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The 35th MidAtlantic did more than produce a few big checks. By the time the final fish hit the scales, nearly every major benchmark surrounding the tournament had moved.
A record 208 boats competed out of Cape May, New Jersey, and Ocean City, Maryland, chasing an equally historic $6,756,020 purse. Both figures eclipsed tournament marks established in 2021, while the $1,477,980 awarded for the winning blue marlin established another all-time payout record.
Yet the most remarkable number of the week came offshore.
Blue marlin showed in force from the opening bell, with teams catching 112 during the five-day event. Of those, 107 were released and five were brought to the scales. The total shattered the previous MidAtlantic record of 68 blue marlin caught in 2019, including 62 releases.
White marlin, meanwhile, were less numerous than in many past editions, but the fish that reached the scales created one of the tournament’s most intriguing finishes.
Two 80-pound whites ultimately shared the top mark. Capt. Alex Beane and Boss Hogg struck first when angler Paul Hannum weighed an 80-pounder on Day Two. Two days later, Capt. John Ball and Lizanne matched that number with another 80-pound white caught by Andy Levy.
Although the fish were identical in weight, differing Calcutta participation created dramatically different payouts. Boss Hogg earned $1,377,456, while Lizanne collected $615,112. Dale Plummer’s ReelVille completed the white marlin podium with Brian Plummer’s 78-pound fish from Day Three, worth $602,317.
If the whites produced suspense, the blue marlin division delivered pure horsepower.
Capt. Blaine Birch and Ken Hager’s North Palm Beach-based Taylor Jean took command on Day Four when angler Dave McKendrick brought a 688-pound blue marlin to the scales. The fish held through the final day and earned the team $1,477,980, the largest single blue marlin payout in tournament history.
Shark Byte, owned by Peter Cherasia and captained by Rich Barrett, finished second with Cherasia’s 599-pound blue from Day Two and collected $626,693. Mike Yocco’s MJ’s, out of Cape May, finished third with Brandon Kape’s 523-pounder, worth $145,239.
The tuna division added another dead heat.
Capt. Hayden Browning and Disciplined weighed a 182-pound Allison yellowfin on Day Four for angler Ian Winslow, matching the 182-pounder Dan Caiola had caught aboard Talkin’ Trash on Day Two. Calcutta participation and timing again shaped the final checks, with Talkin’ Trash earning $544,620 and Disciplined $495,926.
The pair of 182-pounders also marked a notable return of truly large yellowfin to the MidAtlantic scales. The tournament had not seen an Allison yellowfin topping 172 pounds since 2021.
Third in tuna went to Capt. Charles Vanderbek and Following Seas, where Trip Manley weighed a 126-pound bigeye to earn $196,124.
The final fishing day brought its biggest movement in the dolphin category. Capt. Travis Brown moved Reel Priority to the top with Joe Freeberry’s 33-pound fish, good for $106,651. Lit Up finished second with Nick Neary’s 32-pound dolphin, while Godzilla took third with a 30-pounder caught by Jake Freeman.
Wahoo waited until the eleventh hour to make an appearance. No qualifying fish had crossed the scales through the first four days, but Capt. Jonathon Cianciulli and Reel Blessed changed that on Friday when Will Shorman weighed a 58-pounder. The fish earned $85,656. MJ’s added another payday with Brandon Kape’s 21-pound wahoo, worth $61,014.
Conditions hardly made the final push easy. Thunderstorms and torrential rain swept through the region after Day Four, and 172 boats headed offshore Friday into lingering wind and rough seas. The blue marlin pace slowed from the torrid first four days, when 99 had already been caught, but several teams found a productive white marlin bite.
Polarizer, MJ’s and Reel Priority each released six whites on the final day. Elizabeth Anne released five, while Reel Chaos, DMG and Mama Who each added four.
When release points were totaled, Southern C’s emerged as the tournament’s overall points leader with 1,650. The team also topped the blue marlin points category with 1,050. Craftsmanship led all teams in white marlin points with 1,125.
By Friday night, the focus shifted from the canyons to the docks at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, where $6,756,020 was distributed among 25 winners.
Two teams left with checks exceeding $1.3 million, seven others collected between $196,000 and $634,000, and the tournament rewrote its record book in participation, purse, blue marlin catches and single-fish payout.
For a tournament celebrating its 35th running, the numbers told the story. More boats. More money. More blue marlin than ever before. And after five days of fishing, the MidAtlantic had produced a week worthy of the milestone.
