Michael Jordan arrives at Big Rock scales, Mercenaria wins big prize

Chris Miller, The Daily News
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MOREHEAD CITY — On a day that former NBA star Michael Jordan weighed in a dolphin fish, it was Mercenaria that won a slam dunk of a prize at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

The Cherrystone, Virginia, boat's crew earned $777,750 by winning the Level V Fabulous Fisherman prize of being the first boat to weigh in a marlin of at least 500 pounds.

Mercenaria, a 72-foot Viking, weighed in a 572.6-pound blue marlin Monday on the first day of the tournament that ends Saturday.

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“It’s been a great day,” said angler Matthew Brown of Cape Charles, Virginia. “It’s unbelievable. When you’re going out on the inlet and there are 200-plus boats rocking and rolling, that’s pretty impressive. We have fished in this for three years. I am blessed to get to come here for the company that I work for and spend a week here.”

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Wall Hanger brought in a 556.4-pound marlin, High Yield brought in a 536.8-pound marlin, Bad Habit had a 526.7-pound marlin and Slyva Lining had a 401.3-pound marlin.

But perhaps the biggest highlight to the spectators was Jordan weighing in a 24-pound dolphin that he caught aboard his Catch-23, an 80-foot Viking.

“I’m the biggest guy so I have to sit in the seat,” Jordan said to the crowd. “I have a good captain to back me up so I didn’t have to work too hard. I grew up in Wilmington...every chance I get, I look forward to coming back, and the people have been very nice.”

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It was a good start to the 64th annual Big Rock that already had a strong vibe before the lines were thrown in the water.

While 266 participating boats is down four from last year, the overall tournament purse yet again grew. The purse sits at $5,856,750. Winning boats entered in the top six levels will win $3,489,813 while $1,556,063 goes to the winners enters in four categories.

The new division, the Super 20 Level VI, awards $1,156,000 to the winner. The dolphin winner-take-all  champion receives $527,000.

Mercenaria angler Matthew Brown stands next to the 572.6-pound catch that earned the crew the Level V Fabulous Fisherman's prize of $777,750 from the Big Rock's $5,856,750 purse.
Mercenaria angler Matthew Brown stands next to the 572.6-pound catch that earned the crew the Level V Fabulous Fisherman's prize of $777,750 from the Big Rock's $5,856,750 purse.

“We were not necessarily nervous, but of course hesitant this year because gas prices are increasing,” Big Rock Director Madison Struyk said. “The Level VI category really helped. “There are 68 boats in that level. Sunday night the pot for the level hit over $1 million. Mercenaria was the first boat to register for it. So it is kind of cool for them to have a chance to win it. We also have the new outboard level, which helps, too.”

Only 20 boats decided not to fish Monday. Boats are required to take two lay days during the six-day tournament. The first day also saw 31 blue marlin released, 13 white marlin released and two sailfish released.

Chris Miller can be contacted via email at chris.miller@jdnews.com. Follow him on twitter @jdnsports.

This article originally appeared on The Daily News: Mercenaria wins big at Big Rock, Michael Jordan arrives at scales