Author: Madison Maxwell

While Big Rock competitors don’t normally target gamefish (dolphin, tuna and wahoo) they know a bycatch of these species can sometimes mean a boatload of money.

Gamefish division prizes have grown bigger every year. This year, a record $361,250 winner-take-all (WTA) prize is up for grabs for any boat that happens to catch the largest dolphin.

Job Site captain Bill Farrior, Farmville, and junior angler Michael Cripe reeled in a 53.7-pound dolphin to take the first-day lead in the WTA dolphin category. Job Site locked up the Monday dolphin daily prize of $2,000, and maintained the overall dolphin lead through end of fishing Tuesday. Carterican, with a 32.4-pound dolphin, captured the Tuesday $2,000 daily dolphin prize.

Bill Collector captain Stephen Draughon, Morehead City, and his crew landed the first wahoo of the Big Rock Tuesday. Bill Collector junior angler Will Hanley reeled in the 56.5-pounder to win the $2,000 daily prize. 

For the second straight day, no tuna catches were brought to the scales.Competitors in the 61st Big Rock are allowed to fish four-of-six days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish. Fishing hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Saturday when the fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any billfish fight that starts before the end-of-day deadline can continue until the hook-up reaches a resolution.

The 61^stBig Rock Blue Marlin Tournament changed gears Tuesday, producing 49 billfish releases but no big changes to the overall standings.

Competitors brought just two blue marlins to the scales during the Big Rock’s second day. Just 24 hours earlier, seven blue marlins were boated and the three biggest catches set a high bar in the standings for the remainder of the competition.

Wolverine captain Rocky Hardison, Beaufort, is in first place with a 588.9-pound blue marlin landed Monday by angler Cory Ziegler. Ziegler’s catch bumped Sweetums, the tournament’s inaugural leader, to second place.

Sweetum captain Pete Rae of Plano, Tx., arrived at the scales with a 545.1-pound blue marlin to win the Level V Fabulous Fishermen prize of $531,250. Sweetums angler Scott DeWolfe, Plano, TX, reeled in his catch in 44 minutes.

Sweetums was later bumped to third place when Donna Mae captain Joe Webb, Anna Maria Island, FL, and angler James Luihn, Vero Beach, FL., arrived at the weigh station. Luihn’s blue marlin tipped the scales at 569.9-pounds.

These three teams were understandably unnerved Tuesday afternoon when it was announced that Sea Striker had boated a blue marlin. Boat owner Adrian Holler, Morehead City, won the Big Rock in 1995 and 2001. Holler finished second in the Big Rock in 1986 when his 603-pounder was topped by a 608.5-pound blue marlin.

This by itself is enough to make a competitor’s skin leak … but there’s more.

Sea Striker’s angler Christian Bedsworth, Pine Knoll Shores, has more wins in his family than Holler. Bedsworth is the grandson of “Little George” Bedsworth, who won the Big Rock four times back when the tournament went by another name.

The remainder of the Sea Striker crew is a “Who’s Who” of fishing. Captain Pete Zook, Morehead City, comes from three generations of boat captains. Vince Johnson, Morehead City, won the Big Rock as an angler. Keith Henry, Atlantic Beach, captained the Miss Judy to an NC Governor’s Cup award.

If ever there was an all-star fishing team, this was it.

But the Monday Big Rock leaders dodged a bullet when Sea Striker’s catch topped out at 500.2 pounds. The Sea Striker had a big catch … but it wasn’t quite enough. 

“The calculations showed (our fish was) a little bit bigger,” Holler said after the weight was announced. “We had to take that chance (to forego 400 release points.)”

Fender Bender angler Greg Fulcher, Newport News, Va., landed the only other blue marlin during the second day of the 61^stBig Rock. Fender Bender captain Carl Beale, Hampton, Va., and Fulcher teamed to bring in a 504.8-pounder … which was big enough to finish in the money last year … but not this year.

Releases dominated the second day as 161-of-184 boats battled 36 blue marlins, seven white marlins and six sailfish. So far, 51 blue marlin, 23 white marlin and 12 sailfish have been released.

Big Rock officials determined the winner of the $6,100 special release prize for the 61^st release of the tournament. After confirming all data, Doc Fees, captain Taylor Pleasant, Wilmington, and his crew made the timely release.

Fishing continues Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Competitors in the 61^stBig Rock are allowed to fish four-of-six days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish.

Fishing hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Saturday when the fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any fight that starts before the end-of-day deadline can continue until the hook-up reaches a resolution.

