June 1: Ocean City Reef Foundation Open 3rd Annual Call for info 410-289-2284 June 7 - 9: 6th Annual Mid-Atlantic Mako Mania Call for info 410-289-7438 June DATE: Annual Big Bluefish Classic Call for info 410-289-2284 June 13 - 15: 22nd Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament Ocean City Fishing Center; Contact Mark Sampson - Call for info 410-213-2442 Ocean City’s largest and most prestigious shark tournament. Guaranteed payout of $13,500 in Mako, Open, and Release Divisions. Over $40,000 paid out in 1998! Anglers fish two out of three days. Cash prizes awarded for the heaviest Bluefish, Tuna, Dolphin, and Flounder. Prizes also in Youth Division and Photo Contest. Saturday night Barbecue Party, and Sunday afternoon Awards Crab Feast. Contact Mark Sampson 410-213-2442. June 22nd - 24th: Annual Small Boat Tournament Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 Though this two day event is the first tournament on the Marlin Club schedule, it’s not a billfish tournament. The Tournament, re- introduced in 1998, has turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable event for those who participate. Angler Tom Hall walked away with a check for $1,000 for a 4lb 5 oz flounder in 1998 compliments of Skip’s Bait & Tackle. Cash prizes and gifts are also awarded for other inshore species. The entry fees (which include a tickets to the awards banquet) are modest and women and children are encouraged to participate. The public is invited to come watch the anglers & kids weight their fish at Ake Marine in West OC from 3:30 to 5:30 both days. Come join us!! July 4th - July 6th: 20th Annual Canyon Kick-Off Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 July 1St 2nd 3rd & 4th at the OC Marlin Club 410-213-1613 The two out of three day Canyon Kick Off Tournament marks the beginning of the summer fishing season here in OC. The tournament is FREE to all boats registered with the Marlin Club with additional billfish and meatfish calcutta’s available. This alone gives you a good reason to join the Club & you can do it right there at the tournament registration table on Thursday July ])4 There were over 60 boats entered in the 1998 tournament with a payout of close to $30,000, including over $10,000 for the Box Lunch crew for their 246 lb. Big Eye Tuna. The public is encouraged to come watch the weigh-ins at Ake Marine in West OC every night from 4to 7 pm to check out all the action. Want to be a part of it all ? Just contact the Club. July 11th - 15th: 15th Annual Ocean City Tuna Tournament Ocean City Fishing Center - Call for info 410-213-1121 Tournament registration is held on Thursday July 8t1~ at the OCFC for the Tuna Tournament that seems to expand every year. The tournament paid out over $120,000 in 1998 and also offers and additional $100,000 to any angler that breaks the IGFA world record Big Eye Tuna so it’s possible that some lucky angler could walk away a very rich man or women. Last year the guys from the Instigator boated a 182 lb Bluefin to claim the Largest Fish Division while the crew of the Hooked Up brought 511 lbs of Tuna to the dock to claim the Most Pounds division. The public is invited to come watch the weigh-ins every night from 4 to 7:30 pm as there is something for everyone. For more information contact Annette Cropper at 800-322-3065 or email her at ocfo@comuserve.com. July 27th - 28th: 8th Annual Marina Shoot-Out Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 This two day team style tournament pits the local marinas against each other in a friendly competition to see whose got braggin’ right to the title of Top Marina of the Year. Last years tournament saw 56 boats fishing for team points and paid Out almost $19,000. In the end Bahia Marina edged out the competition to claim the title. August 5 - 9: 29th Annual White Marlin Open Harbour Island Marina - Call for info 410-289-9229 The White Marlin Open, the worlds largest billfish tournament, awarded over $1,030,000 in cash in 1998. The 26th annual tournament targets the following species: white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin & shark. The prestigeous Release Points awards super bowl style rings to the winner. Basic entry fee is $700 per boat if entered by 6/1/99 and $750 per boat if entered after 6/1. More than 300 boats with over 1,800 anglers, captains & mates are expected to compete this year. Added entry levels are available & optional. The popular weigh-ins will occur daily Aug 2~6t1t fom 4 to 9:15 pm at Harbor Island Marina on 14th St & the Bay. Spectators are