Big Fish Classic set for July 28-30

By Lisa Capitelli Contributing Editor

(July 21, 2023) More than $1 million was paid out to the winners of the Huk Big Fish Classic in both 2021 and 2022, and organizers of this year’s event hope to keep the trend going.

“It’s our 10th anniversary [and] our goal is $1.5 million and participation – 100-plus boats,” said Brian Roberts, co-director of the Classic. “I think they are possible.”

A total of 97 boats were entered into the ninth annual competition last year, and approximately $1.08 million was awarded. The year prior, a record 110 boats participated and the tournament broke the milliondollar payout mark for the first time, awarding $1,224,740 to the winners.

“I hope we have good weather,” Roberts said. “We’re super excited … Fishing is definitely picking up.”

Base entry fee for the 10th annual Classic, scheduled for July 28-30, is $1,000. While about 30 teams have pre-registered as of Wednesday, the majority will sign up for the tournament on the final day, Thursday, July 27.

On-site registration, located near M.R. Ducks on Talbot Street in down- town Ocean City, will run from noon to 8 p.m. A captains’ meeting will follow.

Added entry-level divisions range in cost from $500 to $5,000, and include billfish, tuna, meatfish (mahi and wahoo) and small boat (38 feet and under). There is also a billfish release division.

Teams can select five qualifying fish of any species they catch for the Talbot Street Stringer division.

Additional entry-level calcuttas have been added for swordfish and in the small boat division this year.

Gret’s Three J’s landed the largest fish of the 2022 tournament – a 436pound blue marlin – and won $201,885.

The second largest fish was a 258.5-pound big eye tuna, caught aboard No Limit. The crew’s total tuna stringer catch weight was 686 pounds. The group received $192,253.

The Big Stick team boated a 170.5pound swordfish and was presented $98,550.

The Boss Hogg crew landed a 76pound white marlin and took home the most money of the tournament –$225,000 – because of participation in added entry-level calcuttas.

Teams can choose to fish between two 32-hour slots: 7 a.m. Friday, July, 28 to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 29, or 7 a.m. Saturday, July 29 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 30.

Crews can fish the entire 32 hours or come back to the dock and head out offshore again after a break with the same or different anglers.

Boats can depart from any port between New Jersey and Virginia. Teams can fish up to 125 nautical miles from the Ocean City sea buoy. All fish must be weighed at the Talbot Street Pier.

Tournament weigh-ins will take place from 4-9 p.m., Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. The scale, located between M.R. Ducks and The Angler, will be open from 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 30.

Those who can’t attend in person can watch online at www.bigfishclassic.com. Barstool Sports will also be covering the tournament.

There will be tournament merchandise and other vendors set up in the Big Fish Classic Village near the weigh-ins.

Singer-songwriter Jared Wade will perform in the village beginning around 4:45 p.m. next Saturday.

In addition to a successful 2022 tournament, several hundred pounds of fish was donated to Diakonia in West Ocean City, an organization which helps individuals and families by providing shelter, food, clothing and program services, as well as $2,000. About $12,000 went to the Ocean City Fire Department.

The Raymond A. Wood Founda-