The lady anglers were dressed to the nines last night for the Best Dressed Contest at the KWLA event, sponsored by Linda Rike Real Estate. A great job to all the teams who participated- the creativity and team spirit never ceases to amaze us! Congratulations to our 6 winners & thank you to everyone who participated!

Best Dressed Contest & prize bags sponsored by Posh Pelican. Congratulations to our winners!

A special thanks to our BDC volunteer judges from Carteret Health Care.

 

 

 

 

Even though competitors in the 61^stannual Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament hope to catch a winning blue marlin, a record $361,250 winner-take-all (WTA) dolphin prize is up for grabs for any boat that happens to catch the largest fish of that species.

Gamefish (dolphin, tuna and wahoo) division prizes at the Big Rock have grown bigger every year. While Big Rock competitors don’t normally target gamefish, they know a bycatch of these three categories can mean a boatload of money. 

Job Site captain Bill Farrior, Farmville, found that out Monday when junior angler Michael Cripe, reeled in a 53.7-pound dolphin to take the first-day lead in the WTA dolphin category. Job Site locked up the dolphin daily prize of $2,000, but hopes for much more.

No tuna or wahoo were brought to the scales Monday.

Competitors in the 61st Big Rock are allowed to fish four-of-six days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish. Fishing hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Saturday when the fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any fight that starts before the end-of-day deadline can continue until the hook-up reaches a resolution.

While blue marlin weigh-ins drew the lion’s share of media attention Monday during the first day of the 61st annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, billfish releases and large dolphin catches delivered great paydays for several competing crews.

Big Rock anglers released 18 blue marlin, 15 white marlin and six sailfish during the opener. String Line captain Mark Schlenker, Garner, started things off by winning the $5,000 Gregory Poole first release prize. String Line’s white marlin release put the boat temporarily in the lead for daily and overall release prizes.

Competitors are battling for $284,750 weekly release prize money and $282,625 in daily release prizes. Full Pull, captained by Ryan Riggs, North Charleston, SC, won the first daily prize of $47,104 for two blue marlin releases (800 points) scored Monday. That put Ryan in position to win an additional $142,375 first place weekly release prize if he can keep Full Pull in the overall release lead through Saturday.

Competitors in the 61st Big Rock are allowed to fish four-of-six days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish. Fishing hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Saturday when the fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any fight that starts before the end-of-day deadline can continue until the hook-up reaches a resolution.

Wolverine captain Rocky Hardison, Beaufort, showed a flair for the dramatic Monday, upstaging a boat that had just won $531,250 on the first day of the 61st annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

Hardison and angler Cory Zeigler arrived at the scales with a 588.9-pound blue marlin to take over first place from Sweetum, the tournament’s inaugural leader. Sweetum captain Pete Rae, a former Morehead City resident, got a Texas-sized welcome Monday when he brought a 545.1-pounder to the weigh station at 1:10 p.m. Unfortunately for Rae, his lead held for less than five hours.

Hardison, who was the winning mate at the 38th Big Rock in 1996, knew he had a big fish on as soon as he saw it.

“We had a pretty good idea about what it was going to weigh,” said Hardison. “Basically there was just a big swirl behind the long rigger and as soon as it came tight the white water flew. The fish jumped one time and we knew it was going to be a real one. It was pretty well on from then.”

Zeigler fought his catch for 65 minutes before heading to the scales.

Rae, who now runs a charter boat out of Plano, TX, was cheered by his former hometown crowd when the weight of his fish was announced. Rae and angler Scott DeWolf, Plano, TX, put the Sweet crew in position to win the Level V Fabulous Fishermen prize worth $531,250 after three run-outs and a successful 44-minute fight.

“It’s a great Monday,” said DeWolf. “We have to wait and see what happens … but so far, it’s great.”

DeWolf alluded to an unusual situation where the first boated blue marlin was still not at the scales. The Post Call, captained by Gene Ward, Morehead City, landed a blue marlin four minutes before Sweetum. Post Call had fished further offshore and needed more time to run to port. All the Sweetum crew could do was sit and wait.

When Post Call’s catch topped out at 451.4 pounds a second celebration began at the Morehead City Yacht Basin where the Sweetum was docked. Big Rock officials called the Sweetum crew to come back and get their check. Post Call’s catch was good enough to take second place in the overall standings but it left Sweetum with the check for $531,250 and a shot at $1,324,438 if it could hold onto first place.

Post Call’s misfortune was compounded 50 minutes later when Top Dog showed up at the scales with a 464.9-pound blue marlin reeled in by angler Kyle Dickerson of Laytonsville, MD. Top Dog didn’t become the top dog, but it took over second place and bumped Post Call to third.

