PELAGIC HUNTER II wins 62nd Big Rock

Outboard-powered boat wins Big Rock for first time ever

For the first time in its 62-year history, an outboard-powered vessel won the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament with their 495.2-pound blue marlin they caught on Friday, June 12. The PELAGIC HUNTER II’s first place finish earned them a total of $273,750.

Their first place fish in the Heaviest Marlin category put $206,688 in their pockets. Another $16,575 for first place in the Outboard Division, along with some miscellaneous prize money they collected during the week pushed their total to $273,750.

Second-place finisher SEA STRIKER, a two-time Big Rock champion won $1,056,137 for the 495-pound blue marlin they caught on the final day of the tournament. Their earnings were significantly more than PELAGIC HUNTER II’s since they were entered in all categories. Smaller boats like PELAGIC HUNTER II rarely enter all classes during this event.

PREDATOR took third place in the Heaviest Marlin category with the 494.2-pound blue marlin they caught on Monday. Their fish held the lead for most of the tournament, and kept them in the money on the final day. Another boat, DOUBLE B brought a blue to the scales on the final day. It weighed 419 pounds, good for 10th place.

It looked as if another blue marlin would vie for the top spot late in the game. MOON DANCER boated a blue marlin just before noon. On the way to the scales, the boat suffered engine trouble. They made the decision to concede to PELAGIC HUNTER II, believing their fish would be hard pressed to crack into the top three, and not wanting to disrupt the winner’s celebration.

Fabulous Fisherman’s prize goes to LO QUE SEA

The Fabulous Fisherman’s prize is reserved for the first blue marlin to tip the scales to 500+ pounds. But when that doesn’t happen, that prize money of $552,500 goes to the team with the highest point total that’s registered in Level V. LO QUE SEA, which totaled 2250 release points for the week, claimed that prize.

Along with their $151,938 for first place in the weekly release category, and another $27,813 for Tuesday’s daily release prize money, the LO QUE SEA was plenty happy with the week.

SEA I SEA took second place in the Release category with 1600 points. POST CALL rounded out the top three with 1325 points.

For full results, check out www.thebigrock.com.