The unsettled weather on Sunday lingered overnight into Day One of the 2013 MidAtlantic $500,000 and most of the fleet chose to take a lay day (non-fishing day) and only 22 boats headed offshore. With conditions improving as the day wore on and a forecast for good weather for the remainder of the week, the majority of the fleet will choose three of the next four days to fish which should provide a lot of excitement both on the water and at the weigh stations.
In other news, as the Captain’s Meeting came to a close at both host marinas late yesterday afternoon, the field for the tournament was set at 117 boats and the total cash purse is just over $1.8 million!
Though no white marlin, blue marlin or wahoo were weighed, Anthony Matarese, Sr. of Pennsville, New Jersey aboard his Reel Chaos weighed a 134-pound big eye tuna in Ocean City to take the early lead in the category. Andy Schlotter of Southampton, Pennsylvania weighed a 54-pound yellowfin from his My Time in Cape May and is in second place. Third place is vacant. Cort Hessler III’s Nutmegger based in Mystic, Connecticut, weighed a 14-pound dolphin in Cape May to take the early lead in the category. In the release category, Irish Ayes with Capt. Brent Johnston released three white marlin and one blue marlin while Jerry Lanzerotti’s Singularis based out of Brielle, New Jersey, Ken Hager’s Taylor Jean from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and Mark Becker’s No Problem each released two white marlin today.The hard luck award for the day has to go to Randy Newcome’s crew aboard Maverick from Edgewater, Maryland, who released four white marlin and hooked a big eye tuna which was fought and lost late in the afternoon which prevented them from reaching the scales in time for their releases to qualify.
For further information, contact South Jersey Marina at 609-884-2400 or visit the tournament’s official web site at www.MA500.com where you’ll find the latest information including photos, standings and a link to purchase official tournament apparel. You can also follow the nightly weigh-in sessions from both host marinas and join the online blog.
Please note the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is a private event and not open to the general public. Tournament credentials are required for access to any tournament activities and facilities.
The 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is proudly sponsored by Premier Sponsors Ocean Yachts; Release Marine; South Jersey Yacht Sales and Technicold as well as Premier Engine Sponsor Johnson & Towers/MTU. Primary Host Marinas are Canyon Club Resort Marina and Sunset Marina. Exhibiting Sponsors include: Big Game Fishing Journal; Christi, Inc.; David Dunleavy; Engines, Inc.; Fraser Optics; Garmin; Gentilini Motors; Interlux; Mack Boring and Parts; Midlantic Gold Rush; Offshore Electronics; Offshore Financial; Penn Reels; Pipe Dreams Marine; Premier Yacht Management; Ransome Caterpillar; Raymarine; Rick Bogert; Salt Life; Saltwater Videos; Seakeeper;Sperry Top-Sider and The Service Center at Canyon Club. Supporting Sponsors include:Alexseal Yacht Coatings; AtlantiCare; Baitmasters of South Florida; CanyonGear Custom Lures; Costa Marine Canvas; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Lucky Bones Backwater Grille; Oceanview Marine Welding; SATCOM Direct; Sturdy Bank; Twin Disc MidAtlantic and Weather Routing, Inc.
