OCEAN CITY — Several records were set during last week’s 43rd Annual White Marlin Open including a potential world record $2.8 million payout for the one and only qualifying white weighed during the five-day event, a record $4.4 million total payout for the event, and perhaps more importantly, a shattered WMO record for the number of billfish releases.
Clearly, white marlin arrived in great numbers in the canyons off the coast of the resort during the White Marlin Open last week, perhaps confirming again Ocean City’s reputation as the White Marlin Capital of the World. Over the course of the tournament’s five days, the 329 registered boats caught a WMO record 1,412 billfish, of which 1,358 where white marlin. The previous WMO record for number of white marlin releases was 1,104 set in 2002.
“The numbers were really good to say the least,” said WMO founder and director Jim Motsko this week. “I think there was an average of three to four white marlin releases per boat, meaning nearly everybody had a chance to catch a qualifier.”
Nonetheless, after a whirlwind five days of hundreds of boats arriving with blue and white release flags flying, just one boated white marlin weighed at the scale at host Harbour Island met the minimum 70-pound requirement. Angler Phil Heaseley aboard the Naples, Fla.-based “Kallianassa” hauled in a 76.5-pound white marlin shortly after the scale opened for business on Tuesday of Marlin Week.
The big white topped out at 76.5 pounds and cozied into the top spot on the leaderboard in the signature white marlin division. However, it was only Tuesday and Heasely and the “Kallianassa” crew had to sweat out the remaining three days to see if their first-place white would hold up. With plenty of boat-days remaining and white marlin practically jumping in the boats offshore, it was a tenuous position at best, but the 76.5-pounder held up over the final three days.
Because the “Kallianassa” ponied up for all added entry levels, and because Heasely caught the one and only qualifier, when the scale officially closed last Friday at 9:15 p.m., the 76.5-pounder ended up being worth $2.8 million, which is believed to be the highest award ever paid for a single fish in the WMO or anywhere else.
“I am not aware of anybody ever winning any more for a single fish,” said Motsko this week. “I think there has been a $2 million payout somewhere before, but if there has ever been one greater than $2.8 million I’m not aware of it.”
The previous record payout for a single white marlin payout during the WMO was $1.5 million, but several factors were at play last week for the “Kallianassa” to take home the record $2.8 million. The “Kallianassa” was entered across the board in all white marlin categories, so its 76.5-pounder stood to win at least $1,134,000, but because it was the lone qualifier, it also earned the first, second and third-place money for every white marlin category, taking its prize amount to $2.4 million.
Finally, there was a Level D pool that held another $460,000 in prize money to be split evenly between the white and blue marlin division winners, but because there was only one qualifying blue marlin, that entire pool of money was added to the total for the “Kallianassa,” bringing its final payout to over $2.8 million.
One would think with a potential $2.8 million on the line, so to speak, more white marlin near misses would have been brought to the scale. However, the WMO has always prided itself on its conservation ethic and high release rate and this year was no different. Of the 1,358 white marlin caught during the tournament, 1,334 were released.
“As far as only one qualifying white marlin weighed, there were a couple of big concentrations of school-sized fish roughly the same size that fell short of the 70-pound minimum,” said Motsko. “There were tons of what I’d call cookie-cutter fish. I think it shows how the stock population is so much healthier now. I think it goes to show how the stock of white marlin is improving.”
While Heasely and the “Kallianassa” took home the record payout, perhaps the most prestigious award is the annual WMO Angler of the Year Award for the most releases. The top four anglers in the category are presented with the WMO Master Angler ring, which is perhaps the most coveted bling in the sportfishing community. This year, the award went to angler Marc Verzaleno on the “Reel Steel,” who released 11 white marlin and one blue marlin for a remarkable 945 release points.
While the 76.5-pounder caught by Heasely and the “Kallianassa” on Tuesday was the big story in the signature white marlin division, perhaps the most drama came in the blue marlin division. Late Monday night well after the sun was down, the first qualifying billfish was brought to the scale and it created quite a stir among the thousands still milling around Harbour Island. Angler Jim Conway fishing on the “Get Reel” out of Ocean City caught the 9 p.m. drawbridge and arrived at the scale with a massive blue marlin lashed to the side of a small vessel.
As the story goes, the “Get Reel” crew had issues with its larger boat and sent out the smaller Grady White to bring in the big blue. However, the second boat was too small to boat the big blue marlin and it had to be towed in. Somewhere along the trip, the big blue marlin’s tail separated from the rest of its body, calling into question at least briefly, if it should qualify.
After the requisite measurements were taken and a ruling was made on the tail issue, the big blue was hauled up the scale with a makeshift cradle of sort and topped out at 790 pounds. The debate centered on when the tail was lost and whether “mutilation” occurred and at what point. According to IGFA rules, a fish should be disqualified if mutilation occurs prior to the fish being landed or boated. In this case, WMO officials determined the big blue lost its tail after it was officially landed, likely during the towing process to the scale. The big blue held up as the lone qualifier in the blue marlin division and Conway and the “Get Reel” crew were ultimately awarded $258,995 in prize money.
The tuna division saw its leaderboard written, erased and written again throughout the week, but when the dust settled, it was angler Rick Kosztyu on the “Hubris” taking first place with a 236.5-pound big-eye. Because just one qualifying blue marlin was weighed, Kosztyu and the “Hubris” crew was awarded the second- and third-place blue marlin money, bringing its total winnings to a record $767,091, the largest payout over for the top tuna in WMO history.
Angler Mark Hutchinson on the “Magic Moment” took second in the tuna division with a 233-pounder worth $131,968, while Dave Arnold on the “American Lady” was third with a 71.5-pounder worth $52,626. Pat Horning on the “Fish Whistle” also weighed a 71.5-pound tuna worth $5,626, while John Hoffman on the “Reel Direct” was fifth with a 67-pounder worth $30,504.
In the dolphin division, it was angler Josh Sharp on the “Sea Flame” weighing a 39-pounder on the tournament’s last day to take first and $17,717 in prize money. Angler Brian Russell on the “Sea Wolf” was second with a 36-pounder worth $14,967, angler John Gudelsky on the “Reel Joy” was third with a 36-pounder worth $16,217, Shannon Mills on the “Sea Breeze” was fourth with a 35.5-pounder worth $13,717, and Thomas Bennett on the “Delta Dawn” was fifth with a 34.5-pounder worth $13,717.
In the wahoo division, angler Richard Hammond on the “Two Timing Connie” was first with a 79-pounder worth $24,862, Brian Leader on the “Second Chance” was second with a 54-pounder worth $5,000, Daniel Stuart on the “Got Fish Too” was third with a 41-pounder worth $24,862, and Steve Figiel on the “No Service” was fifth with a 40.5-pounder worth $22,862.
In the shark division, angler J.D. Messler on the “MJ’s” was first with a 260.5-pounder worth $4,500, while Hunter Pusey on the “Rumor Has It” was second with a 223-pounder worth $3,500.
