OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Marlin Club’s 55th Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament last weekend was a huge success with a suddenly hot white marlin bite ongoing off the coast of the resort and thousands of dollars in prize money awarded to the winners in several categories.
While it might lack the glamour and the high payouts of the White Marlin Open, for example, the Marlin Club’s Labor Day White Marlin Tournament trumps all others when it comes to history and prestige. Called the “granddaddy” of resort area fishing tournaments, the annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament is the oldest among the tournaments held in and around the resort area each summer. The first was held in 1958 and the annual event has endured for five-plus decades and several generations of local anglers.
In the Billfish Release Division, it was the crew on the “Par Five” taking first place with 1,300 release points worth $8,415. Angler Peggy Mumford on the “Par Five” also earned the Master Angler Award for five self-hooked marlin releases. The crew on the “Reel Joy” took second in the billfish release division with 800 points worth $1,539. The “Canyon Hunter” crew took third in the division with 700 release points worth $2,826.
In the Tuna Division, it was the “Reel Fantasy” taking first place with a 1555.6-pounder and a 150.2-pounder worth $5,940. In the Dolphin Division, the “Kylee’s World” took first place with a 15.4-pounder worth $4,207. The “Shadowfax” was second with a 14-pounder worth $1.039, and the “Reel Fantasy” was third with a 13.6-pounder worth $693. A total of $24,660 in prize money was awarded to the winners.
Priceless Each Friday, 52 Weeks a Year!