48th Annual White Marlin Open Offers $9.2 Million Dollar Payout
With 444 boats entered and $9.2 million dollars up for grabs, the 2021 edition of the White Marlin Open is primed for another world record fishing tournament payout. Boats and anglers from up and down the Atlantic and Gulf coasts have gathered in Ocean City, MD in pursuit of Atlantic gamefish worth their weight in gold.
Long known as the “World’s Largest Billfishing Tournament,” the Open has awarded more than $71 million dollars since the inaugural event in 1974. This year’s payout will exceed the world record tournament prize money awards of $6.8 million paid in last year’s event which included $1,850,000 and $1,762,000 paid for the top two white marlin and a tuna worth $1,414,000.
Each of the 444 registered boats can choose any 3 of the 5 fishing days (from Monday, Aug 2 through Friday Aug 6) to compete. The offshore weather report looks good for Monday, so it’s probable that the “boat parade” through the Inlet Monday morning will be long. The...
48 Years and Over 72 Million in Prize Money
The 2020 White Marlin Open wrapped up on a Sunday night with 2 new tournament record fish, 3 newly minted millionaires, and a world record tournament payout. The 433 registered boats braved a world pandemic and a menacing hurricane to haul in fish that were collectively worth $6.8 million dollars during the weeklong event – it represents the most tournament money ever awarded in fishing.
The 2020 event drew over 430 boats, over 4,000 contestants, and paid out $6.8 million dollars in prize money including the top individual award of $1.85 million.
