That's a wrap, the WMO concludes after a week of competition
With almost all of the attention focusing on divisional leaders, the team on Irish Twin was quietly going about its business.
Moored out of Spring Lake, N.J., and captained by Jesse Meyerhoff, the crew was fishing its final day in the 53rd annual White Marlin Open - leading no divisions and drawing little attention.
But when the final numbers were compiled, Irish Twin found itself atop the top release boat race with 1,575 points. In its three allotted days of competition, the team hooked and released 15 white marlin and three blue marlin.
The team’s biggest noise was made Saturday, when the crew scored five whites and two blues.
The effort won the team trophies and a payout of $99,591.
While the awards might pale in comparison to the focal points of the Ocean City, Md., it’s still an amazing accomplishment.
Billed as the “largest billfish tournament in the world”, there was no commotion by the other 78 boats who fished on Saturday’s final outing. There were no changes to the big-money leaderboards.
Mister Pete captured the marquee title with its 80-pound white marlin caught Thursday by Bill Sharpe of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The Charleston, S.C., team wins a paycheck of $3.5 million.
Reel Hunter of St. Michaels, Md., was second with a 71.5-pounder caught by Kevin Howell of Queenstown, Md. That fish was only worth $355,000 because the team was not entered in all divisions.
That left Charleston’s Bull Pen and angler James Hood of the same town to capture third place and $1.8 million for its 70-pounder.
MaxBet of Vero Beach, Fla., won the blue marlin title when Kelly Weber, also of Vero, put her 607.5-pounder worth $1.2 million on the scales.
Weber also captured the top angler award with 902.5 points.
Mantoloking, N.J.-based Gray Fox held onto its double victory with a 179-pound bigeye tuna worth $1.02 million and a 69.5-pound wahoo worth $72,000. Both fish were caught by James Wardlaw of Brielle, N.J.
And Ryan Jones of Welcome, Md., won the dolphin category and $22,000 with a 45-pounder caught on Today’s the Day out of La Plata, Md.
No qualifying swordfish were registered.
Over six days of competition, the 334-team fleet battling for part of a $9.9 million total payout caught 909 white marlin, 76 blues, four spearfish, 61 tuna, 16 dolphin and three wahoo.
Pamela McAteer on Maverick and Holly McAlhany on Sweet Spot joined Weber in the top anglers race - giving the ladies a powerful 1-2-3 punch.
Irish Twin’s scream to the release boat leader spot left Maverick and Pachanga in second and third, respectively. The two Ocean City boats had already fished their three days and were left to wait the outcome.
That brings to a conclusion another White Marlin Open, leaving much of the fleet hightailing it to Oregon Inlet, N.C., for the start of the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament that hits the water Monday and concludes on the 14th.
But first, the Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament is holding its competition today out of Pirate’s Cove, with lines out at 3 p.m.
When those events have concluded, it’s onto Rudee Inlet for the 23rd annual Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament Aug. 19-22 out of Southside Marina after the second annual Rudee Inlet Ladies Open on Aug. 16 out of Fisherman’s Wharf.
And yep, you know the deal - there’s a lot more to come.
