*Update: 5:55 p.m. Wilmington-based Marlin Gull, owned by Michael Easel, took home the sought-after $433,500 prize for making it first to the scales with a blue marlin of at least 500 pounds. The Marlin Gull pulled into the lead after day one at the 58th Big Rock Tournament in Morehead City.
Captain Kenny Midgett set his course at 9 a.m. Monday aboard the Buddy Cannady 54-foot vessel and returned to the Big Rock scales around 4 p.m. with the 564.8 pound catch.
At the end of day one, there were 12 blue marlin releases, two white marlin releases and three sailfish releases for the 174 participants competing at the six day event.
Lines were put in on Monday as the 58th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament got underway off the coast of Morehead City.
Among the 174 listed participants are nine boats from the Wilmington area. A last-minute rush of registrants pushed the competition purse to just over $1.9 million.
The competition kicked off at 9 a.m. after a blessing of the fleet and the official announcement that lines were allowed in the water. The six-day event concludes Saturday, June 18th with an awards ceremony at the Morehead City Civic Center.
Competitors are allowed to fish four of six fishing days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish.
This year, the first boat to the Big Rock scales with a blue marlin that weighs at least 500 pounds will win $433,500 if entered in the Level VII “Winner Take All” category.
Listed below are boats from across southeastern North Carolina registered to compete this week. Click here for the complete leader board from each day.
Boat Name: Angler
Type: Spencer 59′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: Angler’s Edge Inc.
Captain: Tim Day
Boat Name: Gamekeeper
Type: Core Sound 55′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: UKenFish LLC
Captain: Ken Upton
Boat Name: Gold-N-Fish
Type: Jersey Cape 36′
City: Carolina Beach, NC
Owner: ANS Investments LLC
Captain: Josh Perry
Boat Name: Marlin Gull
Type: Buddy Cannady 54′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: Michael Easel
Captain: Kenny Midgett
Boat Name: Rameseas
Type: Buddy Cannady 55′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: Rameseas LLC
Captain: Rock Wells
Boat Name: Sails Pitch
Type: Contender 39′
City: Hampstead, NC
Owner: Mark Dressler
Captain: Brian Dressler
Boat Name: Stream Weaver
Type: Spencer 60′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: Rusty Carter
Captain: Timmy Kidwell
Boat Name: Trial Size
Type: Caison 64′
City: Wilmington, NC
Owner: G. Phillip David
Captain: Jackson David
Boat Name: Tuna Trappe
Type: Island Boatworks 57′
City: Wrightsville Beach, NC
Owner: AHG Associates LLC
Captain: Steve Cramer
