After last night’s wild weigh-in session which, from a tuna standpoint, will go down in the record books, the question was quite simple in the tournament tent during dinner and cocktails after weigh-in closed. What can we do for an encore? After all, you have to go back to 1993 to find the three heaviest tuna in the tournament all weighing over 200 pounds! That same year also includes the current tournament tuna record of 254 pounds by Bernard and Drew Dinardi aboard their Absolut-ly, the longest standing tournament record.
The beautiful weather continued on Day Three of the 2012 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and once again light winds and calm seas were the order of the day as 101 boats headed for the canyons early this morning. The big eye tuna bite continued and quite a few were weighed during this evening’s weigh-in session. In other news, a shake-up in the white marlin standings occurred and the first blue marlin was brought to the scales.
Shortly after 5 p.m., Adam Youschak of Wildwood, New Jersey backed his Reelin’ Feelin’ to the Canyon Club Marina scale in Cape May and weighed a white marlin of 70 pounds which moved him into a tie for second place with Rusty Palmer of Berlin, Maryland aboard his Tighten Up. Robert Warder of Parkton, Maryland aboard Reelentless continues to lead the category with his 79-pounder.
The blue marlin category now has a leader as Brent Morrison of St. Augustine, Florida pulled up to the scale in Ocean City this evening with his Why Knot and weighed a 416- pounder. Second and third place remain vacant.
In the tuna category, Tom Ely of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey aboard his Irish Twin weighed a 217-pound big eye in Cape May and moved into third place. Anthony Matarese of Ocean City, Maryland continues to lead this tightly contested category with a 233-pound big eye caught aboard his Reel Chaos. Barry Weshnak’s Miss Annie of Singer Island, Florida remains in second place with a 224-pound big eye.
The dolphin lead continues to be held by Don Pyle of Annapolis, Maryland aboard his Moore Bills with a 43 pounder. The wahoo category is still vacant.
Some of the boats with significant billfish releases on Day Three include Dave Shockley of Wilmington, Delaware aboard Liquidity and Pelagic Adventures Shelly II of Berlin, Maryland with six white marlin each. James Diller of Stone Harbor aboard his Canyon Lady released five white marlin. Richard McCann of West Chester, Pennsylvania released four white marlin aboard his Sea Slammer. Dave Anderson of Medford, New Jersey on his Krazy Salts released three white marlin and a blue marlin as did Michael Kahound of Massapequa, New York on his Captain Deadly. Ken Chern of Point Pleasant, New Jersey released one white marlin and two blue marlin aboard his Fishing Doc. Tom Perry of Pasadena, Maryland released two blue marlin aboard his Game Over. Don Pyle of Annapolis, Maryland aboard his Moore Bills and Dan Burt of Salisbury, Maryland aboard his Pumpin’ Hard 66 each released a blue marlin. For information on individual boats release points as well as leaders in the white marlin and blue marlin point categories, please visit the tournament web site.
Keep in mind, marine artist Guy Harvey will be making a public appearance tomorrow from 1-4 p.m. at the tournament tent at Canyon Club Resort Marina, 900 Ocean Drive, Lower Township, New Jersey. Guy’s artwork, books, accessories and clothing as well as tournament prints, hats, apparel and other items bearing his beautiful art will be available for purchase and signing during his appearance.
Be sure to visit the tournament’s official web site at www.MA500.com where you’ll find a link to view the nightly weigh-in sessions live from Canyon Club and Sunset Marina simply by clicking on the logo of either marina. For further information on the tournament 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 rules, photos, standings and a link to purchase official tournament apparel.
Source: Jeff Merrill | South Jersey Tournaments
