Bigeye Tuna Dominate the Leaderboard
While the marlin are still AWOL, the bigeye tuna are providing the electricity and the biggest cheers at the weigh-ins. After the third fishing day, we still have had no qualifying white or blue marlin weighed at Harbour Island. However, that did not stop the bigeye tuna from seeing lottery-sized fortunes change hands Wednesday evening. The Open format is structured to pay out all the prize money even if a category is not won. If there are no qualifying white or blue marlin that prize money defaults to the heaviest tuna in that category.
At 6:30 PM Wednesday the “Big Stick” out of Cape May, NJ weighed a 246.5-pound bigeye. Since the “Big Stick” was in all of the added entry levels and there are no qualifying white or blue marlin, that fish was technically winning all of the marlin money in addition to big tuna money which meant they were holding over $5,000,000 in potential prize money. However, their celebration didn’t last long. The 7:00 PM bridge opened and with it, the “Southern C’s” (also from Ocean City) cruised to the scale with a bigeye tuna that tipped the scales at 247.5-pounds. With that extra pound, the “Southern C’s” vaulted into first place and took all of “Big Stick’s” short-lived winnings. So, if the tournament ended tonight, the “Southern C’s” would walk away with approximately $6 million dollars of marlin, big fish, and tuna winnings. But there are still 2 more fishing days and many chances for boats to bring in qualifying marlin or even bigger tuna.
Slow Second Day Has Boats Changing Strategy
Most of the 408 registered boats used Tuesday for a lay day as only 15 boats fished on day two. There were no change in the leaded board. Brian Stewart’s 213.5-pound tuna caught Monday remains top dog and while holding onto $1,300,000.00 after day two. There were several good reasons to rest up and prepare for the final 3 fishing days. First, the weather offshore called for 5-to-6-foot seas while the forecast predicted better weather for Wednesday and Thursday. Second, 292 boats fished on Monday and only have two fishing days left and wanted to use them wisely. Third, the tournament boats haven’t found the billfish yet.
Since the first White Marlin Open in 1974, no two tournaments have been the same. After the second day of fishing, this year’s edition may require changes in the boats strategy. It’s no secret that the marlin fishing is poor in their usual canyon haunts, and there is $5 million dollars waiting in the billfish categories. Captains will need to alter their search patterns to find some big fish. Some will try trolling in deep water, far past the canyon drops and deeper into the Gulf Stream. Others will look for warm water eddies that have spun off inside the canyons. It’s a big ocean. Boats will still be looking for billfish from Spencer Canyon down to Norfolk canyon with covers almost 100 nautical miles.
