18 minute read
Sports
Sports & Recreation www.oceancitytoday.com 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.
Continued from Page 63 said he planned to go first, but wanted to watch others and see the process.
“I’d only seen it on TV. I wanted to watch and see everything first,” he said.
Layton said the fish was hooked around 9 a.m. and it was on the boat about 9:05. He wanted to make sure there was plenty of video and photo documentation, since it was possibly the first white marlin of the Ocean City fishing season.
Layton said he estimated it to weigh about 60 pounds. After it was released, Layton and Gibbs said there were many high-fives, screaming and cheering.
“When we got it to the boat and it was officially released, everyone said we just got the first white marlin. It was a surreal moment. It’s been absolutely special,” Gibbs said. “It was a crazy experience. I just reeled as hard as I could for as long as I could.”
Layton said captains from other boats in the area started reaching out on the radio to inquire about the catch. Everyone agreed it was the first white of the season.
After everyone calmed down, Layton said the group continued to fish. They caught four more tuna and a mahi after landing the marlin. They fished until 1:30 p.m. then headed back to the fishing center.
Not only was it Gibbs’ first billfish, but it was also his first time fishing offshore.
It is tradition when an angler catches his or her first white marlin, they jump in the water. When the group got back to the fishing center around 4 p.m., Gibbs did just that.
The group finished the day with eight yellowfin tuna – averaging about 40-50 pounds – one mahi (about 10 pounds) and the coveted white marlin release.
“That’s a hell of a day … It was a good team. Everyone communicated well. It was such a fun time,” Gibbs said. “[Layton] put us in position to catch these fish. I was just lucky enough to reel [the white marlin] in. I have bragging rights. I’m so happy for captain Bob. This is such a big deal in the fishing community.”
Gibbs, 37, said he plans to go offshore fishing again, hopefully in the near future.
Layton, 28, has been fishing his whole life, he said. He’s been working on charter boats for 13 years. This is his first season as captain of the Wrecker.
The boat will receive a total of $17,000. One check for $5,000 will come from the Town of Ocean City, another $5,000 from the Ocean City Marlin Club, and a third for $7,000 will be presented by the Fishermen United of Ocean City, which includes donations from: Bank of Ocean City, Bahia Marina, Hooked on OC, Atlantic Tackle, Ocean City Fishing Center, Sunset Marina and Coastal Fisherman.
By Jack Chavez Staff Writer (June 10, 2022) Live horse racing is back at Ocean Downs for the 2022 season and for the second year in a row, fans and bettors will be in the stands.
This year, the season started a bit earlier than usual with the first live meet happening on May 29, a day before Memorial Day.
“We opened to a really good crowd,” Ocean Downs General Manager Bobbi Sample said. ”As with any business, we would like to see some growth this season. Part of the reason that we are starting and ending our meet a bit earlier this year is to better align our live meet with the summer season in an effort to maximize our on track attendance.”
Races will occur typically three days per week — four in July — until the week of Labor Day, Sample said.
“In 2021 it was nice to be able to welcome fans back to the track,” Sample said. “Our live meet has two revenue streams, the wagering at our location and the wagering from the export of our races to other racetracks throughout the country. Our on-track wagering was down a bit from 2019 levels but the export wagering was up so fans across the country were wagering more on our races.”
This year will include plenty of promotions including “fan-favorites like the Ostrich and Camel Races, appearances by the Clydesdales as well as family-fun events like our Stilt Walker and Cascading Carlos,” Sample said. Baltimore Ravens mascot Poe, a fortune teller and magician will all makes appearances. There’s also a watermelon-eating contest planned and other “fun-themed” nights.
“We have something going on every night of racing,” Sample said.
A year after heavy covid protocols had to be in place, Sample said that guests will have the option of wearing a mask but no mandated protocols will be in effect.
“Fortunately, this is an outdoor sport and we have a lot of space around the track,” she said.
The offseason can be just as busy for horses and trainers alike. Horse owners typically race their horses at other locations in the mid-Atlantic region.
“Our (Maryland) horsemen tend to race at Rosecroft (in Prince George’s County), which has a spring and fall meet each year,” Sample added. “We use the offseason for repairs and maintenance projects that we can’t do during racing.”
