From Max Bet’s 607.5-pound blue marlin weighed at 4:00 PM, to late changes in the tuna and dolphin divisions, nine fish moved into or altered the tournament’s top three standings during a fast-changing evening at Harbour Island Marina.
After the first two days passed without a qualifying marlin, MaxBet of Vero Beach, Florida was waiting at the scales when it opened at 4:00 PM. The blue marlin weighed 607.5-pounds before an excited crowd at Harbour Island. The fish was caught by Kelly Weber of Vero Beach, FL and is currently projected to earn approximately $1.26 million.
Only 45 minutes later, Bull Pen of Charleston, South Carolina, weighed a 70-pound qualifying white marlin. The fish was caught by James Hood, also of Charleston. The fish jumped into first place and is currently projected to earn approximately $5.6 million.
There were over 300 marlin released in the first two days, but none were keepers. In the first 45 minutes of weigh-ins on Wednesday, the billfish categories were covered and more money moved.
The arrival of Bull Pen also changed MaxBet’s projected winnings. Before a qualifying white marlin reached the scales, several white-marlin Added Entry Levels were positioned to roll over to the leading blue marlin. Hood’s fish kept that money in the white marlin division and moved millions of dollars again.
The tuna leaderboard changed repeatedly during the final hours.
At 5:10 p.m., Blue Runner weighed an 87.5-pound tuna and temporarily moved into the top three. At 6:00 p.m., Dylan Treff of Pasadena, Maryland, moved ahead with an 88-pound tuna aboard Ocean City’s Reel Moore after a two-hour fight.
That position lasted only 12 minutes.
At 6:12 p.m., Gray Fox of Mantoloking, New Jersey, arrived with a 179-pound tuna caught by John Wardlaw of Brielle, New Jersey. The fish took over first place and is currently projected to earn approximately $1.05 million.
At 6:35 p.m., Rob Leerink of Boston, Massachusetts, weighed a 146.5-pound tuna aboard Speculator of Palm Beach, Florida, moving into second place. Tuesday leader See Legsnow holds third with its 110.5-pound bigeye.
The dolphin division also received a new leader when Ryan Jones of Welcome, Maryland, weighed a 45-pound fish aboard Today’s The Day of La Plata, Maryland. The dolphin is currently projected to earn approximately $96,000.
Sidepiece of Ocean City dropped to second with its 31.5-pound dolphin but remains projected to earn approximately $113,000 because of the Added Entry Levels entered by the boat. Bird Dog of Chincoteague, Virginia, holds third with a 28.5-pound fish.
The wahoo and swordfish divisions remain without qualifying leaders.
Wednesday’s 277-boat fleet used more than one-quarter of the tournament’s total fishing opportunities. With each of the 334 boats permitted to fish three days, the field still holds a combined 453 fishing days over the final three days.
Thursday’s forecast calls for south to southwest winds of 10 to 15 knots and seas of 3 to 4 feet, setting the stage for another large fleet and another evening when Wednesday’s new leaders can feel secure.
All standings and projected payouts are unofficial and subject to change.
