Page 12 - 52nd Annual White Marlin Open

W. AN D R E W M O T S KO

windows hooting and hollering as they
come up the Assawoman Bay with their
big catch. Bars show the stream of the
weigh-ins on their big screens. Marlin-
Fest, held at the inlet and now in its fifth
year, has taken on a life of its own. Last
year, 40,000 visitors celebrated at Marlin-
Fest, playing beach games, listening to live
music, visiting the curated vendors, drink-
ing special WMO beverages, cheering in
Open City, Maryland the boats as they returned for the day,
and watching the weigh-ins on a beach
big screen.

The relationship between the tourna-
Welcome to Ocean City and the 52nd White Marlin Open! The city ment and the town is a love affair that has
and the tournament have been intertwined since the start of the stood the test of time, and one that dif-
event in 1974. I often say Ocean City and the White Marlin Open ferentiates the White Marlin Open from
grew up together. Since those early years of the tournament, the most of the other fishing tournaments
town has grown from a sleepy summer getaway with tens of thou- around the world. Yes, the WMO is the
sands of visitors to a booming summer city hosting hundreds of thou- Largest and Richest Billfish tournament
sands. In the same 50-plus years, the tournament has grown from on the planet, but the anglers often com-
its modest 56 boats and $20,000 in prize money to upwards of 400 ment more about the crowds and their
boats and a purse pushing $10 million. embrace of the event than they do of the
millions of dollars won.
Beyond the numbers,the town has embraced theWhite Marlin Open,
whether they are participants or not. During “Marlin Week”, signs The NFL has its Super Bowl in February
line the Route 50 bridge and Coastal Highway welcoming all to the each year, but for the billfishing commu-
WMO. Thousands of fans show up at 5 a.m. on the opening Monday nity and its fans, their Super Bowl takes
place the first week of August every year
in Ocean City, MD.
“The relationship between Ocean City and the
Welcome participants and fans to the
White Marlin Open is a love affair that has White Marlin Open, our very own Super
Bowl LII!
stood the test of time.”

of the tournament to cheer on the parade of boats as they head-
out through the inlet. Inlet restaurants open early for the event and
broadcast live reports from their decks. Each night at the weigh-ins,
huge crowds gather gather to see big fish,many of spectators arriving Andy Motsko
hours before the scales open at 4 p.m. and staying right up to closing tightlinespublishing@ gmail.com
time at 9:15 p.m. Anglers report people hanging out of their condo

12 visit us online at www.WhiteMarlinOpen.com

WMO 52 Magazine.indd 12 7/15/25 8:02AM