OC Today-Dispaatch AUGUST 9, 2024
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
PHOTO COURTESY JAMES ACUNA FROM HOOKED WORLDWIDE
CRUISING BACK Two of the 207 boats who fished on Tuesday of the 51st Annual White Marlin Open are pictured returning to their respective marinas.
Wind battle on two fronts City Hall promises suit, county balks at pier plan Resort Mayor Rick Meehan says local government will sue the federal government if it approves US Wind’s plans for an offshore wind project. It’s hired a law firm and has co-plaintiffs. Page 10
The Worcester County Commissioners say they will do whatever they can to prevent US Wind from getting the wetlands permit needed to build a pier in the West Ocean City Harbor. Page 83
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AUGUST 9, 2024
OC Today-Dispatch
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AUGUST 9, 2024
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OC Today-Dispatch
Big blues, single white lead WMO First-place white marlin could win $4.18M in 51st annual fishing tournament By Steve Green Executive Editor (Aug. 9, 2024) The 51st Annual White Marlin Open is underway with less boats than recent years but prize money on par and suspense running high with a firstplace white marlin worth more than $4 million and two huge blue marlin rocking the home marina. There are 318 boats competing for $8.5 million in prize money in this year’s tourney. While down from previous years, the tournament still maintains the title of the largest and richest billfishing tournament in the world. This year’s boat participation is the lowest number since 2015 when 307 boats registered. This year’s payout of $8.5 million is the fifth largest in the tourney’s long history, however. As far as comparison to previous years, there were 400 boats in 2023 and a purse of $10.5 million for the 50th anniversary edition; 408 boats in 2022 seeking a share of the $8.6 million; 444 boats in 2021 with $9.2 million up for grabs; 433 boats in 2020 and $6.8 million; and 404 boats and $6.1 million in 2019. The days leading up to this year’s
PHOTO COURTESY OF FISH IN OC
The Waste Knot was sitting pretty Thursday morning atop the leaderboard of the White Marlin Open with a 77.5-pound white marlin worth $4.18 million after three days of fishing.
tournament were marred by the threat of Hurricane Debby, which reduced the participation of smaller boats due to ocean conditions expected to worsen toward the end of the week. In advance, the tournament was proactive and added an extra day to the tournament, making it a three out of six-day event. Back in 2020, tropical activity impacted
the event resulting in a seven-day window being approved by tournament organizers. On Thursday, 196 boats fished after three busy days of heavy offshore activity. The strategy for boat captains seemed to be fish early and often this year rather than wait till the last day as See WEATHER Page 97
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