Sports & Recreation Tuna and Tiaras gets record-breaking catch

By Hunter Hine Staff Writer

(June 23, 2023) The third annual Tuna and Tiaras tournament paid out over $110,000 to lady anglers who collectively weighed in 2,285 pounds of fish last weekend.

Two hundred and eighty-eight female anglers fished on 57 boats dur- ing the tournament, hosted by the Ocean City Fishing Center and Micky Fins, last Friday and Saturday.

“(It went) better than expected. It was outstanding. We had such a good turnout,” said Tournament Director Pam Taylor.

On top of that, Tuna and Tiaras generated about $6,500, which will go to Women Supporting Women, an organization that provides education and awareness for breast cancer and supports women around Wicomico, Worcester, Somerset and Dorchester counties.

Taylor said Monday that the fundraising figure is not final, and she is still receiving donations.

Next week, Taylor will present the organization with a check of the final count, though tournament organizers always accept donations for WSW, she said.

Taylor described the fishing as “way better than last year.” In fact, the tournament’s first ever bigeye tuna was caught. After that, several more bigeyes showed up to weigh-ins at Micky Fins in West Ocean City.

“I would say it’s got something to do with the weather and the way the Gulf Stream is moving this time of year,” Taylor said of the plentiful fish.

The Roncito Gals team, fishing on the Roncito, came in first place with a 183-pound bigeye tuna – the largest catch in tournament history. The team was awarded $38,153 – a tournament payout record for a single fish.

Team Sassy and Salty, fishing on Turnin’ Fins, finished in second place with an 87-pound bigeye worth $10,382.

Team Canyons & Cocktails took third in the single fish category for their 45-pound yellowfin tuna reel aboard the Chaser. The team won $4,107.

First place in the stringer division