News

Over the past 48 years, no two White Marlin Open tournaments have been the same.  Weather, winds, moon phases, the population and location of the fish all change from year to year.  From a Monday’s catch holding all week, to the dramatic last hour winners on Friday, each year’s event has had its own personality and the 2021 WMO is no exception.  The forces at work going into the final fishing day of the 48th annual event sets a stage to rival any Shakespearian play at the Globe Theater 500 years ago.  Whether it will end as a tragedy or comedy, however, is subjective.
Of the 444 boats that entered this year’s tournament, there are 400 boats left to fish Friday, the final day.  The bar is set, and all know what they must beat to claim big prize money.  While the current winners in all gamefish categories are collectively claiming various shares of the $9.2 million dollar purse, three fish hold particular interest: a 137-pound tuna winning $1,120,000, a 559.5-pound...

After day three of the 48th White Marlin Open, the big story stays focused on a boat and angler that could set a world record payout for catching a fish!  After the third day of fishing, the 82.5-pound white marlin caught Monday by angler Mike Atkinson off the “Fender Bender” both from Virginia Beach, VA,  is in prime position to net $4.9 million dollars!  That would be the most money ever paid for a fish in the history of fishing – and that spans over 7,000 years of recorded history of man luring the aquatic creatures into their nets.  Though it sounds dramatic, it is not untrue. 
While mulling over that, there is another $4.3 million that has been claimed in the other gamefish categories of the WMO.  After Wednesday, the leaderboard remains virtually unchanged.  The 559.5-pound blue marlin caught Monday by Chris Perry from the “Mama C”, both from Virginia Beach, VA, is holding onto the top blue marlin prize of $800,000.  
There is over $1,200,000 to...