By Karen Wall
MARLIN FEVER WINS BIG ROCK WITH RECORD BLUE
The crew of the Marlin Fever put a 919.9-pound blue marlin on the scales, setting a tournament record and winning the 68th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina.
The crew of the 63-foot Jarrett Bay won $6,513,188, including calcutta payouts for the largest blue marlin weighed in the tournament’s history, caught by angler Connor Daniel on Day 2. The marlin was so big that Capt. Cameron Guthrie had to keep Marlin Fever’s tuna door open as the crew eased toward the scales — similar to Top Dog’s historic 914-pound blue marlin in 2019, which hung partially out of the boat during the run in because it simply would not fit onboard.
“We knew she was a good one — a very good one,” mate Jackson Weeks said. “But when we finally put the tape measure on her, it just confirmed what we were seeing with our own eyes. Justin was holding the dumb end, I was holding the smart end, and when I looked down at the number, my eyes got real wide. I looked at him, looked back at the tape again, and started crying. It completely overwhelmed me.”
Second place went to the team on Fender Bender, which put Chris Scerri’s 644.1-pound blue marlin on the scale just after 7 p.m. on Day 2. They won $467,963.
The crew on Haphazard weighed a 635.6-pound blue marlin caught by angler Joey Belton and took third place, winning $311,975.
There were 278 boats in the fleet and they released 331 billfish during the tournament, including 126 blue marlin, 120 white marlin, and 84 sailfish. The fleet posted a 97.6 percent blue marlin release rate. For the first time in several years, only Blue Marlin weighing over 430 pounds were brought to the scales.
Also weighed were the 439.2-pound blue marlin by the Savanna Leigh and a 436.2-pounder by Free Ranger on Day 1. On Day 2, Hit N Run weighed lady angler Laura Russell’s 549.2-pounder, and on Day 3 Free Ranger brought Reid Wood’s 597.4-pounder.
Also on Day 3, Builder’s Choice arrived at the scales with the 530.0-pound blue marlin caught by U.S. Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sgt. Joe Herman, who also released his first blue marlin that day.
The moment carried even more meaning considering it was owner Harris Huddle’s birthday — but instead of taking the chair himself, Huddle handed the opportunity to Herman, another testament of the Big Rock Big Hero fleet’s dedication to giving back to those that give us the freedom to fish. Herman participated in this year’s tournament through Big Rock Big Hero presented by Pimp Shrimp Clothing Co., a program honoring servicemembers through the sport of offshore fishing.
In the gamefish division, Doc Fees won $584,500 in the mahi division with a 66.1-pounder caught by lady angler Keaton Gilleece, and Remix Main Stage was second with a 63-pounder caught by Kenny Hernandez.
Watertight won overall title in the gamefish division and had the heaviest tuna, a 70.8-pounder caught by Nick Gallaher, and Triple Header finished second overall while also earning multiple daily payouts throughout the week across both the tuna and dolphin divisions.
Magic Moment won the wahoo division, edging second-place Piracy by a tenth of a pound. Angler Cullen Sharpe weighed a 53.4-pounder for Magic Moment, beating the 53.3-pounder of Piracy.
ARMY TEAM WINS HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS BENEFIT TOURNEY
The 17th annual Oorah vs. Hooah Fishing Battle in Jacksonville, North Carolina, was won recently by the Army team, giving Team Hooah bragging rights for the year.
Hope For The Warriors and Dr. Richard Weisler hosted the annual offshore fishing tournament for 30 service members and veterans, pitting a team of Marines and sailors against a team of soldiers on the Vonda Kay out of Carolina Beach.
The tournament title is awarded to the team landing the largest fish. The Army team took home the win with a 33-pound, 17-inch tuna caught by U.S. Army veteran Robert “Shrek” Harrell. He also caught the second-largest fish, a 12-pound, 28-inch gag grouper. Together the teams brought in 72 fish.
“It was great for me to go out and do this today,” one participant said. “I need to take more time for myself. Being around other veterans was great. I got to see how HOPE works in a real way, not just with check-ins over the phone. Peer connection is so much better in person, and I look forward to coming to peer group after talking to some of the other veterans.”
Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a nonprofit with a mission to deliver unparalleled services that uplift individuals and their families as they navigate the complexities of military life.
“Peer support is one of the greatest strengths we can offer active-duty service members and veterans,” said Robin Kelleher, founder and CEO of Hope For The Warriors. “Through the generosity of Dr. Richard Weisler, this 17th annual fishing tournament became more than a day on the water — it became a powerful reminder that healing happens in community, hope grows through connection, and no one has to navigate the journey alone.”
To learn more, visit hopeforthewarriors.org.
PURA VIDA WINS BISBEE’S COSTA RICA OFFSHORE
Team Pura Vida released 59 sailfish and three blue marlin to take home top honors at the inaugural Bisbee’s Costa Rica Offshore tournament.
The team on the 62 Paul Mann of Capt. Rudy Arguedas, mates Armando Delgado, Sebastian Delgado, Stiward Porras and owners JC and Aileen Gonzalez, plus team mates Evan Alonzo, Ericka Sandi and Chris Witherington won the top overall release team, top captain and crew and multiple daily sonar billfish and marlin release jackpots and $929,850 in prize money.
The field of 79 teams caught 1,820 fish overall, including 1,722 Pacific sailfish, 33 blue marlin, two black marlin, 55 tuna and eight dorado.
Fish Tank/Galati, a 64 Viking run by Capt. Ben Horning, was the second overall, with one blue marlin and one black marlin plus 54 sailfish. Deal Sled/Junk Male, a 50 Dean Johnson with Capt. Andy Moyes, was third with one blue marlin and 55 sailfish.
Rounding out the top teams were Poco Ocho (58 Weaver/Capt. Sean Gallagher), earning $116,450, and Miss Behavin’ (72 Ricky Scarborough/Capt. Jose Reyes), each with 57 sailfish apiece. Blackhawk earned $343,400 on the basis of multiple marlin jackpots. The team released five blues to go with their 40 sailfish.
In the non-sonar division, the big winners were Five More Minutes; Kelly Dawn, a 45 Rybovich with Capt. Will Ochse; Double Nickel, a 43 Buddy Harris with Capt. Michael Zuniga; E&A with Capt. Jonathan Arn, and Reel Gold, a 35 Cabo with Capt. Stan Cook at the helm.
North Star Costa Rica, a 35 Swordfish captained by Randy Morales boated the heaviest tuna, a 187-pound yellowfin, to take top honors in the division and $186,550.
Howler, a 38.3 Viking with Capt. Jean Carlos Segura Serrato, weighed a 60.91-pound bull dorado to win $79,450. Other big winners in the game fish divisions were Concan Castaways with Capt. Greg Giampapa), earning $73,525, for their 149.7 tuna; Zancudo Lodge Z-1, a 44 Contender with Capt. Maudiel Quiros, which also won $73,525 for a 141.9-pound yellowfin, and Rock N Reel, an 80 Merritt with Capt. Dick Younger that weighed a 29.8-pound dorado worth $107,100.
Nikita Timmermans, competing on Salochankita, a 74 Viking run by Capt. Andrew Mason, was named the Top Lady Angler after releasing 18 sailfish.
