It’s BIG ROCK week and the 58th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament is already off to an eventful start! Each year, the world’s best billfish anglers head to our shores, a true representation of the best of the best. Yesterday, over 100 boats launched from the Morehead City Waterfront with a sea of anxious spectators waiting to hear what’s called in on the radios….who’s hooked up, who pulled the hook, who landed the BIG ONE and which lucky boats will capture a piece of the $1.9 MILLION purse?!
The crowd at the docks was buzzing with excitement yesterday at the Big Rock weigh-ins as we got word that the crew on Marlin Gull had landed a huge blue marlin were heading to the weigh station. They did not disappoint as we watched them hoist up a 564 pound marlin which puts them in first place….for now. They also captured the coveted prize of being the first boat to weigh in a marlin over 500lbs and the cashed in on $433,500, not a bad payday. Even though the tournament draws in boats and anglers from all over the world, it’s the Carolina boys on on top of the leaderboard!
Since 1957, this marlin tournament has grown to become one of the largest sport fishing tournaments in the world and the history of the tournament is pretty interesting. Up until the 1950s, no one thought that Marlin lived in our waters. Sailors passing through our area would tell ‘fish tales’ about the monsters they saw at sea. Hopeful fishermen began exploring off the coast and it didn’t take long for word to spread that NC had some of the best billfishing in the world. The tournament was born and is still growing 50+ years later. http://www.thebigrock.com/history.
Come check it out, you’ll be glad that you did. Morehead City is only 32 miles from Arlington Place, an easy day trip!