Safari maintains Big Rock lead
Bruce Paul, Media Director
June 13, 2007
The 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament reached its midpoint Wednesday with just one blue marlin on the leader board and a gigantic payday on the horizon.
The Safari, captained by Mark Harris, Dania Beach, Fla., has maintained the tournament lead since Monday afternoon when angler Brett Goulding reeled in a 473.5-pounder. Even though a blue marlin that size has won just twice in the past 23 years, the likelihood of a victory is drawing closer.
And since no other blue marlin are on the leader board, Safari would qualify for the entire blue marlin pot — $1,215,425.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆThatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs a beautiful thing,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ said the Australian-born Harris when told about the one-winner scenario. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆGod bless America.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂ
Harris said he has been in contact with his family ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆdown under.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ They have followed his success on the Internet.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆTheyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąre amazed,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ he said. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆA big tournament (in Australia) is 30 boats. This tournament blows that away.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆWhen I pulled into the dock (Monday) and I saw all those people there, it really felt like I was playing professional football again. To have those people cheering, it was unbelievable. IĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąve fished in the Bahamas, St Thomas ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂŠ all the recognizable tournaments. I donĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt think you get (the Morehead City crowd reaction) anywhere else in the world.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂ
Billfish releases and gamefish continue to dominated the offshore action. Anglers on 102-of-184 boats went offshore Wednesday, recording releases on 16 blue marlin, 8 white marlin and 12 sailfish. So far, a total of 69 blue marlin, 34 white marlin and 22 sailfish have been released. Another 53 billfish hook-ups got away before the anglers could determine exactly what they had.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆThis tournament is wide open,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ said Big Rock tournament director Crystal Watters. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆEverybodyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs still in it. And most boats still have two days to fish.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂ
Most boat are expected to take a lay day Thursday and wait for calmer weather Friday and Saturday. Sea conditions were suppose to be fine Wednesday, but anglers who went offshore reported 8 to 10 foot seas most of the day.
Sea Striker, a boat captained by two-time Big Rock winner Adrian Holler, Newport, has a reputation of fishing well in rough seas. HollerĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs crew recorded three blue marlin releases Wednesday. Tournament officials are trying to determine if this is a one-day blue marlin record.
Added to the blue marlin release Sea Striker recorded Monday, HollerĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs team took the release lead with 1,600 points. Tuna Trappe , captained by Brian Smith, Wilmington, is in second place with three blue marlin releases worth 1,200 points. Sea Hag, captained by Ken Kramer, Morehead City, has five releases totaling 1,050 points to hold down third place. A victory in the release division is worth more than $82,000.
Deacon Blues, captained by Jay Blount, Morehead City, won the $2,000 daily prize for scoring the first release of the day. BlountĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs crew caught and released a spearfish 10 minutes after the start of fishing Wednesday.
Sea I Sea, captained by Brad Langdon, Newport, captured the lead of the wahoo division Wednesday with a 45.25-pounder reeled in By Bill Mills of Jacksonville. Buck Wild, captained by Parrish Warren, Rocky Point, took over the lead in the dolphin division with a 52.1-pounder caught by Wes Davis, Wilmington.
No tunas were brought to the scales Wednesday. Yellowfin, a boat captained by Jeff Garner, Morehead City, maintains first place in the that division with a 69.4-pounder that Steve Rollins, Brighton, UT, landed Monday.
The six-day event continues Thursday at 9 a.m. Each boat is allowed to fish 4-of-6 days during the competition. Anglers are battling for a share of a Big Rock purse worth $1,568,950.
Safari maintains Big Rock lead
Bruce Paul, Media Director
June 13, 2007
The 49th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament reached its midpoint Wednesday with just one blue marlin on the leader board and a gigantic payday on the horizon.
The Safari, captained by Mark Harris, Dania Beach, Fla., has maintained the tournament lead since Monday afternoon when angler Brett Goulding reeled in a 473.5-pounder. Even though a blue marlin that size has won just twice in the past 23 years, the likelihood of a victory is drawing closer.
And since no other blue marlin are on the leader board, Safari would qualify for the entire blue marlin pot — $1,215,425.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆThatĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs a beautiful thing,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ said the Australian-born Harris when told about the one-winner scenario. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆGod bless America.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂ
Harris said he has been in contact with his family ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆdown under.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ They have followed his success on the Internet.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆTheyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąre amazed,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ he said. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆA big tournament (in Australia) is 30 boats. This tournament blows that away.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆWhen I pulled into the dock (Monday) and I saw all those people there, it really felt like I was playing professional football again. To have those people cheering, it was unbelievable. IĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąve fished in the Bahamas, St Thomas ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂŠ all the recognizable tournaments. I donĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąt think you get (the Morehead City crowd reaction) anywhere else in the world.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂ
Billfish releases and gamefish continue to dominated the offshore action. Anglers on 102-of-184 boats went offshore Wednesday, recording releases on 16 blue marlin, 8 white marlin and 12 sailfish. So far, a total of 69 blue marlin, 34 white marlin and 22 sailfish have been released. Another 53 billfish hook-ups got away before the anglers could determine exactly what they had.
ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆThis tournament is wide open,ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
ÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂ said Big Rock tournament director Crystal Watters. ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂŠĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂąâŹĆEverybodyĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs still in it. And most boats still have two days to fish.ĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂ¹ùâÂŹĂ
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Most boat are expected to take a lay day Thursday and wait for calmer weather Friday and Saturday. Sea conditions were suppose to be fine Wednesday, but anglers who went offshore reported 8 to 10 foot seas most of the day.
Sea Striker, a boat captained by two-time Big Rock winner Adrian Holler, Newport, has a reputation of fishing well in rough seas. HollerĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs crew recorded three blue marlin releases Wednesday. Tournament officials are trying to determine if this is a one-day blue marlin record.
Added to the blue marlin release Sea Striker recorded Monday, HollerĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs team took the release lead with 1,600 points. Tuna Trappe , captained by Brian Smith, Wilmington, is in second place with three blue marlin releases worth 1,200 points. Sea Hag, captained by Ken Kramer, Morehead City, has five releases totaling 1,050 points to hold down third place. A victory in the release division is worth more than $82,000.
Deacon Blues, captained by Jay Blount, Morehead City, won the $2,000 daily prize for scoring the first release of the day. BlountĂÆĂâĂâ ĂąâŹâąĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂÂĄĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂŹĂÆĂâĂâĂÂąĂÆĂÂąĂ¹ùâŹĆĄĂÂŹĂâŠĂŸĂÆĂąâŹĆĄĂâĂÂąs crew caught and released a spearfish 10 minutes after the start of fishing Wednesday.
Sea I Sea, captained by Brad Langdon, Newport, captured the lead of the wahoo division Wednesday with a 45.25-pounder reeled in By Bill Mills of Jacksonville. Buck Wild, captained by Parrish Warren, Rocky Point, took over the lead in the dolphin division with a 52.1-pounder caught by Wes Davis, Wilmington.
No tunas were brought to the scales Wednesday. Yellowfin, a boat captained by Jeff Garner, Morehead City, maintains first place in the that division with a 69.4-pounder that Steve Rollins, Brighton, UT, landed Monday.
The six-day event continues Thursday at 9 a.m. Each boat is allowed to fish 4-of-6 days during the competition. Anglers are battling for a share of a Big Rock purse worth $1,568,950.