Unfortunately for the Post Call crew, their slide would continue. Piracy, captained by Chris Russell, Morehead City, showed up at the weigh station with a 461.4-pound blue marlin reeled in by C.J. Struyk, Newport. That was the last call for Post Call as Piracy took over third place.

Piracy had been on a tear lately, catching the largest blue marlin at the Hatteras Invitational three weeks ago. But Piracy got bumped off the leaderboard by Wolverine. It was the second time in three years Piracy found a place on the Big Rock leader board only to get knocked off.

Dona Mae caused the final shuffle of the afternoon, taking over second place with a 569.9-pound blue marlin. Dona Mae captain Joe Webb, Anna Maria Island, FL, and angler James Luihn, Vero Beach, FL., teamed to put their team in position to win $289,863.

The Big Rock weigh station went is through its version of overtime, waiting for two other boats to arrive. Big Tahuna arrived at 8:30 p.m. with a 482.3-pound blue marlin that did not make the leader board. Shenandoah failed to boat its blue marlin after a seven-hour fight and will battle the rest of the tournament with a 400-point penalty on any billfish release total and a 400-pound penalty on any future boated blue marlin.

The last time the Big Rock experienced a day like this was 2003 when seven blue marlins were boated and five different boats took a turn atop the leader board. That year Pipe Layer showed up at the scales unannounced at 10 p.m. with the winning catch.

Competitors in the 61st Big Rock are allowed to fish four-of-six days and must notify officials of the days they do not intend to fish. Fishing hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., except Saturday when the fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any fight that starts before the end-of-day deadline can continue until the hook-up reaches a resolution.

 

 

 

 

 

As competitors headed offshore Monday for the start of the 61^st annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, a final review of all entries confirmed 184 boats were entered and set to compete for a record purse of $2,869,050. The previous Big Rock record — set last year — was $2,560,925.

That means the potential first-place prize for a 500-pound blue marlin entered in all levels is $1,324,438.

The Level V Fabulous Fisherman’s prize for the first blue marlin over 500 pounds is worth $531,250. That’s why 181-of-184 boats in the field elected to fish on opening day.

 Every level offers amazing prizes. The Winner-Take-All (WTA) dolphin category is $361,250. The billfish release purse is $282,626, not including daily prizes.

Last year, Honey Hush won the 60^thBig Rock with a 518.5-pound blue marlin. Honey Hush grabbed the tournament lead on the second day of competition and held on to win $753,875. It was a tight competition throughout the week. The three fish that finished atop the blue marlin standings were separated by just 17.6 pounds.

Tight finishes are a common at the Big Rock. In 2013, Hatteras Fever II captured the 55th tourney when its 465.3-pound blue marlin catch topped the 423.8 pounder brought to the scales by Sensation.  In 2017, Run-Off ran off with a record $1,161,450 prize because its 533.8-pound blue marlin weighed 27.8 pounds more than the runner-up catch by Rehab. These differences represent a couple meals when marlins are hungry. 

Big Rock officials are also excited that eight current service members are set to go offshore on competitor boats. These service members were nominated to take part in the Big Rock Big Hero (BRBH) program, an event sponsored by Salt Life. The BRBH program was developed to provide an unforgettable fishing experience for men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country

Lines went in the water Monday at 9 a.m. for the first six hours of fishing in the six-day event. Teams are allowed to fish 4-of-6 days during the competition, captain’s choice.

Whitecaps captured the 22nd Keli Wagner Lady Angler Blue Marlin Tournament Saturday, topping a record field of 167 boats with two blue marlin releases worth 800 points to win $81,525 at the one-day competition.

Whitecaps captain Scott Wiggins, LaGrange, put Collins White, Wilson, on a blue marlin at 11:47 and she scored a release worth 400 points after a 56-minute fight. Whitecaps angler Wortley Whitehead, Wilmington, was in the fighting chair 19 minutes before the end of fishing and scored a second blue marlin release in overtime to secure the overall victory for her team.

El Cazador, who scored the first blue marlin release of the day, ended up second with 407 points for one blue marlin release and a 7.4-pound dolphin. Benchmark ended up third with 400 points for one blue marlin release.

Jennifer Cameron, angler on the Floridian, reeled in a 36.6-pound dolphin to helped her team capture the dolphin division prizes. This year, the dolphin gamefish division prize and the Winner Take All (WTA) dolphin prize combined to total $67,150.

Ominous weather forecasts didn’t discourage a record number of teams from entering the KWLA. Seasoned competitors decided better-than-anticipated weather would actually make Saturday’s one-day competition special.

