Virginia Beach Boats Holding $5,700,000 in Prize Money After Day 1
The 48th Annual White Marlin Open started at 4:00 AM Monday morning when 421 of the 444 registered boats passed through the Inlets of Ocean City, MD, Indian River, Delaware, and Cape May, New Jersey heading for the offshore fishing grounds that hold the gamefish that will pay the luckiest of anglers over $9,200,000 in prize money this week.
The 2021 WMO awards exceed (by more than $2 million dollars) their previous world record fishing tournament payout of $6.9 million set in the 2020 event and, after day 1, there are already claims of lottery-sized winnings.
The $9.2 million dollar purse is, as expected, weighed more heavily to billfish categories and two Virginia Beach boats are holding onto $5,700,000 of that purse after day 1. The first boat to the scales was the “Fender Bender” out of Virginia Beach, VA. Mike Atkinson, also from Virginia Beach weighed an 82.5-pound white marlin that is currently worth $4,900,000! Not far behind, the “Mama C” and...
1st Annual Marlin Fest
The White Marlin Open, the world’s largest offshore billfish tournament held annually in Ocean City, today announces it will host Marlin Fest, a new free outdoor viewing experience at the 3rd Street Bayside Ballpark that will coincide with the 48th annual fishing tournament. The event, presented by HUK, will be held August 2 through August 6 and will feature a festival-like atmosphere as well as real-time, unobstructed views of the live stream of the tournament weigh-ins via large LED screens.
“We’re excited to announce that we are expanding our satellite location this year and hosting our first Marlin Fest. This event will be held in addition to our traditional White Marlin Open tournament and Harbour Island weigh-in event,” Madelyne Rowan, Tournament Director. “We can assure the thousands who attend the White Marlin Open that they will continue to experience the...