Ahead of the season, the prep work on the track begins in March so that it’s ready for training, which starts in April.
“As we get closer to the season, we add qualifying days so that horses can qualify to race,” Sample said.
Ocean Downs races standardbred pacer and trotter horses.
For more information, visit https://oceandowns.com.
(June 10, 2022) Eighteen anglers on six boats participated in the inaugural Blues for DU event, hosted last weekend by Bahia Marina Tournaments.
“Those that participated had a good time,” said tournament Co-director Earl Conley. “Tournament organizers were disappointed in the turnout. The first tournament of its kind, it’s tough to get off the ground. We’ll alter it a bit to increase participation for next year … tweak some things to make it more suitable for more anglers.”
The 22nd Street bayside marina presented the bluefish tournament to benefit Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit organization 501(c) dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.
Bahia had hosted the Mako Mania shark fishing tournament for 24 years the first weekend of June, but no mako harvesting is allowed along the East Coast for the next two years.
Recently, the ICAAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent seas, announced that a two-year retention ban is being implemented starting in 2022 on North Atlantic shortfin mako shark which the group called “overfished.”
So instead of Mako Mania, Bahia Marina partnered with Ducks Unlimited to offer a bluefish event to benefit the organization.
Conley said numerous bluefish were caught over the three-day event. Nine were brought to the scale.
Mike Botsaris reeled in a 12.5pound bluefish while fishing on Saltwater Adventures. The fish was worth $995.
Buffalo Hunter angler Parker Marshall hooked a 5.3-pound bluefish to finish in second place. The crew received $957. The group was entered in the largest fish winner take all calcutta and took home the prize money pot totaling $360.
Shawn Flahtery came in third place with the 4.2-pound bluefish he caught aboard Lost Time. The team was awarded $398.
A total of $2,350 in prize money was awarded.
“All of the money in the tournament was paid out. In conjunction with the fishing tournament, the Harman family collected donations for Ducks Unlimited totaling $10,000,” Conley said.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the 2023 event should call Bahia Marina at 410-289-7438.
To learn more about Ducks Unlimited, go to https://www.ducks.org.
Low turnout for 1st Blues for DU, but $10K raised for org.
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor
Fundraiser, film viewing, surf contest planned
By Dave Dalkiewicz Contributing Writer (June 10, 2022) This coming week should prove to be significant in the surfing world.
On the evening of Thursday, June 16, a party/legends event will be held at Barn 34 restaurant on 34th Street in Ocean City beginning at 6 p.m. This gathering is put on by the Ocean City Surf Club. It will feature scholarship awards to deserving young students to further their education, legend inductions, and raffles.
It’s a general fundraiser for the Ocean City Surf Club and always provides a venue for fellowship and camaraderie. It’s open to everybody though one must be 21 to purchase alcoholic beverages.
On the evening of Friday, June 17, a surf movie will be shown at Seacrets Bar and Grill at 49th Street.
This movie is the premiere of Danny Herlihy’s “Caribe,” concentrating on the early days of surfing in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico has long been held as a great wealth of surf in the Caribbean Sea and very accessible, especially from the East Coast of the United States. I’ve heard it referred to as the Hawaii of the East.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with the movie starting at 7 p.m. Admission is $10.
Much anticipation has surrounded this movie due to its long time in the making. Make plans to attend.
Before the current video era, surf movies were always quite the event and usually well attended.
This showing should be a great combination of past and present with Seacrets being a prime location for the premiere of “Caribe.”
For more information, contact Danny at 302-539-5998.
On the morning of June 18, the Ocean City Surf Club will hold the “Anything Goes Team Challenge” contest on the beach in the 35th-37th Streets area. This “contest,” which kicks off at 8 a.m. is really a non-contest with the emphasis on fun.
Any wave riding equipment can be used, thus the anything goes label.
The event will also feature a bodyboard segment with Ocean City native and bodyboard champion Jay Reale in attendance.
The concept here is that of a team with practically any one person or organization who is interested, invited to enter a team.
Contact Ocean City Surf Club President Tommy Vach at 443-366-5885 for more information.
The “Anything Goes Team Challenge” is an evolution of the Longboard Team Challenge that had been held for about the last 20 years. Again, the emphasis is on fun, especially with the team concept.
