Two Huge Blue Marlin and A Qualifying White Show For Day 2 of The 2024 White Marlin Open
By Scott Lenox
Posted on August 6th, 2024
Hit the vid for the Daily Catch at Sunset Marina!!
I just got back from a very busy day of scales for day 2 of the 2024 White Marlin Open where we saw mahi, tuna, blue and white marlin. Both blue marlin were larger than 750 pounds and were weighed back to back. Tournament emcee Andy Motsko said that it was the first time in tournament history that two blue marlin over 750 pounds qualified in the same year, much less on the same day. We also saw a qualifying white marlin so it looks like most of the $8.5 Million purse is spoken for……for now!! Here’s who’s leading what after two days of fishing. All monies are approximate from WMO website.
White Marlin
1st Place Waste Knot 77.5 Lbs $4,175,337.75
Blue Marlin
1st Place Stone Cutter 897.5 Lbs $547,948.55
2nd Place Bobojo 789.5 Lbs $475,401.45
Tuna
1st Place Blue Runner 220.5 Lbs $1,075,026.00
2nd Place No Limit 183 Lbs $131,617.50
3rd Place Ctrl-Alt-Del 178.5 Lbs $245,072.75
Mahi
1st Place Catch 23 32.5 Lbs $124,495.00
2nd Place Double Nickel 31 Lbs $3,125
Away from the tournament there was some decent back bay fishing with some flounder and rockfish being caught. Luke Wrye watched one of our YouTube vids and then did a little damage on the flounder in the East Channel putting three nice keepers up to 21″ in the box.
Captain Chris Mizurak of the Angler reported decent fishing with news that tomorrow looks doable and then things get “iffy.”
Captain Monty Hawkins of the Morning Star showed his folks some fun fishing today.
Tied her loose to reports of fog offshore; but no radio chatter mention of wind. We had no sooner gotten a couple hundred yards out when I realized the wind forecast was hard-wrong. Lots of tall, sharp swell; just wasn’t what I expected–caught me completely flat footed. A steady 20 as opposed to 10-15 and most unwelcome for the trip I had in mind this day.
About two thirds of the way off, however, the wind diminished & became much nicer for deploying our pyramids with bamboo at my new experimental reef. That task put to bed, we carried on off a ways more.
On arriving at my first stop it immediately became obvious today’s current, matched-up perfectly with the wind, was at nearly full speed yet again.
16 ounce sinkers..
Mercy..
Sea bass, however, so reluctant to chew yesterday, bit very well indeed – but just early; then the bass bite turned into a productive grind..
About yesterday.. In that terrible bite on some great spots I keeper-skunked the Queen of Keepers!
I figured it out though..
A lot of people don’t know this, but Hurricanne Murray can be one vindictive scoundrel. Why I’d just read on the Internet that the Hurricane was researching voodoo for revenge against a certain lady angler who spanked him so badly several times while cbassing this summer. I can’t say that’s exactly what happened but it sure is a coincidence, isn’t it. Almost enough for full-on conspiracy theory really.
Skunking the Queen.. Were I a Japanese warrior of yore, I’d have had no choice but to commit hari-kari, thus restoring honor to my family and business.
Had the shoe been on the other foot, however, and ’twas the Hurricane his dern self with clean ice?
Now that would have been funny!
And today? No evidence of mahi about. Water temps were down still further, current flying, using 16s to hold bottom – ugh.
Thank goodness sea bass chewed!
Those mahi were here three weeks ago, and some fine inshore specimens at that, in 76+ degree water – not 70.
Yet at noon we stumbled upon a small school of micro-mahi.
I do mean micro.
Maybe 35 of em..
That’s how it always starts, (or restarts!) A first sign that builds to crescendo..
Though Bernie was closing in on double digits; near day’s end I saw a nice sea bass on my sounder and tried to line him up with my Favorite ex-DC tour guide Tracy. Husband Mark, forever lacking in the more gentlemanly graces, would have none of it and caught that pool fish..
I anticipate she’ll get a nice cocktail or two anyway..
(Ahhh, No. I honestly haven’t anywhere near that level of electronics or skill!)
Cheers,
Monty
Had some fun fishing the OC Inlet and bridge the other day…..Check it out!!
Today was day 2 of the 8th Annual Ocean City Inshore Classic and it was another great day of fishing. We had an awesome event with fantastic weather and a good time was had by all…. READ MORE
Crab Pie Ingredients 1 Pound jumbo lump crab meat 2 Deep Dish Pie Crusts (this recipe will make 2 pies) 1/4 cup of diced onion (or shallots) 8 oz of Swiss cheese 2 Tablespoons flour 3… READ MORE
