Posted on August 1st, 2018
It was a nice sunny day today with no precipitation, but it was pretty darn windy on the water. I had someone ask me today why its so empty around town and why there haven’t been more boats fishing this week. I told them that my theory is that this week is the calm before the storm. Just like there is sometimes an eery calm before a big weather event Ocean City sometimes sees an eery calm before a major town event. Memorial Day, Labor Day, the 4th of July….they all have slower weeks right before. Well next week we’ve got one of the biggest storms that comes through Ocean City in the 45th Annual White Marlin Open. The White Marlin Open is always a big event, but I have a feeling that this year’s event is going to be one for the record books. Most of the major tournaments this year have had record purses and I think the WMO will be the next. If it gains just $30,000 in prize money it will surpass $5 Million dollars. I spoke to tournament director Jim Motsko just last night and we were saying how we just might see $5.25 Million if the stars line up. Either way its going to be a good one with awesome live coverage by yours truly, Dave Messick and the Hooked on OC team. If you can’t be at Harbor Island in person check it out at www.whitemarlinopen.com
I got a great report from the crew of Restless Lady today with a write up from charter coordinator CJ Downey.
Fresh off Restless Lady II from an overnighter is Scoutmaster Chris Dernoga and his troop #427 from Edgemere, MD. These guys had an adventure camp trip planned in New Mexico that was cancelled due to wildfires. A few of them were interested in offshore fishing and convinced the rest to come along. Good times had by all and excellent work by our entire RL crew. From left to right: James Grace, John Reid, Justin kihn, Kyle Christensen, Nick Dernoga, Marshall Hammond, Mitchell Hammond, Max Hammond, Gavin Kihn, Skip Hammond and bottom right is Chris Dernoga.
The Restless Lady and Captain Todd Kurtz and First Mate Kevin Kurtz weren’t far behind with Steve Soulas’s day trip crew.
Inshore, Captain John Prather of Ocean City Guide Service showed his diversity by putting his morning trip on a nice keeper flounder and his afternoon trip on some good shooting putting one cow nosed ray in the box.
Update on Blume’s Balloon Round Up from the past couple of days. The kids have now had 795 balloons reported in and have some great prizes for the winner. There goal was 1,000 balloons for the entire summer and if folks participate during next week’s White Marlin Open they could bust that goal soon.
