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The Hatteras Marlin Club, one of the industry’s most iconic locales in the Outer Banks, has a well-established history of bringing families together, and the club’s 66th Annual Invitational Blue Marlin Release Tournament in late June was no exception. An outstanding fleet of 56 boats fished the five-day-long event. The string of docks skirting Cape Hatteras’ wind swept shoreline were stacked up with teams from various ports within the Tar Heel State, Virginia and other top-tier sport fishing destinations.
When I first mentioned to one of my friends in South Carolina that I’d be driving up for the Marlin Club’s tournament, he warned and joked that I should avoid getting my cholesterol checked afterward. From him and countless others I’d heard that I could expect excellent food and lots of it. They were right. Each night at the Marlin Club boasted an impressive spread. Every plate in the place was loaded with a bevy of fried seafood, colorful salads, and delicious preparations of pork, chicken, beef and fish. And the dessert tables were a big hit too, with ice cream, brownies, churros, cheesecake, key lime pie, and tres leches. No one left hungry.
Although it was an unseasonably hot and humid week in Hatteras, the crowds still turned out for the tournament’s many family-friendly events, including breakfast, yoga, book club, animal encounters with the North Carolina Aquarium, and a kids coloring contest judged by artist Steve Goione.
Wednesday is dubbed Family Day with reduced fishing hours and various events for kids on the calendar. As a result, most boats lay that day and make Tuesday their big night. The tournament always brings in a stellar band for the evening and participants tear up the dance floor. It was a great party, with anglers, mates and captains of all ages spinning their partners to “Carolina Girls” and belting out “Mustang Sally.”
Although the Marlin Club’s dockside activities were exciting, the fishing this year was slow for most of the fleet. Teams fish three out of five days and only non-professionals are eligible to hook and fight fish. The seas were remarkably calm throughout the entire week, with water temps skyrocketing to 87.9 degrees. However, several boats managed to find pockets of hungry sailfish and blue marlin, tallying multiple releases.
Capt. Robert Austin and Cheryl Ann took first place after releasing one blue marlin, two white marlin, and eight sailfish for 1,820 points. Bill of Fare finished in second with 1,280 points for two blue marlin, one white marlin, and one sailfish. BB earned the third-place honors with one blue marlin and four sailfish, a total good for 980 points.
To see all the winners from the 66th Annual Hatteras Marlin Club Invitational Blue Marlin Release Tournament, visit www.hmcbillfish.com.