Participation is encouraged and spectators are welcome.
Surfing is generally quite the individual sport/activity although surfing alone is certainly not the best idea.
The aforementioned activities/ events, though valid in and of themselves, are ways for surfers and those interested in surfing to come together in this common interest and hopefully advance the sport in a town by the sea.
Surfing has come a long way since the days when it was considered a “bad” element. These days, surfing is looked upon in a better light such as golf, tennis, skiing or other more individual activities.
One doesn’t need a team as such to play the game as is the common practice in sports such as baseball, football, or basketball. Surfing is also more of a “free” activity.
Once equipment is acquired, there are no green fees of lift tickets or needed admission costs.
Check out some or all of these events this coming week. The organizers will be thankful and you just might find yourself having a lot of fun! — Dave Dalkiewicz is the owner of Ocean Atlantic Surf Shop in Ocean City.
Second annual Tuna and Tiaras next weekend
By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (June 10, 2022) The inaugural Tuna and Tiaras tournament in 2021 was a huge success, with 159 lady anglers fishing on 36 boats and more than $64,000 in prize money awarded. The 2022 event is shaping up to be even bigger.
“We are anticipating huge growth this year,” said organizer Pam Taylor. “It’s hard to put a number on how many we expect, but the response and interest from new anglers and boats that didn’t fish with us last year has been incredibly positive. We weighed over 1,900 pounds of tuna in year one.”
Final registration for the tournament is Thursday, June 16, from 5-8 p.m. at the Ocean City Fishing Center in West Ocean City.
The cost to participate is $400 per boat for up to six anglers. Teams must enter at least one calcutta, which range in cost from $250-$500, and include: Heaviest Single Tuna Split (50/30/20), Heaviest Single Tuna winner take all, Tuna Stringer Split (50/30/20) and Tuna Stringer winner take all.
There are also added entry-level calcuttas for small boats (35 feet and under) daily heaviest stringer and single tuna, as well as mahi and wahoo.
“We’ve added two small boat categories, a daily stringer and a daily heaviest tuna calcutta for more ways to win,” Taylor said. “Micky Fins is catering some awesome snacks and we’re having an award ceremony at the Ocean City Marlin Club (for winners only this year).
“We also have some exciting new sponsors who are going to help Tuna and Tiaras and HUK Performance Gear make our registration party amazing and captains bags the best tournament bags anyone has ever seen,” she continued. “They are just loaded down with goodies and I’m so excited to hand them out to registered teams.”
Teams can fish one out of the two tournament days: either Friday, June 17 or Saturday, June 18. Weigh-ins will take place from 4-7 p.m. at the Ocean City Fishing Center.
An awards ceremony will be held on Sunday at the Ocean City Marlin Club.
“We’ve prepared for 60-75 boats. That’s double our turnout from 2021 with 36 boats. Three hundred badass lady anglers ready to fight tuna is my goal. In 2021, we donated $7,750 to Women Supporting Women and are hoping to hit $10,000 this year.”
There will also be a photo contest, with several categories to enter. Photos must be taken on the day of a team’s registered trip. Winners will be determined by the amount of “likes” on the Tuna and Tiaras Facebook page, and prizes will be awarded.
The tournament will again benefit Women Supporting Women of Salisbury. Its services include prosthetic breast fittings, wigs, educational tote bags, lift chair loaner program and community-related events to educate the public. All of its services are free. In addition to its main office, support groups are held in Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester counties.
“WSW and Tuna and Tiaras have been teaming up, even outside of the tournament days,” Taylor said. “We strongly believe in the good they are bringing into our local community and love that we can volunteer some time to assist this awesome organization on top of presenting them with a check to support them supporting our locals.”
For more information about the tournament, visit https://tunaandtiaras.com.
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Worcester County Rec and Parks hosts baseball clinic
(June 10, 2022) Boys and girls ages 7 to 14 are invited to participate in Pitch, Hit, and Run with Worcester County Recreation and Parks.
Players will participate in this one-day skills competition at the Northern Worcester Athletic Complex, Senior Field on Saturday, June 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Participants may stop in at any time for their skills assessment on pitching, hitting and running. The assessment will take approximately five minutes per individual.
