Article by Larry Jock
I spent most of my time this week at the scales of the Mid-Atlantic $500,000. With the offshore bite being pretty slow, the early part of the week was rather dull. But similar to years past, the action at the scales on the last two days of the tournament really turned things around.
On Thursday, the “Phat Mann” weighed a 78 lb. white marlin to take a short-lived lead in the White Marlin Division. Mark Granville-Smith hooked the white on a naked ballyhoo in 70 fathoms inside the Washington Canyon. Very shortly after the “Phat Mann” weigh-in, a boat in Cape May weighed an 84 pounder to take the lead. This fish would later be pulled from the tournament by the owner of the boat after a load of ice was found in the stomach of the fish by the biologist.
The “Predator” arrived at the scales a little while later with a 69 lb. yellowfin tuna to take the lead in the Tuna Division. This fish, caught by Donnie Moore, ended up tying for 1st place in the Tuna Division with a New Jersey boat called the “Sea Hag”. Donnie used 30 lb. test line to hook the yellowfin on a naked ballyhoo in the Poor Man’s Canyon.
As in past years, the real excitement occurred on Friday, the final day of the tournament, when the “Toplesss” brought a 95 lb. white marlin to the scales, locking up 1st place in the White Marilin Division and winning over $653,000 in award money. Angler Scott Lathroum, owner of the Reel Inn at Harbour Island, caught the white marlin on a naked ballyhoo in 56 fathoms between the Poor Man’s and Baltimore Canyon, around the 200 line. This fish was big, really big. Here are the measurements:
Lower Jaw Fork Length
72.5-inches
Tip of Bill to Tip of Tail
95.5-inches
Girth
31.25-inches
Scott’s catch set a new tournament record. The previous record was set in 2007 by the “Phat Mann” at 92 lbs. and was tied last year by Susan McCart on the “Reel Joy”, making this the third year in a row that an Ocean City boat has taken the top prize in the tournament.
Overall, there were 36 boats fishing out of Ocean City. Those boats released 114 white marlin and 1 blue marlin during their 3 days of fishing. The top 5 boats for white marlin releases out of Ocean City were:
“Dealer Incentive” - 10
“Phat Mann” - 9
“Billfisher” - 7
“Toplesss” - 7
“Miss Annie” - 7
The only local boat to release a blue marlin during the tournament was the “Fish Whistle”, with Capt. Charlie Horning at the helm.
Dolphin
With the effects of Hurricane Bill hitting our area late in the week, we didn’t see much offshore action, other than those boats entered in the Mid-Atlantic $500,000.
We continue to see dolphin being caught up and down the line by anglers still searching for the elusive yellowfin tuna. The nicest catch of dolphin this week was made on Sunday by anglers on the “Fish Bonz”. Capt. Mark Radcliffe brought back 6 dolphin and a yellowfin tuna from 100 fathoms in the Washington Canyon. The dolphin, on average, were larger than we have seen with the heaviest tipping the scales at 35 lbs.
Yellowfin Tuna
Unfortunately, for the 4th year in a row, yellowfin tuna have been hard to come by. Donnie Moore on the “Predator” caught a 69 pounder in the Poor Man’s Canyon. The “Phat Mann” also caught one early in the week on a trolled ballyhoo in 65 fathoms in the Spencer Canyon. As mentioned earlier, the “Fish Bonz” brought back a nice one on Sunday from 100 fathoms in the Washington Canyon.
Unlike last year, the Jersey boys are not having a good run of yellowfin for those chunking at night. Rumor has it that the yellowfins have stayed offshore, in around 1,000 fathoms. I’m going to try to confirm this rumor and report back next week with my findings.
Wahoo
On Thursday, Sonney Forrest on the “Size Matters” caught a 60 lb. wahoo on a naked ballyhoo in 100 fathoms in the Washington Canyon.
You will see another wahoo in this issue that was caught on the “Clear Shot” over a week ago. This ‘hoo was hooked just outside the 30 Fathom Lumps.
For those of you who enjoy fishing for wahoo, the Wahoo Rodeo and Flounder Round-up will be held on September 11-13 at Sunset Marina. Last year, the “Last Call” won the tournament with a 45 pounder and took home $7,500 in award money. The top flounder was worth $1,300, so this is definitely a tournament to keep your eye on.
Croaker
Anglers are still having a fun time croaker fishing around the mouth of the Commercial Harbor and in the Inlet. Some are still being caught around Harbour Island, but that bite has slowed down.
Flounder
I know it sounds like a broken record, but the flattie bite in the bay continues to center around the East Channel. We saw an 11 pounder caught by Steve Hammond early in the week come from this area. Steve was drifting a couple hundred yards, north of the Rt. 50 Bridge and hooked the doormat on a chartreuse Gulp! Swimming Mullet.
We should start seeing flounder beginning to stack up around the Rt. 50 Bridge and in the Inlet, preparing for their exit from the bay. Don’t be afraid to fish along with rocks on the north side of the Inlet.
A much better bite is still happening on the ocean wrecks and reefs. Local anglers are finding out that making the 20 mile run to the Old Grounds results in some really nice catches of flounder. The areas around “DA” and “DB” Buoys in the Delaware Bay Shipping Channel are producing good numbers of flatties.
Closer to home, action around the Bass Grounds, the Twin Wrecks and the African Queen has been solid.
Top baits right now are still live spot, peanut bunker, minnows, flounder belly and the Gulp! artificial baits. Those using the Gulp! baits are finding the best results with the Swimming Mullet in either white or chartreuse.
Surf
Sue Foster at Oyster Bay Tackle reports, “Surf was good early in the week on bluefish and kingfish and sharks, but Hurricane Bill put a damper on the action. Anglers could not hold bottom on the weekend!”
The next tournament on the schedule is the Ocean City Marlin Club’s Labor Day White Marlin Tournament on September 4th, 5th & 6th. One change this year will bring back the Meatfish Division, popular among dolphin and tuna fishermen.
Another tournament on the schedule is the new M.S.S.A. Beach-N-Boat Tournament on September 12th and 13th. Weigh-ins will be held at Sunset Marina.
After a rare weekend without any tournaments, I will see you at the scales over the Labor Day weekend.