Marina Bragging Rights On Line

OCEAN CITY- Bragging rights for an entire year will be on the line this weekend when boats and crews of anglers from the resort's many marinas compete in the 14^th Annual Marina Shootout fishing tournament.

Sponsored by the Ocean City Marlin Club, the annual tournament pits nearly all of the local marinas against each other in what has become one of the most unique tournaments of the summer season. Sunset Marina in West Ocean City has held the title for the last two years and will compete to retain bragging rights this weekend.

Like most tournaments, anglers and boats in the Marina Shootout will compete against each other individually for cash and prizes, but the interesting component of this event is that teams from the various marinas will compete against each other for the right to be called Top Marina for the next 12 months. The event kicks off today with registration and a captains' meeting and the action will get underway tomorrow with the first of two fishing days.

Individual awards will be given to the boat with the highest number of billfish release points accumulated and the highest number of combined points in a variety of meatfish categories including tuna, dolphin and wahoo among others. Team honors and the right to be called Top Marina for the next year will also be awarded to the marina whose teams accumulate the most points.

A minimum of six boats from each marina must participate in order to qualify. Participating marinas typically include Fisherman's Marina, Bahia Marina, Harbour Island, White Marlin Marina, the Ocean City Fishing Center and Sunset Marina, which will host the daily weigh-ins on Saturday and Sunday. The event will conclude with an awards banquet at the Ocean City Marlin Club on Sunday evening.