Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com
Ocean City Today June 10, 2022
Page 63
First white marlin of fishing season caught, released By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 10, 2022) Beginner’s luck, or with maybe a little help from above, Kevin Gibbs caught and released the first white marlin of the Ocean City fishing season on Tuesday. “I wanted to go fishing for years, but it’s always hard because of work,” said Gibbs, who runs the Dough Roller restaurant on South Division Street in downtown Ocean City. “Finally, I was like, ‘let’s just go … I think my dad [Bill, who passed away in October] was sending me good vibes. It was just a special catch.” Gibbs was accompanied by Jake Howe and his girlfriend, India O’Boyle, and Johnny Moore, on the offshore tuna fishing trip aboard the Wrecker. The group met Capt. Bobby Layton and mates Cody Smith and Austin Bowden at the Ocean City Fishing Center bright and early, heading offshore around 4 a.m. It was Layton’s first time fishing with the group, but he has known Howe, O’Boyle and Moore since high school. They arrived at their offshore fishing spot in the Baltimore Canyon around 7 a.m. Layton said the anglers caught a pair of yellowfin tuna and then another about 30 minutes later. About 10 minutes after the second pair of tuna, Layton said he spotted a white marlin. “I saw it from up top and I yelled out, ‘white marlin.’ The mates and I knew what a big deal it was, [because] if we catch it, it’s the first one in Ocean City [of the season],” he said. “It didn’t get hooked the first time. It disappeared for a few seconds and then I got it hooked up and we pulled everything else in as fast as we could. We were fishing with 12 rods so everyone was hands-on to clear the spread. I handed the rod down to Kevin and he fought it.” Gibbs said he strapped on the fishing belt for assistance and started reeling. “Everyone around me was freaking out and I didn’t know why. I thought they were just excited for me,” he said. “I was told to just reel. It zoomed across me and that’s how I saw it [and said] ‘Oh my God, it’s beautiful.’” Anglers typically take turns when fish are caught to reel them in. Gibbs See GIBBS Page 64
PHOTO COURTESY JAKE HOWE
Kevin Gibbs, center, caught and released the first white marlin of the Ocean City fishing season on Tuesday, while aboard the Wrecker. He is pictured with mates Austin Bowden and Cody Smith.
PHOTO COURTESY BOBBY LAYTON
Not only did the group aboard Wrecker catch and release the first white marlin of the season, but they also landed eight yellowfin tuna and one mahi. In addition to Kevin Gibbs, who is credited with nabbing the first white, the crew included Jake Howe, his girlfriend, India O’Boyle, Johnny Moore, along with Capt. Bobby Layton and mates Austin Bowden and Cody Smith.
