Posted on August 10th, 2018
It was an exciting final day to the 45th Annual White Marlin Open as 335 boats out of 382 gave it one last shot to see if they could cash in on some of the $5.45 Million that was up for grabs. We saw some daily meat fish winners that didn’t hit the leaderboard, but will cash some sizable checks, we saw a new first place wahoo that would also take the small boat big fish money and win over $115,000 and we saw a dramatic white marlin weigh in that would see a shift of over $2.5 Million with another fish of the exact same size. The Underdog was leading the white marlin category with a beautiful 83 pound white marlin until today when the Weldor’s Ark weighed a white marlin of the exact same size. The only difference between the two fish was the way that they were brought into the boat. White Marlin Open rule #2 under “Fishing Guidelines” states that, “In the event of a tie in the weight of a white marlin, the fish that is not gaffed will be considered the winner of the two.” Because the Underdog gaffed their 83 pound fish and the Weldor’s Ark did not, Weldor’s Ark’s 83 pound white marlin would be declared first place fish and Underd0g’s fish would be bumped into second. Unfortunately that was an expensive gaff shot as the difference between first and second place would be more than $2.4 Million. Congratulations to all of the winners of the 45th Annual White Marlin Open.
Wahoo
3rd Place Canyon Hunter 55 Lbs $21,471
2nd Place Desperado 58 Lbs $1,848
1st Place Over-Board 63 Lbs $115,271
Dolphin
3rd Place Moxie Boys 36 Lbs $16,636
2nd Place Rigged Up 41 Lbs $18,646
1st Place Fin-Nominal 50 Lbs $19,646
Tuna
3rd Place Brass Monkey 71 Lbs $215,916
2nd Place Blinky IV 73.5 Lbs $135,421
1st Place Buckshot 75.5 Lbs $904,851
Blue Marlin
1st Place Auspicious 881 Lbs $924,936
White Marlin
3rd Place Lights Out 75 Lbs $85,804
2nd Place Underdog 83 Lbs $129,784
1st Place Weldor’s Ark 83 Lbs $2,584,260
Steve Murphy of Ropewalk Ocean City fished on the Liquid RX today where the crew measured and released a 69.5″ white marlin.
Captain Monty Hawkins of the party boat Morning Star reported a good day of bottom fishing today. Here’s Yvonne Pruitt & Mick Gre is of Willard’s / John Griffin of Pine Bush NY with his pool winner 23.25 inch fluke / Jack Wig of Pine Branch NJ / & Andrew Seal of Port Jefferson NY with some of today’s catch from Morning Star.
Captain Chase Eberle of Chasin’ Tides Charters had some successful catch and release shark action last night putting his anglers on some really big sand tiger sharks.
Bay Time Charters with Captain Brad McCabe at the helm put his happy crew on three keeper flounder on the outgoing tide today.
Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing had a couple of successful trips today in the south bay. Captain Marc put his shooters on some terrific action with some big southern rays.
Marc Turner fished the north Ocean City surf with cut bunker and had some fun catching and releasing some small sharks.
I’ve got a great update from Blume’s Balloon Round Up after the White Marlin Open…..Joshua and Emily Blume have had 931 balloons reported rounded up from our waterways and they are really close to reaching and surpassing their goal of 1,000 for the summer.
