After an anticlimactic Wednesday for the crowds waiting at the scales for Ocean City's 35th annual White Marlin Open, Thursday was a complete reversal as the pattern of remarkable fish coming to the scales returned with a vengeance. There was nothing to top the giant blue marlin that sits atop the leaderboard but almost every other category saw a new leader or a fish that at least gave the leaders a scare.
The Jezebel was the first boat to the scales on Day 4 and it started things off the right way. The crew, Captained by Chester Sadowski brought a big wahoo to the scales courtesy of angler Joe Maffei from Essington Pennsylvania. The wahoo was the second brought into the scales for the entire tournament and topped the current leader with a weight of 45 pounds launching the Jezebel into first place in the category.
The Canyon Runner had the heartbreak story of the day as they headed to the scales after the Jezebel vacated the docks. Aboard the 60-foot Richie Howell was a white marlin that had definite potential to take the top prize of 1.1 million dollars. Brad Burgess, a former mate for the Canyon Runner crew was the angler and the white marlin he caught had an overall length of 7 feet, 3 inches and weighed in at 80.5 pounds. They fell just short of the top mark of 81 pounds by 8 ounces, with the white coming in at 80.5 pounds. The tough part of the story is that the fish came to the boat hot, and the crew was forced to make a quick move and sink the gaff quickly. It likely missed the top mark because of the hurried shot but would have probably broken itself off at boatside if not for the quick action of the crew. The 8 ounces leaves the Canyon Runner in second place worth $100k while the first place prize is a million dollars more.
The next up at the scale was another New Jersey boat, the Miss Andrea out of Cape May. They had fell just short of first place by one pound at 108 pounds of weight on Day 2, and then 7 pounds short on Day 3. Apparently the third time was the charm as this fish was 172 pounds which easily leapfrogged them into the top spot on the tuna side of the tournament which has a potential payout of $169,000 if it stands through one more day. They also hold the third place spot on their previous 108-pound bluefin so they stand to win almost $200,000 if the top three spots remain the same through the last round of weigh-ins.
The next monster story came from the MR Ducks who bagged the second largest dolphin in tournament history at 67.5 pounds. The fish was an absolute monster, bigger than the ones usually seen along the coast of Mexico or Central America. Stephen Lewis was the angler for the monster dorado while John Ronkel was at the helm. The Grand Slam also followed up with another monster chunk of green gold that weighed in at 52 pounds and is the fifth largest ever weighed in through 35 years of White Marlin Open Competition. Jack Collins of Miami Beach, Florida was responsible for the catch while John Thackwray was at the helm.
Three other catches of note that came in today but weren't able to make the leaderboard. They were a tuna by the Big Dog Contender, a 68-pound white marlin by the Espadon and a Pompano Dolphin that was caught aboard the Cammy's Dad II from Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. The tuna by the Big Dog was 94.5 pounds, just short of the top places which all have fallen over the 100-pound mark. The notable thing about the Pomapano Dolphin was that it was 8.5 pounds which if certified, eclipses the current world record by a full pound. The Captain of the Cammy's Dad was Paul Cameron, while Charlie Champton was the angler who stands to be the new record holder. Sylvain Cote's Espadon had a fish come up on an Offshore Innovations dredge armed with Squidnation 9-inch natural squids and was switched to a naked ballhoo for the catch. Squidnation owner Bill Pino was the angler for the catch.
There are still over 200 boats that have a day left to fish come Friday morning so there is nothing on the leaderboard that is set in stone. One more day of fishing will tell the tale on who scores big money in this year's White Marlin Open and who comes up just short of the mark. There are often last minute suprises in any tournament and we'll all be looking for one to happen tomorrow before the scales close for the last time on the week.