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Contest record-tying white marlin worth $6999,307 in Mid-Atlantic $500,00

The 141 boats competing averaged a billfish per day, with well over 90% released

A 92-pound white marlin that tied the tournament record turned out to be worth $699,307 in the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 contested out of Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May during late-August. That white was brought in the last day to the satellite location of Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland by Susan McCart’s Reel Joy, skippered by Capt. Dale Gurgo. Capt. Bob Watson had put Frank Bongiorno’s Dealers Choice from Staten Island into first the day before in the “fish three out of five days” contest with an 88-pound white that was still worth $124,955 for second. Barry Washnak’s Miss Annie was pushed back to third with a 79-pound white that earned $68,747.  Adam Demeusy’s Impulse V boated a 719-pound blue marlin the first day, and that catch stood up to win $193,622.  Joseph Bernert’s Kwik Raze boated a 625-pound blue on Day 4 to move into second place that was good for $124,955. Joe Giafaglione’s Atomic found a 501-pound blue on the last day for third place and $62,477.

Tuna trolling was very poor during the tournament, without a single bigeye being weighed. Joe Tyson’s Runaway boated yellowfins of 80 and 77 pounds that stood up all week to earn him $250,277 for first and third.  Rich Fanucci’s Exile slipped into second by a pound to win $47,540 for a 78-pounder. Rich Ryon’s Anthracite was an early leader in white marlin, but still won $31,350 in daily Calcuttas, and also boated a 43-pound dolphin that day which stood up to win $10,000 – as did an 84-pound wahoo on Ron McQuaid’s Sea Cure.

Peter Cherasia’s Shark Byte, skippered by Capt. Richie Barrett, easily won the most points white marlin trophy with 1,125 points, and that was also enough to win the most points overall hardware. Most points blue marlin went to Impulse V, and Runaway took the tuna trophy.

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The 141 boats competing averaged a billfish per bay, with well over 90% released. There were 423 whites released and 31 weighed. The blue marlin count was 11 released and only the three winners weighed. Just 13 tuna were brought to the scales along with four wahoo and 11 dolphin.

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