White Marlin Open Photos

It looks like the marlin have gotten here just in time for the White Marlin Open! There have been many reports of a very hot marlin bite in the Norfolk and working it’s way up to the Washington Canyon. One of these billfish could be worth over $1 million!

In order to help boats conserve fuel, the White Marlin Open has amended General Rule I D. Boats may now pass the sea buoy at the Ocean City Inlet, Indian River Inlet, and Cape May Inlet no earlier than 3:30 a.m. instead of 5:00 a.m. Allowing boats to run at a slower, more economical speed to reach their fishing destinations can reduce fuel consumption up to 1/3, thus saving money. All other tournament rules regarding fishing times remain the same.

The results for the blue marlin category of last year’s White Marlin Open became final on Monday July 14, 2008 when Worcester County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Groton ruled on several motions for summary judgment that were before him. Judge Groton ruled that the White Marlin Open was well within its rights to reschedule polygraph tests for the first and third place blue marlin winners. This ruling resulted in both the first and third place blue marlin remaining qualified. Judge Groton also ruled that the second place blue marlin be disqualified due to failure of 2 polygraph examinations and failure of the crew member who caught the fish to be registered as an angler. This resulted in the third place blue marlin becoming the second place blue. There is no third place blue marlin.

The White Marlin Open is pleased with the decisions of Judge Groton and feels that the integrity of the White Marlin Open was preserved through the involvement of the judicial system.

You can read more about the judge’s final ruling at The Dispatch’s website.

For the first time ever, the White Marlin Open is allowing boats to register to fish in the tournament online! Simply visit our registration page, enter your boat and credit card information, and your are registered for the tournament!

If you have any technical questions about registration, please contact the webmaster. For all other questions regarding registration, including procedures, marina contact information, or available slips, please contact our Registration Desk.

Does your boat need a home for the WMO? It’s not too late to find a slip! There are numerous private slips still available. For help finding a boat slip, please contact Jim Motsko at 410-289-9229.

Federal law mandates that as of January 1, 2008 all anglers participating in either a billfish tournament or a tournament with a billfish division which bestows points, prizes, or awards for Atlantic billfish (white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish or spearfish) must deploy only non-offset circle hooks when using natural bait or natural/artificial lure combinations. Anglers in these tournaments may use J-hooks only in artificial lures.

Due to this new law, the IGFA has revised its rule stating that the hook “must be firmly embedded in or firmly attached to the bait.” The rule now states that “circle hooks may be rigged in front of bait or bait/lure combos as long as the distance from the bait and the hook is no more than one hook’s length.” This information was provided by Jason Schratwieser, Conservation Director of the IGFA.