Day 1 of the 2022 White Marlin Open is in the books. The weather was good and the seas moderate as 292 of the 408 registered boats ventured out with visions of catching a marlin worth its weight in gold. But the fish had other visions. None of the 29 white marlin or 17 blue marlin that were caught today would have qualified for prize money so all were released. It was the tuna that dominated the day.
Of the various tuna species, it is the Atlantic Bigeye that trumps the others in the Mid-Atlantic area. After some smaller 50 to 70-pound yellowfin tuna were weighed, the bigeye showed up. First was a 189.5-pounder taken by Adam Maziarz from Narragansett, RI fishing aboard the “Right Bite” out of Brick, NJ. Adam’s fish is currently in 3rdplace and worth $38,000.00. The second Bigeye weighed was caught by Dante Soriente out of Beach Haven, NJ. His 198.5 fish was caught off the MJ's out of Cape May, NJ, and is currently winning $100,000. Saving the best for last was a 213.5-pounder caught by Brian Stewart from Shady Side, MD. Brian was fishing aboard the “Reel Tight” out of Ocean City, MD, and now is holding onto first place and the $1,300,000 that comes with it.
There are 408 registered boats in the 2022 event and each boat is permitted to fish 3 days out of the five. That means at the start of the tournament the are 1,224 boat fishing days. Since 292 fished today, that leaves 932 boat fishing days left for the week. The boats will find big fish as the week progresses and the drama will build as white and blue marlin are brought to the scales. As of today, there is over $7 million dollars still to be claimed. Follow the action as we stream on our website, whitemarlinopen.com, or watch the Jumbo screen at Marlin Fest on the beach at the inlet, or come to Harbour Island Marina where the weigh-ins are open to the public each evening from 4:00 PM to 9:15 PM.