welcome. For more info call 410-289-9229 or fax 410-289-4490. For entry form & brochure write: White Marlin Open P0 Box 737 Ocean City, MD 2 1843-0737 August 16 - 18: 8th Annual Poor Girl's Open Call for info 410-289-7438 Bahia Marina From it’s modest 7 boat start in 1994, the Poor Girls Open has grown to a 38 boat tournament with serious payouts in 1998. The Poor Girls Open is Ocean City’s only billfish release tournament exclusively for the ladies. Last year s event had over 120 participants and paid out well over $10,000 in cash and prizes. First place went to the ladies from the Fish Hunter with eight White Marlin releases in one day, while the runners up from the Hang em High had six releases & a 35 lb dolphin. The 1998 Poor Girls Open also generated a $7,000 donation for the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to help continue the wonderful work they do. With ladies gaining more & more respect in the fishing community every year and the growing interest in the tournament, the 6th Annual Poor Girls Open in 1999 should be the biggest and best yet. August 16th - 18th: 11th Annual MSSA Offshore & Mini-Flounder Tournament Call for info 410-768-8666 Ake Marine The official headquarters for the MSSA Offshore tournament will be located at Ake Marine in West OC. Offshore anglers will be able to fish two out of three days of the tournament for tuna, dolphin, wahoo and king mackerel. There are two divisions in the offshore segment of the tournament. Division I is for boats 29’ or less & Division II is for boats over 29’ and charterboats. Entry fee per division is $200 or you can enter both divisions for $300 if you are in the 29’ or less category. The Summer Flounder Tournament is open to anglers wishing to fish one or two days with an entry fee of $100 per day or $150 for two days. Many offshore anglers enter the flounder tournament and fish on their lay day. Skill levels are provided to increase your money winnings in both tournaments. August 24th - 26th: 30th Annual Light Tackle Tournament Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 OC Marlin Club After a hiatus of several years the Club has brought back its two day 201b tackle, barbless hook, dead bait only, tournament.. Only after listening to your suggestions did we decide to revamp and redesign the tournament. Its truly made for the light tackle billfish release aficionado. There will be no huge cash prizes, or calcutta’s because you’re fishing simply for the enjoyment of fishing. We’ll donate the proceeds to two non-profit fishing organizations (the Billfish Foundation & the RFA). The entry fee is $500 per angler (maximun of 2 per boat) which includes entry into the lavish cocktail parties and award dinner. Come be a part of this event. August 24th - 25th: 1st Annual Tuna Chunking Tournament by the White Marlin Club Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 August 30th - September 1st: 44th Annual White Marlin Tournament Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 Labor Day Weekend White Marlin Tournament September 2nd 3rd 4th 5th OC Marlin Club 410-213-1613 This tournament, started in 1958, is one of the oldest and finest offshore tournament in the entire US. Its become the grand finale of the summer for the fishing community here in Ocean City, and to say the least every year we really go out with a bang. Due to poor weather only 39 boats entered the 1998 tournament, however, there was still a payout of over $32,000 including a whopping $18,000 to the crew of the Fishinhoff for their billfish releases as no qualifying white marlin were weighed. The entry fee includes admission to the nightly cocktail parties at the Club which, trust me, you don’t want to miss. This years tournament is going to be bigger and better so come be a part of it all. September DATE: Challenge Cup Tournament Ocean City Marlin Club - Call for info 410-213-1613 ============================ 8th Annual Boat Doctor Grady White Owners Tournament July DATE at the OC Fishing Ctr 410-213-1391 This tournament, sponsored by Boat Doctor Marine is open to Grady White boat owners and their family & friends. From its modest beginnings it seems to get bigger & better every year. The tournament targets species of all kinds, which allows the entire family a chance to enjoy a few days of fishing together. The entry fees are reasonable and the emphasis is placed on simply having fun, because there are no cash awards. If you want to he a part of this years event simply contact Steve Trattner at 410-213-1391. 5th Annual Ocean City Marlin Club