The fishing has been deceptively good during the first two days as over 320 billfish have been caught with 312 released. The anglers have always released their billfish out of a true spirit of conservation, but the few that are weighed can bring big money.
A New York angler is currently winning $2,600,000 for the 75-pound white marlin he caught Tuesday during the 45th Annual White Marlin Open fishing tournament in Ocean City, MD. Bill Haugland from Plainview, NY was fishing on the Lights Out, a 65 ft Bayliss from Ocean Reef, FL when he boated the billfish at 3:10 PM. The 75-pound white marlin is the only qualifier in that division after two days of fishing but there are 3 more fishing days to top Haugland’s catch.
150 of the 382 registered boats fished today while many of the 319 boats that fished Monday rested up. The weather forecasts continue to sound like a broken record and calm seas are predicted to continue all week… This is weather we’re talking about and obviously subject to change, so a guesstimated 300 plus boats should venture out tomorrow.
The 881-pound blue marlin caught Monday by New Jersey native Joe Rahman is still holding on to the $700,000 prize money in that division as no other blue marlin were weighed on Day 2.
While there was movement in the tuna leaders, Jake Pilkerton from Leonardtown MD still has a grip on the $960,000 top tuna money with his 71-pound yellowfin caught Monday and the 69-pound tuna worth $85,000 to David Rose is still holding. The Game Changer out of Ocean City, MD jumped into third when Rob Howes weighed a 62-pounder worth $12,000.
There was a change at the top of the dolphin category as the Fin-Nominal out of Indian River, DE with angler Louis Genello weighed a 50-pounder to jump into first and claim the $17,000 if only temporary. We also saw a qualifying wahoo weighed by Leo Cantillo fishing aboard Ocean City’s Right Place that is currently worth $17,000.
There is a lot of fishing left and the drama of changing fortunes will play out for the rest of the week and the good weather could produce a very thrilling finish.
