Fish tales get big, and bigger, at annual angling tournament in Maryland
Every so often, a food writer needs to get out of the kitchen, away from the office and do field work. As the North Atlantic drift of the Gulf Stream moved up the east coast from Florida, I decided to follow it to the Delmarva peninsula, (named for Delaware, Maryland and Virginia). The area is best known for agriculture, commercial fishing and tourism.
While there, we were spectators at the 49th annual White Marlin Open, which was held Aug. 8-12 in Ocean City, Maryland. A total of 408 boats registered to compete for some of the $8.6 million in prize money.
Former NBA star Michael Jordan — and his crew — were among those who participated in the event.
The weighing station, located at the Harbor Island Marina, was a hive of activity as the first three days of the tournament saw lots of big-eyed tuna action. But the billfish (white and blue marlins), were nowhere in sight. Billfish are not a protected species; and while most are caught and released, some end up on trophy walls.
On the last day, the Billfisher out of Ocean City, with captain Jon Duffie and angler Jeremy Duffie, pulled into the dock with a white marlin — only the second qualifier caught in the tournament. The 77.5-pound fish resulted in a record prize of $4.5 million.
Hanging out with the 'fish whisperer'
Avid sport fisherman Curtis Presnell — known to his friends as a "fish whisperer" — decided to sit the festivities out this year. The waters of Delmarva are his paradise, and before heading out, he checks the currents, winds, and instinctively heads to his favorite secret spots.
A few days before the White Marlin Open, Presnell went out fishing with his sons, Hunter and Cody. The trio reeled in a 55-pound wahoo measuring just under 6 feet. They kept fishing and the fish kept biting. They caught mahi and their limit of four summer flounder each, which are considered by many to be the best-tasting of the flounder group.
This variety of flounder, also called fluke, has five to 14 ocellated, (eye-like), spots on its body that can change color and pattern to match its habitat.
Crabs also were on the weekend menu. The blue crab is vital to this region’s economy, culture and ecosystem. One third of the nation’s catch comes from the Chesapeake Bay, but pollution, habitat loss and harvesting threaten the blue crab’s future. This year’s catch has been far below normal.
Presnell and his wife, Talia, like to go crabbing in Assawoman Bay, a 3,000-acre wildlife refuge between Ocean City and Delaware.
Chicken necks, a foot apart, were threaded onto string, which Talia Presnell dropped the line as the boat drifted. Within a half hour, crabs started biting. As the line was lifted, crabs clinging to the chicken necks were placed in a net, measured and put in a bucket. Within the hour, there were a dozen crabs for dinner that evening.
Fresh-caught fish, delicious home-cooked meals
The mahi, wahoo and flounders were cleaned and filleted at the dock. At home, Presnell cut the wahoo into 8-ounce medallions, brushed them with olive oil, dusted them with Old Bay and placed them on the grill. The mahi and flounder were oven-baked in a coating of panko.
Old Bay was added to the pot in which the crabs were steamed.
The fish was served with sliced tomatoes and corn from Birch’s Produce Market in West Ocean City, Maryland. This time of year, family farm stands dot the countryside selling summer crops of vine-ripe tomatoes, freshly picked corn, peaches, squash, beans and peppers.
There is a hint of fall in the air, with duck- and geese-hunting season just around the corner. Living off the land and sea is still a way of life in this part of the country, and a treasure worth preserving.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Travel: Ocean City, Md., a place to enjoy Chesapeake Bay-style life
