Posted on July 15th, 2018
It was an exciting third day at the scales at the Ocean City Fishing Center for the 31st Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament with some leaderboard changes that really caused some money to change hands. I knew it was going to be a good day when the Playmate was waiting at the dock at 3:00 PM waiting for the scales to open at 4 with a bluefin that measured 62″. I know that a 62″ bluefin is well over 100 pounds and when weighmaster Greenie called it 144 I had a feeling that it was going to win some money…..and it did! Big thanks to Rolfe Gudelsky, Brian Tinkler, Jen Blunt and all of the OCFC staff for a great event. Thank you to Dave Messick and the Ocean City Fishing Center for the pics! Here’s y0ur final leaderboard.
Before I get into the places I want to mention the special award that the Ocean City Tuna Tournament gives out for an individual that continuously makes an impact on the fishing community in Ocean City called the Bobby Gower Award. This year’s Bobby Gower award was given to Hooked on OC’s very own Dave Messick for his tireless work in the fishing community that has spanned over 20 years. I work with Dave on an almost daily basis this time of year and I can tell you that it is very well deserved. Congratulations Devo!!
Top Lady Angler
3rd Place Lucky Duck II 51 Lbs
2nd Place Reel Chaos 54 Lbs
1st Place That’s Right 58 Lbs
Top Junior Angler
1st and 2nd Let it Ride 54 Lbs
Wahoo
1st Place Troublemaker 41 Lbs
Dolphin
3rd Place Reel Chaos 36 Lbs
2nd Place Seakeeper 42 Lbs
1st Place Spring Mix II 49 Lbs
Heaviest Stringer
3rd Place No Quarter 301 Lbs
2nd Place Marli 314 Lbs
1st Place Goin’ In Deep 325 Lbs $227,000+
Heaviest Single Fish
3rd Place Tie Fin Chaser / Panty Snatchr 65 Lbs
2nd Place Magic Moment 73 Lbs
1st Place Playmate 144 Lbs $328,000+
Congratulations to all of the winners in the 2018 Ocean City Tuna Tournament!
Outside of the tournament, I got a message late last night from Captain Brandon Speilman who had what I think is the single best day of blue marlin fishing ever out of Ocean City. We’ll have to see what records we can find, but I don’t know of anyone who has caught five blue marlin in a single day out of Ocean City like Captain Brandon and his crew did yesterday on the Marlin Gale. Brandon was fishing with mate Aaron Greenberg, 2nd mate Ben Barwick and anglers Mark & Ken Steiding and Brandon & Garry Prettyman. The awesome action took place in 200 fathoms between the Washington and Norfolk Canyons.
Flounder fishing over ocean structure continues to improve to the tune of some guys catching four fish limits when the bite is right. The bite was right today for Dan and Dan Davis from Glen Burnie, MD, DJ Hutton from Baltimore, MD, Michael Haseman and Cory Morgan from Ocean City and Christian Workman from Salisbury, MD when they fished with Captain Monty Hawkins on board the Morning Star today. Captain Monty has some room at the rail tomorrow if you can get on board on short notice.
Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported good flounder fishing today as well. Captain Chris had several nice fish hit the deck while fishing over ocean structure.
Captain Dave Caffrey of On the Run Charters has been having good luck with the flounder both in the ocean over structure and in the bay. Captain Dave also caught and released an angel shark on an ocean wreck trip.
Marc Turner had some luck fishing the surf in north Ocean City this morning using squid and put some nice kingfish on the beach. One fish was 13 1/2″.
Captain Marc Spagnola of Dusk to Dawn Bowfishing had another good day of shooting today in the south bay putting his crew on some good action for big southern and cow nosed rays.
