Sports & Recreation
Ocean City Today Aug. 5, 2022
Page 69
www.oceancitytoday.com
Annual White Marlin Open starts Monday By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor (Aug. 5, 2022) The 48th annual White Marlin Open in 2021 was one for the record books, and if the weather is good, organizers expect this year’s event to be another success. A total of 444 boats entered last year, the second-highest participation in tournament history. The most was 449 boats registered in 2005. A record $9.2 million was distributed among tournament winners last year, breaking the previous record set in 2020 of $6.8 million. In fact, the Open saw several new world records: total prize money, number of boats in a billfish tournament and money awarded for a single fish. In addition, the new swordfish state record was achieved during the tournament. (It has since been dethroned). Jacob Bertonazzi caught a 318.5-pound swordfish while fishing on Jersey Boy. The team was awarded $118,800 for participation in the Small Boat Big Fish added entry level calcutta. Jim Motsko, co-director and founder of the White Marlin Open, said he would like for the total payout to hit $10 million this year, especially with the addition of some new added entry level calcuttas, or wagering pools. But two factors could deter participation: the weather forecast – especially for smaller boats – and fuel costs. “Fuel prices are coming down, which is encouraging,” he said. “It might be an issue. I don’t know what to expect. People may spend less in the calcuttas, but even if they do, they can still win a lot of money.” To date, the Open has paid out more than $92 million. Anglers on hundreds of boats will head offshore during the tournament next week in search of the coveted billfish. “Marlin fishing is a little slow. People are mostly tuna fishing right now, but we’re starting to see more going marlin fishing this week (to prepare for the Open),” Motsko said.” It happens every year. Some whites and blues have been caught [and released].” Teams were encouraged to register in advance, and as of Wednesday, about 200 boats had already signed up.
PHOTO COURTESY COASTAL FISHERMAN MAGAZINE
The crew of the Sushi is joined by family as the group weighed Butch Wright’s 85.5-pound white marlin on the final day of the White Marlin Open last year. The billfish took over first place and was worth more than $3.2 million.
If teams registered on or before June 1 the base entry fee was $1,250. Many just turned in the basic entry fee, bus some have already signed up for added entry level calcuttas. Though most crews wait until the final days to register so they can keep an eye on the forecast, typically about 65 percent of the boats traditionally return each year. Most of the anglers on those boats are the same, while there are also some changes and additions. Final registration will take place at Harbour Island Marina on 14th Street this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Sunday, registration will open at 11 a.m. and run until about 7 p.m. The base entry fee is $1,500 per boat (after June 1), which makes teams eligible for $50,000 in guaranteed prize money. There is no limit to the number of anglers on each boat. There are 29 added entry level divisions (wagering pools or calcuttas) this year, which range in cost from $100 to $20,000 to enter. An overwhelming majority – about 98 percent – of the teams sign up for at least one calcutta. The more calcuttas entered, the greater the possible return. The cost to enter every calcutta this year for boats under 40 feet long is $63,500, not including the base
entry fee. Boats 40 feet and larger are eligible to enter 23 calcuttas at a total cost of $57,000. “You don’t have to be a millionaire to win a million dollars,” Motsko said. “If you get in specific calcuttas, if you enter just the $5,000 and $10,000 calcuttas you can still come out a millionaire.” There are two new calcuttas this year. A new heaviest swordfish winner take all category (Level S) has been added. It cost $2,500 to enter. In addition, a new daily billfish points category has been added for small boats (under 40 feet LOA). “Anglers have requested, we have added a daily billfish points category (Level SBDP) specifically to reward the smaller boats for catches and releases of billfish,” according to the tournament website. Because of the new federal regulations on sharks, the Open has eliminated the shark category for 2022. There will also be 30 extra minutes of fishing time this year. Lines and teasers can be put in the water at 8 a.m. It takes a combination of luck and skill to catch a white marlin. First, captains and anglers must know how and where to find them. From that point on, luck comes into play, as there’s no way to know whose
bait might attract the interest of a big fish. Anyone can get lucky, and that is why the Open is so popular. Novice anglers have won the tournament. Teams may fish anywhere within 100 nautical miles of the Ocean City inlet sea buoy, but certain areas hold favor. Most boats will head to the offshore canyons — Poor Man’s, Baltimore and Washington — where large fish and Open winners have been caught in the past. Billfish conservation is emphasized every year, as more than 90 percent of white and blue marlins are released. A total of 502 white marlin were caught during the 2021 tournament; just 13 of them were boated. Sixty-six blue marlins were released and three were boated. To be a contender in the white marlin division this year, Motsko thinks a fish will need to weigh close to 80 pounds. The tournament minimum is 70 pounds, and the length minimum is 70 inches. To have a chance at prize money in the blue marlin division, Motsko thinks the fish will need to weigh at least 600-650 pounds. The minimum length for blue marlin is 114 inches. There is no weight minimum. See WATCH Page 70
