49 billfish released on day two of event
The second day of the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament was another stellar one. Anglers hooked and released a total of 49 billfish. Seven of those released were white marlin, six were sailfish, and a whopping 36 were blue marlin.
The tournament’s most prized category — heaviest blue marlin — saw no change in the top three from yesterday. But two more 500+ pound blue marlin were weighed in, which excited the crowd. It also put two other boats in the top five.
SEA STRIKER, a Morehead City-based 61-foot Jarrett Bay owned by Adrian Holler, hooked up with a billfish at 11:33 a.m. At 12:35 p.m., they boated the blue marlin. That fish weighed 500.2 pounds, and has the team sitting in fifth place on the leaderboard.
FENDER BENDER out of Hampton, Va., a 55-foot Jarrett Bay, hooked into a billfish at 12:17 p.m., boated it at 2:26 p.m., and brought it in to port. Their blue marlin weighed 504.8 pounds, placing them in fourth on the heaviest blue marlin category leaderboard.
Shakeup in leaderboard of release category
Two of the top three boats in the billfish release category changed after day two. FULL PULL, who was leading after the opening day, released another blue marlin on day two. This gives them 1200 points, keeping them in first place. DRILLING & BILLIN got busy early and stayed busy, releasing three blue marlin on the day. They also have 1200 points and sit in second place. ANNIE O is in third, also with 1200 points. They released two blue marlin on day two, adding to their single release from day one.
GOOD TIMES pockets $5000 for 1st release of the day
Hatteras-based GOOD TIMES, a 48-foot Sheldon Midget owned by Andy Piland, cashed in for $5000 with the Gregory Poole 1st Release of the Day award. They hooked into a white marlin just after lines in, and boated it at 9:27 a.m.
Since this is the 61st Annual Big Rock Tournament, prize money was awarded to the 61st fish released. The $6100 bounty went to DOC FEES. The 58-foot Jarrett Bay based out of Wilmington, released two billfish on the day. At 10:49 a.m., they released a sailfish. They released a blue marlin less than an hour later at 11:27 a.m.
One leaderboard that did see a big change was the wahoo category. This category was blank after day one, but on the second day, BILL COLLECTOR brought in a 56.5-pound wahoo to take the top spot in that division.
The heaviest tuna category is still blank, so it’s anyone’s game there.
No change took place in the heaviest dolphin division, but a dozen boats brought dolphins to the scales. CARTERICAN weighed a 32.4 pounder, the heaviest of day two. Overall, JOB SITE, SEA WOLF, and SAVANNA LEIGH maintain the top three spots in the category.
Click here to see the full standings and other information.
Fishing starts again at 9 a.m. this morning. Click here to view the Big Rock’s live video feed from Morehead City.
And click here for the live audio feed, which will allow you to hear the radio chatter throughout the day.
Click here to see our recap from day one of The Big Rock tournament.