It made for a crazy late rush of registrations at tournament headquarters and later at the KWLA pre-tournament party.

“To be honest, the record total didn’t surprise me,” said KWLA director Madison Maxwell. “When reports from offshore boats indicated Friday (Gulf Stream fishing) was great, we had a surge in registrations. KWLA competitors look forward to this competition every year. They weren’t going to let a little bit of rain spoil the fun.”

The KWLA, which once struggled to reach double-digit registration totals, has now become the largest one-day billfish release tournament in the nation. This year, anglers battled for $177,925.

This year, winning teams had to provide indisputable video or photo evidence and file release paperwork to qualify for releases points and prizes. Proceeds from the one-day billfish event will be donated to KWLA charities. Since 1998, KWLA has raised $349,165 for charities, including $303,916 for Carteret Health Care’s Cancer Center.

Last year on this day, Justify captured the triple crown of horse racing and won $800,000 for winning the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, NY.

That same day, Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament competitors were getting set to battle for $2,560,925.

Take a moment to let those numbers sink in.

The “Big” Rock could hardly be considered so in 1973. Tournament organizers had just adopted a new name for their blue marlin competition. The tournament entry fee was $75. First prize was $600. The event didn’t draw any national attention.

Meanwhile, up in New York, Secretariat won the 73 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths. That marvelous horse ran 1.5 miles in 2 minutes and 24 seconds … a record to this day. Back then, the amount won by Secretariat ($90,120) dwarfed Big Rock prizes for years to come.

 But this would all change.

The Fabulous Fishing Club tournaments provided the Big Rock officials with a solid base to build upon. While the Belmont prize money grew 900 percent in 66 years, Big Rock board members, sponsors, participants and staff found a way to zoom past the Belmont purse.

It’s really hard for many to believe that this one-time fishing wager for $250 silver dollars grew into the  behemoth that it has become.

Next week, eight current service members are slated to go offshore on competitor boats. All were nominated to take part in the Big Rock Big Hero (BRBH) program, sponsored by Salt Life, which was developed to provide an unforgettable fishing experience for men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country. While the BRBH has become an integral part of the tournament, it has ties to 1973.

Back then, Lt. Col. Jerry Marvel fished and finished third with a 478-pound blue marlin. The 1973 tournament was dedicated in Marvel’s honor since he had just recently returned to North Carolina. His return to this area came after spending 1,846 days in a prison-of-war camp in North Vietnam.

As the 22^ndKWLA tournament drew to an end, Big Rock registrations reached 101 boats entered in the six-day competition. Registration continues Saturday and Sunday. All registrations and upgrades cease at 9 A.M. Monday, the same time lines first go in the water.  

When lines came out of the water Saturday, five of the record 167 boats entered in the 22nd annual Keli Wagner Lady Angler (KWLA) Blue Marlin Tournament were still hooked up. That meant the competition would continue until all fights reach a resolution.

In the end, KWLA anglers released 13 blue marlin, eight white marlins and nine sailfish. It was unknown how many gamefish were headed to the Big Rock scales.

Ominous weather forecasts didn’t discourage a record number of teams from entering the KWLA. Seasoned competitors studied revised offshore weather projections late Friday and decided that better-than-anticipated weather would actually make Saturday’s one-day competition extra special.

It made for a crazy rush of registrations at tournament headquarters and later that evening at the KWLA pre-tournament party.

“To be honest, the record total didn’t surprise me,” said KWLA director Madison Maxwell. “When reports from offshore boats indicated Friday (Gulf Stream fishing) was great, we had a surge in registrations. KWLA competitors look forward to this competition every year. They weren’t going to let a little bit of rain spoil the fun.”

Last year, Hit-N-Run captured the 21^st annual KWLA when it topped a then-record 161 boats to win $66,406 in perfect fishing conditions. Hit-N-Run captain David Fields put Mindy Fitzpatrick, Morehead City, on a blue marlin 80 minutes into the start of fishing and she reeled hard to tally a release after a 77-minute fight

The KWLA, which once struggled to reach double-digit registration totals, has now become the largest one-day billfish release tournament in the nation. This year, anglers will battle for $177,925. The team with the most billfish release points, if entered in the Winner Take All (WTA) billfish category, would receive a check for $81,525 at the Big Rock awards ceremony.

This year, winning teams must provide indisputable video or photo evidence and file release paperwork to qualify for releases points and prizes. Proceeds from the one-day billfish event will be donated to KWLA charities. Since 1998, KWLA has raised $349,165 for charities, including $303,916 for Carteret Health Care’s Cancer Center.