After three days of fishing under difficult conditions, marlin and tuna hold top spots on the leaderboard.
There were a few changes after the third day of the White Marlin Open. Day two saw the emergence of winning billfish, with a significant white marlin and two massive blue marlin capturing the attention. Meanwhile, the bigeye tuna that dominated day one continues to hold strong positions.
The Waste Knot, out of Raleigh, NC, leads the overall standings with angler Ven Poole, also from Raleigh, landing a 77.5-pound white marlin on day two, positioning Waste Knot to potentially earn $4,182,198 in prize money.
Day two also saw some huge blue marlin caught with the Stone Cutter from St. Augustine, FL, taking the lead with an extraordinary 897.5-pound blue marlin caught by Lance Blakemore from Horseheads, NY. This impressive catch has propelled Stone Cutter into the top spot with $555,093. The size and power of this blue marlin have made it one of the most talked-about catches of the tournament so far.
Following closely is Bobojo, hailing from Manteo, NC. Angler Hershel Martin from Montross, VA, brought in a 789.5-pound blue marlin, currently securing $481,087 in prize money. This catch, while slightly smaller than Stone Cutter’s marlin, remains a strong contender and has kept the competition intense.
The tuna category, which was the focus of day one, still holds significant positions on the leaderboard. Leading the charge is the Blue Runner from Pt. Pleasant, NJ, with Rob Jones from Cincinnati, OH, landing a massive 220.5-pound bigeye tuna. This catch is valued at $1,038,365, showcasing the substantial rewards available in this category. In second place for tuna is Warden Pass out of Cape May, NJ. Angler Jeff Green from Wildwood, NJ, caught a 193.5-pound bigeye tuna, which is now holding $209,809 in prize money. Following closely is the Right Place, also from Pt. Pleasant, NJ, when Mac Hugan from Summit, NJ, landed a 191.5-pound bigeye tuna, earning $113,633. These tuna catches have maintained their stronghold on the leaderboard despite the surge in billfish activity.
The White Marlin Open has always been a tournament where strategy and timing are as crucial as the catches themselves. With over 270 boats fishing on day three, the competition is not yet over, and the leaderboard could see further changes as the week progresses. The remaining days will be pivotal as boats continue to navigate the challenging weather as Tropical Storm Debby moves closer to the Maryland coast. The boats may fish through Saturday this year, so changes could occur in difficult seas.
