White Marlin Open Tournament Celebrates 50th Anniversary
The White Marlin Open will celebrate its 50th Anniversary tournament week with a new $50,000 added entry category. The tournament will take place from August 7th through August 11th, when anglers will have the opportunity to hook a record-breaking white and blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, swordfish, or dolphin. In addition, the Marlin Fest beach event will allow families to bring beach chairs and blankets to spread out and enjoy live music and views of the anglers as they bring in their daily catches to nearby Harbour Island. Marlin Fest is a free event, and no ticket or registration is needed.
Additional Information from the Press Release:
OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND â May 3, 2023 â The White Marlin Open (WMO), the worldâs largest offshore billfish tournament held annually in Ocean City, today announces plans for its 50th anniversary tournament week, presented by Pure Lure. Held from August 7 through August 11, anglers will have the opportunity to hook a record-breaking white and blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, swordfish, or dolphin. Tournament Directors expect the purse for this yearâs event to be over $10 million, and have added a new $50,000 entry category. Additionally, for the third year in a row, Marlin Fest will coincide with the tournament â a free viewing event located on the beach at the Inlet featuring a festival-like atmosphere as well as real-time, unobstructed views of the live stream of the tournament weigh-ins via large screens.
âWeâre thrilled to honor 50 years of hosting one of the most exciting and competitive fishing experiences in the world, right here in Ocean City, Maryland,â said Madelyne Rowan, Tournament Director. âFollowing this yearâs tournament, we expect to surpass more than $100 million in cash rewards to our anglers, who we cannot thank enough for their continued support. We also want to recognize our long-term sponsors, partners, and most importantly, the amazing community of die-hard fans who show up year after year and make this a truly unforgettable experience.â
New Anniversary Level Entry Category
In celebration of the anniversary, a new white marlin âWinner Take Allâ entry category has been added. The $50,000 category, also known as the âAnniversary Level,â will add to the millions of dollars already at stake for the heaviest white marlin.
âItâs remarkable to reflect on 50 years of tournaments, especially back to our first event held in 1974. We drew 57 boats, and 150 anglers, and paid $20,000 in prize money,â stated Jim Motsko, Founder of the White Marlin Open. âFast-forward to today and we continue to stay true to our mission of world-class fishing, with our added entry categories more than doubling that initial payout in 1974. Last year, we drew 408 boats, over 3,500 contestants, and awarded over $8.6 million in prize money, including the top individual prize of $4.53 million â a new world record award for the catch of a fish!â
Supporting Local Food Pantries
The White Marlin Open invites anglers to donate their catch, making the WMO the largest supplier of protein to food pantries in Maryland annually. This year, the tournament will be partnering with Catch N Carry to clean, portion, flash freeze, and distribute donated fish directly to local food pantries throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Marlin Fest
Held at the Inlet from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm each day of the tournament, the free event welcomes families to bring beach chairs and blankets to spread out and enjoy live music and views of the anglers as they bring in their daily catches to nearby Harbour Island. Vendors will be onsite selling a variety of items including official Marlin Fest merchandise and White Marlin Open gear, as well as food and alcohol.
This year, Marlin Fest will support the Ocean City Reef Foundation, an organization committed to the enhancement, and restoration, of Marylandâs seafloor by deploying reef substrates and monitoring coral coverage. The foundationâs goal is to build living reefs that will help bring back species of fish, lobsters, crab, and shrimp closer to shore.
Marlin Fest is a free event, no ticket or registration is needed. Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are availableâfor more information contact sashawhitemarlinopen@comcast.net. To register to participate in the White Marlin Open tournament, visit https://whitemarlinopen.com/.
About White Marlin Open
The White Marlin Open is a 50-year-old offshore fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland. The tournament awards prize money for catches of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin, and swordfish. Long known as âWorldâs Largest Billfishing Tournament,â the White Marlin Open (WMO) has awarded over $95 million since 1974 to the lucky winners among more than 105,000 anglers aboard over 14,000 registered boats. Along the way, the WMO became the largest billfish tournament and holds the world record for prize money payouts for any fishing tournament. To learn more, please visit https://whitemarlinopen.com.
