Mid-Atlantic $500,000

A beautiful weather forecast combined with recent reports indicating action with billfish and tuna offshore has been very good kept tournament officials busy today with last minute registration as the 2009 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 got underway at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and the event’s official satellite marina, Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland. While final numbers are still being tabulated, over 130 boats have entered and the cash purse is well over $1 million! Now in its 18th year, the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 continues to attract the best boats in offshore tournament fishing from New England to Florida and beyond as this event is boat for boat, the richest marlin and tuna tournament in the world.

Starting tomorrow, participants will select three of the next five days to troll the offshore canyons of the Mid-Atlantic coast however all boats must fish within 125 miles of the Cape May Sea Buoy whether they sail from Cape May or Ocean City. Cash prizes are awarded for the three heaviest white marlin, blue marlin and tuna as well as the largest dolphin (mahi-mahi) and wahoo. Minimum weights to win cash include 65, 400 and 50 pounds for white marlin, blue marlin and tuna respectively while there is no minimum weight for dolphin or wahoo. All billfish under the minimum weight are released and awards are presented to the top three point winners in each billfish category. Tuna points are also totaled up and the top three winners of that category receive awards as well.

36th Annual White Marlin Open

Ocean City, MD August 10, 2009 – The 36th Annual White Marlin Open came to a close Friday night with two Maryland state records being broken during the five day fishing tournament. Sean Healey of Prides Crossing, MA, fishing aboard the Orion out of Palm Beach, Fl., took home a $903,442.00 paycheck with the winning 93.5 lb. white marlin; however, the new state record blue marlin stole the show.

The winning blue marlin weighed 1,062 lbs., and shattered the existing Maryland state record of 942 lbs., set in 1989 by Jim Daniel. The fish earned Robert Farris of Charlotte, NC, and the crew aboard the No Problem a $454,999.00 paycheck. The fish was caught on 80-lb. class tackle, and took over three hours to bring to the boat. Another Maryland state record broken at this year's event was the scalloped hammerhead shark, caught by Jamie Gill aboard the Lisa. The 254 lbs. shark bested the existing record by 60lbs., and earned the crew a $4,500.00 paycheck.