Page 78 - 52nd Annual White Marlin Open

What is it about the WMO that appeals to you the How have you done in the WMO over the years?
most?
The first couple of years, I ran the boat. We were there and
It’s my most favorite tournament, bar none. I’ve done it more doing fine but not winning. It became evident to me that I was
than any other tournament and theWhite Marlin Open and the a better angler then I was a captain. I enjoyed angling a lot and I
town of Ocean City will always have a great spot in in my fishing enjoyed selling the boats. If you’re a captain,you must go to bed
career. The town and the tournament drove me as a fisherman at 9:00 o’clock,and heck, the customers were just getting going
to be better than what I was prior.That competition to win was at that point. So we hired Drew McDowell and his brother Eric
really kindled right there at theWhite Marlin Open and put me to run the boat and really started building a team. If you go back
in the position to go around the world today and be as success- in the records, you will see, that’s when Viking really started
ful as we are in fishing. doing well in the WMO and how consistent we started getting

from there on.
Part of it too was right from the beginning, there were thou-
sands of people waiting at the scales to cheer you on. Back in We have won the heaviest blue,second place blue,second place
the day at other tournaments, when you pulled into the weigh white and won some good tuna money,but not the seven figure
station,there were some people at the outside the bar drinking, winners yet, only in the six figures. We have wonTop Boat 3 or
but it maybe it was 50 people total. I mean when you were able 4 times. We have had a very good run since the 80’s. I enjoy it
to get a thousand plus people every night to watch the weigh- thoroughly and I look forward to it every year. The only thing
ins, there was nothing like it. we haven’t accomplished at theWhite Marlin Open is the heavi-
est white marlin. We will be there again this year to try!

78 | visit us online at www.WhiteMarlinOpen.com

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