Most lucrative fish are elusive on day 1 of White Marlin Open; boat lands tuna potentially worth $1.3M
The most sought-after fish proved elusive on the first day of the White Marlin Open on Monday in Ocean City, Maryland.
Although 292 of the tournament’s more than 400 boats were on the water, all of them came up empty in the hunt for a qualifying white or blue marlin. Anglers caught 29 white marlin and 17 blue marlin, but all were released because none were big enough to claim any of White Marlin’s $8.6 million purse.
Reel Tight, a boat out of Ocean City, brought in a tuna that landed in first place — worth an estimated $1.3 million. Brian Stewart, an angler from Shady Side, Maryland, reeled in the 213.5-pound fish.
A Cape May, New Jersey, boat brought in a 198.5-pound tuna for second place ($100,000) and a Beach Haven, New Jersey, boat was third in the category with a 189.5-pound tuna ($38,000).
Last year, the tournament’s white marlin division awarded the first-place finisher more than $3.2 million, and second place was worth $1.98 million.
The White Marlin Open continues until Friday, and each boat is permitted to fish any three of the five days until 3:30 p.m. The tournament’s Facebook page announced that only 15 boats were fishing Tuesday.
