Thursday has long been known as Moving Day during the White Marlin Open. It makes sense for a few reasons. By Thursday, the captains know where the fish are, and the crew has already worked together for 1 or 2 days to get the kinks out. It’s also usually a busy day for tournament.
This year was different as just 103 boats went out today. That leaves 268 boats eligible to fish on Friday, the last day of the tournament. The big stories are the great billfishing, two anglers winning $1.5 million for white marlin, a $740,000 blue marlin and a tuna worth $940,000. Only 103 boats fished today which leaves 268 boats eligible to fish Friday, the last day of the tournament. The scales were slow, but the spectators still generated a lot of energy.
The pirate ship of the day was the “Fish Whistle” out of Indian River, Delaware. The boat made the 3:55 bridge and arrived at the scales just as weigh ins began for Day 4. The 79.5-pound white marlin caught by Ocean City angler Tom Hinkle plundered $1,315,000 from “Chasin Tail” who had been holding $1,450,000 for their 74-pound white caught on Monday. Hinkle’s fish is now worth $1,450,000 with the “Backlash” is still winning $1,500,000 leaving “Chasin Tail” with $135,000.
No qualifying blue marlin were weighed today so, “Haulin N Ballin” is still winning $740,000 for the 465.5-pound blue caught by Craig Dickerson.
The 277-pound mako shark caught Monday by Greg Robinson off the “Polarizer” is still the only qualifier and is holding $225,000.00.
The “Crisdel” is still winning $940,000 for the 201-pound bigeye caught Monday.
In other movements “No Quarter” out of OC, MD with Greenville, DE angler Michael Peet took a 22-pount dolphin good for $16,000 and “Sea Ment” from Reamstown, PA weighed a 62-pound tuna caught by Jeff Landis from Denver, PA and is winning $40,000.
