd place tuna was weighed today when the “Komotose” out of Manteo, NC, weighed a 242.5-pound bigeye. Because the “Komotose” is in more added entry skill levels, the fish caught by Richard Hawse from Pasadena, MD, is now worth $320,000.
The top wahoo stayed the same with the ”Jenny Poo” out of Palm Beach FL winning $20,000 for their 71-pound wahoo. A big dolphin of 59.5-pounds was weighed off the "Irene" out of Stewart, FL. The fish vaulted into first and is clutching the $24,000 in winnings.
Friday should see a dramatic finish as 286 boats are still eligible to fish on the last day. Also, the boats have a better idea of where to fish. The offshore weather forecast is good and that should help anglers find bigger qualifiers to weigh on the final day of the 2022 White Marlin Open.
