OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Marlin Club’s 35th Annual Canyon Kick-off tournament got underway today with the first of three official fishing days.
With tuna practically jumping in the boat for most of the resort area’s sportfishing fleet for the last week or so, and billfish and dolphin turning up in good numbers offshore, there should be plenty of action in this year’s Canyon Kick-off. Cash prizes will also be awarded for first-, second-and third-place in the heaviest fish division. Points will accumulate for each fish brought to the scales including the heaviest tuna (minimum 30 pounds), the heaviest wahoo (minimum 20 pounds) and the heaviest dolphin (minimum 10 pounds).
In the points division, fish will be caught and released, while in the heaviest fish division, potential winners will be brought to the scales for weighing. The tournament got underway on Friday, the first official fishing day. The action will continue on Saturday and Sunday with weigh-ins each day at Sunset Marina.
The Canyon Kick-off is the first significant event for the Marlin Club each year and serves as a prelude to the more high-profile tournaments of the season including the Ocean City Tuna Tournament and the White Marlin Open in August.
Last year in the billfish release division, it was the crew on the Maverick taking first place with 150 release points worth $12,150. In the yellowfin or bigeye tuna division, the Absolut Pleasure took first with a 60-pound yellowfin worth $15,772. In the dolphin division, Grande Pez took first with a 21-pounder worth $15,772. The Last Call swept second and third place with a 15-pounder worth $2,443 and a 13-pounder worth $1,629.
