2024 Big Fish Classic Has 88 Boats and $1.158 Million in Prize Money
By Scott Lenox
Posted on July 25th, 2024
Hit the vid for the Daily Catch at Sunset Marina!
We had to contend with rain for most of the day today, but the wind was light and there was still plenty of fishing to be had. The weather looks awesome for this weekend’s HUK Big Fish Classic Tournament at the Talbot Street Pier and this year 88 boats are vying for over $1.1 Million in prize money. Come see me as emcee all weekend! Scales are open tomorrow and Saturday from 4 – 9 PM and Sunday from 4 – 8 PM. Good luck to anyone fishing!
Captain Jason Mumford of Lucky Break Charters had another nice day of fishing today for his groups. This morning it was a bunch of bluefish and this afternoon it was some keeper flounder with plenty of throwbacks.
Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing was all over the rays in the south bay today for his shooters putting them on some big cow nosed and southerns.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star wants to see nicer weather too, but he’ll deal with it as long as some sea bass are biting.
Dagone.. Another day that didn’t pass OC Chamber of Commerce specs. Rain/wind, but not too much wind, thank you very much! I had 9 brave souls, including some of my best regular anglers, who wanted to try their luck knowing full well Hurricane Murray was aboard.
Jared from up York PA dropped two pyramids atop Calder’s Reef.
We kept goin.
Upon arrival at my starting grounds today Vic hollered up, “Whale!”
Meant it too.
Great big fin whale.
Dang! There was another and another! Big boys. Our NatGeo moment was right where I was going to fish anyway. We didn’t need to chase em for a snap.
What kind of day’s fishing? Those familiar with bottom fishing will commiserate. Clients had 12 ounce sinkers, yet needed to continuously drop back line to hold bottom.
Worked – they got bit – for a while. Caught some pretty ones even.
Then we could hold no more.
I moved to a favorite old wreck and anchored. With only 9 people, and several of those long time regulars, I found myself at the rail ready to show em how it’s done.
Wrong.
Two of the killingest anglers you’d ever know – David & Bernie – plus my dern self & Ken had to suffer the insufferable as Hurricane caught one after the other on a jig.
I’ve seen Bernie limit on mahi and sea bass before most had a single fish in the box. I’ve seen David “Cornflower” catch the first limit trip after trip in early winter – have double digits in summer when some were praying for a keeper.. I’ve even caught a couple few myself.
But today?
..we could only watch while Hurricane Murray boxed em up.
Looking for an out so maybe Hurricanne wouldn’t notice he was kicking my arse (Fat Chance!) ..we’d had a few red hake come up. Recognizing my chances of even beginning to keep pace with Hurricane’s hot rod as nil, I rerigged my bait rod so both hooks were quite low, sent it to the bottom with boat bait and almost instantly caught a red hake (aka ling.)
Next drop I got hung.
Oh Devil with it. Suddenly I had to go write!
Next drop Shawn from Missouri took the pool.. My turn in the Rodney Dangerfield seat!
Not a pretty fish, folks often give red hake away. I’ll be frying a few for dinner tonight and a fish sandwich tomorrow..
We have ‘rent fish’ from yesterday’s fantastic sea bass bite too. That is to say the folks who so generously allow us to clutter their West OC lot with blocks and pyramids for reef building won’t take a dime in land rent – but they do love fresh fish.
That’s a deal!
And, like everyone else in Ocean City; the whole Mid-Atlantic? We fishermen sure could use some nice weather..
Cheers!!
Monty
Check out my awesome trip on the Morning Star with Captain Monty Hawkins…….Subscribe!!
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