52nd White Marlin Open – A Sea of White, Blue and Yellow!
The 52nd White Marlin Open started with issues – a storm churning up the ocean offshore. Tournament officials decided to extend the fishing by two additional days even before the first boats left the docks. This is the second year that weather has played a role in the WMO. Each boat was still only allowed to fish three days during the now-extended tournament – which led to a few light fishing days at mid-week when the seas were the roughest off the coast of Ocean City, MD.
In total – 282 boats took part in the White Marlin Open – all hoping to claim a part of the estimated $7.3-million in prize money. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw a large number of boats head to the deep water in search of billfish, then stormy seas kept most boats tied up until Saturday.
Monday – 128 boats went out and the WMO saw a game-changer catch when a 929.5 pound blue marlin was brought to the scales on the Barbara B from Atlantic Beach, NC, caught by Drew Osmeyer of Timonium, MD, – the 5th largest blue marlin caught in White Marlin Open history! Also on the Barbara B – was a 32 1/2 pound dolphin caught by Andrew Schreiber of Essex, MD. Both fish held the top of the leaderboard throughout the week.
Tuesday – 212 boats went out – it was a day for yellowfin tuna with several brought to the scales
Wednesday the excitement mounted when Ocean City’s own Billfisher arrived at the scales with the first qualifying white marlin – weighing in at 72 pounds and caught by local angler Dan Gough. More tuna were also weighed in.
Thursday and Friday saw only 10 boats venture out because of very rough seas. Nothing was brought to the scales
Saturday – 79 boats headed out and the 2nd qualifying white marlin was brought in to weigh just after the scales opened on Michael Jordan’s Catch 23. The marlin caught by Trey “Cricket” McMillan from Charleston, SC. It was a party when the Catch 23 arrived at Harbour Island for the first time (although the Catch 23 has taken part in the WMO for the past 5 or 6 years. They’ve trucked in a few fish to be weighed, but score many of their points on their releases.)
Sunday – Nearly every boat that still had a fishing day left went out for one last attempt at a big catch. 211 boats went out – and nearly as many fish were brought to the scales on Sunday as in the first six days of fishing. There were non-qualifying white marlin, tuna and dolphin. Then the Sea Hab from Cape May arrived with a 188 pound bluefin tuna – followed later in the afternoon by Ocean City’s Shorebilly and a 186.5 pound bluefin. Finishing out the day at the scales – the arrival of the Shooting Star from Indian River and the only wahoo caught and weighed in the White Marlin Open – a 49.5 pound qualifier.
Throughout the 7 days of the White Marlin Open, while only 5 white marlin were brought to be weighed – 456 were released to swim another day. A total of 25 blue marlin were caught and all but one was released. 41 tuna came to the scales, 14 dolphin and 1 wahoo. In other fish – there were 3 spearfish and 4 sailfish caught and released. No swordfish were caught during the tournament.
