Tournament week has finally arrived and if the events of the past few days are any indication, we could be in for a wild week of fishing at the 2010 Mid-Atlantic $500,000! Participants began arriving yesterday at the event’s host marinas including Canyon Club Resort Marina and South Jersey Marina in Cape May and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland. While some crews spent the day readying tackle, others used the time to pre-fish the waters off the south Jersey coast and they weren’t disappointed with what they saw. No less than 21 white marlin and one blue marlin release flags were flying from the ‘riggers of the handful of boats that fished out of Cape May and those we spoke to were pleased with the conditions they saw offshore.
Tournament registration begins at 1 p.m. today where last minute sign-ups and calcutta entries will take place. The captains meeting and cocktail party is set for 4:30 p.m. where rules will be explained and committee boats assigned. Participants will select three of the next five days, Monday through Friday, to fish the canyons offshore and although Ocean City, Maryland is the event’s official satellite port, all boats must fish within 125 miles of the Cape May Sea Buoy regardless of their sailing inlet. Boats may not clear their respective sea buoy prior to 4:30 a.m. each day and fishing begins at 8:30 a.m. ?Lines out? is set for 3:30 p.m. and all fish to be weighed must be at the scales by 9 p.m.
With a field of at least 125 boats tournament cash proceeds of $500,000 is assured. The three heaviest white marlin and blue marlin are each worth $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000 respectively while the three heaviest tuna are worth $75,000, $35,000 and $20,000. The heaviest wahoo and dolphin (mahi mahi) each win $10,000. Optional calcutta entries, which are sanctioned by the tournament, will add considerable cash to the purse and a payout exceeding $1.5 million could occur. Minimum weight for a white marlin to qualify is 65 pounds and a blue marlin must weigh at least 400 pounds. Any tuna, including big eye, yellowfin or longfin, must weigh at least 50 pounds. Points are awarded for billfish releases and tournament artwork by marine artist Guy Harvey is awarded to the top three point winners.
We will provide nightly updates shortly after the scales close at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday via e-mail which will include the day’s fishing activity. A complete tournament wrap-up will be sent out via e-mail by 11 a.m. Saturday. For further information contact South Jersey Marina at 609-884-2400 or visit the tournament’s official MA500 web site where you’ll find the latest information including photos, standings and a link to purchase official tournament apparel.
Please note the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is a private event and not open to the general public. Tournament credentials are required for access to any tournament activities and facilities.
The 2010 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is proudly sponsored by Premier Exhibiting SponsorsJohnson & Towers/MTU, Raymarine, South Jersey Yacht Sales and XM Satellite Weather. Additional sponsors include Baitmasters of South Florida; Big Game Fishing Journal; Canyon Club Resort Marina; Canyon Runner; Christi Insurance Group; Costa Marine; DeSatnick Real Estate; Electric Fishing Reel Systems; Engines Incorporated; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fineline Glass; FLIR Systems, Inc.; Fraser-Volpe; Garmin; Grace Energy; Guy Harvey; Interlux; Lucky Bones Backwater Grill; Mack Boring and Parts; MAN Engines and Components; Midlantic Gold Rush; Nauticomp; Ocean LED, Oceanview Marine Welding; Ocean Yachts; Offshore Electronics; Offshore Financial and Pelagic Offshore Gear. Other sponsors include Penn Reels/Pure Fishing; Pompanette; Premier Detailing and Boat Cleaning; Ransome Engine/Caterpillar; Serago Roberts Jewelers/Ulysse Nardin; South Jersey Marina; Sperry Top-Sider; Sturdy Bank; Sunset Marina; Underwater Lights/Sea Vision; WKR Construction and World Billfish Series.By: Jeff Merrill