Event winners will be required to provide a birth certificate to verify age before advancing to sectionals, with hopes to move on to partake at a big league ball park. Pre-registration is recommended at www.pitchhitrun.com.
For more information, contact Tyler Keiser at 410-632-2144 x2505 or tkeiser@marylandscoast.org.
To view more upcoming free youth programs visit www.playmarylandscoast.org.
Serving Maryland and Delaware OFFERING COMPETITIVE PAY AND BENEFITS CALL US TODAY AT 410-641-1434 OR APPLY ONLINE ARCTICHEATANDAIR.COM Worcester NAACP honoring baseball hall of famer, Sun.
(June 10, 2022) The Worcester County NAACP will honor Negro League Baseball and Snow Hill native, Judy Johnson, 1975 Baseball Hall of Famer, with a tribute/Negro League Baseball celebration on Sunday, June 12 at the Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, of Route 50 in Salisbury.
The game, which features the Delmarva Shorebirds vs the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, begins at 2:05 p.m.
Special appearances by Sam Allen, (Kansas City Monarchs), Pedro Sierra (Detroit Stars) and Rayner Banks (The Negro League Ambassador.)
A raffle, exhibits and vendors will be available. Purchase tickets through the Delmarva Shorebirds. The event is sponsored by Worcester County NAACP, Residence Inn Marriott Ocean City, The Delmarva Shorebirds, Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, and Beach to Bay Heritage Area.
Ravens Roost #44 of Ocean City recently announced the presentation of annual scholarship awards. Stephen Decatur graduates Ashten Snelsire and Skylar Griffin were among the recipients. They are pictured with Scholarship Committee co-chair Don McMullen.
OC Ravens Roost announces 2022 scholarship recipients
(June 10, 2022) Ravens Roost #44 of Ocean City recently announced the presentation of annual scholarship awards.
This year, scholarship awards totaling $15,000 went to six students at three area high schools.
The 2022 scholar/athlete awardees are: • Skylar Griffin, Stephen Decatur High School/University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut • Ashten Snelsire, Stephen Decatur High School/University of Richmond, Virginia • Lily Baeurle, Worcester Preparatory School/Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania • Bennett Tinkler, Worcester Preparatory School/University of Maryland • Samantha Derickson, Indian River High School/East Stroudsburg University, Pennsylvania • Brynn McCabe, Indian River High School/University of Maryland
Ravens Roost #44 has awarded more than $228,900 in scholarships to local students during the last two decades.
Don McMullen, Scholarship Committee co-chair, said the Ravens Roost Scholarship Committee awards individual scholarships based on SAT/ACT scores, grade-point averages, participation in athletics, community service, work history, letters of recommendations, and an essay on how athletics are important in today’s society.
Ravens Roost #44 held its 25th annual Scholarship Golf Tournament at the Ocean Pines Golf Club on June 3.
The winning teams and players were: • First-place team: Mike Mason, Darin Stuiber, Bill Cordwell and Mike Daley • Closest to the Pin (Men’s): Jack Heim • Closest to the Pin (Women’s): Teresa Burns • Longest Drive (Men’s): Chip Sheekin • Longest drive (Women’s): Poppy Granite
The Scholarship Committee wishes to thank signature sponsor American Legion Post 166 of Ocean City, and major sponsors the Original Greene Turtle, Atlantic General Hospital, Pit n Pub Restaurant, and Mike’s Flooring & Design Center.
“In addition, we would like to thank our tee sponsors, prize sponsors, businesses and golfers for their continued support,” McMullen said. “A special thank you to John Malinowski, PGA general manager of Golf, and Justin Hartshorne, Golf superintendent, for having the course in excellent shape and for their help in making our annual tournament a success. We would also like to thank Judy and Rob from the Matt Ortt Companies for the excellent luncheon at the Ocean Pines Clubhouse Bar and Grille.”
McMullen said the Scholarship Committee is currently seeking donations for 2023 scholarships.
Donations may be mailed to Ravens Roost #44, P.O. Box 4161, Ocean City, Maryland 21843.
Ravens Roost #44, Inc. is an IRS 501(7)(c) nonprofit. The federal tax ID is 52-2160753.
For more information, visit https://ocravensroost44.com.
