Day Five of the 34th Annual MidAtlantic dawned sunny with a cloudless sky and a light breeze. Hurricane Erin passed and was making her way out to sea off New England. In her wake, although nowhere near yesterday’s heights, Erin left an ocean that was still nearly unfishable. Despite 43 boats having no remaining lay days, also known as non-fishing days, only one boat ventured out today. Sea conditions, although still sporty, are forecast to improve dramatically tomorrow. All 114 boats in the tournament have one fishing day remaining so it should be an exciting finish as they battle for part of the tournament’s $3.2 million purse!
In the billfish categories after Day Five Jamie Diller of Stone Harbor, New Jersey aboard his Canyon Lady continues to lead the white marlin division with a 75-pounder weighed on Day Three. Jimmy Hahn of Pocomoke, Maryland still sits in second place with a 71-pound white marlin caught aboard his Tail Chaser on Day One. Third place is still vacant. Joppa, Maryland’s Chad Meeks and his Reel Toy sit alone in the blue marlin category with an 804-pounder which was weighed on Day Three. Second and third place remain vacant in that category.
The tuna division has remained unchanged since Day One and is still lead by Curtis Bay, Maryland’s Nick Neary on Lit Up with a 103-poud big eye. Vero Beach, Florida’s Matt Weber and his Max Bet are in second place with a 97-pound yellowfin. The Manasquan, New Jersey-based Blue Runner of Joe Meile sits in third place with a 96-pound yellowfin.
A check of the leaderboard for wahoo reveals Stuart, Florida’s Scott Abeel on his Luna Sea leads the category with a 94-pounder weighed on Day Three followed by Bobby Pastorius of Ocean City, Maryland on his Jenny Poo with a 60-pounder caught on Day One. Glenelg, Maryland’s Darrin Brown aboard Catchin’ Grief is in third place with a 23-pounder which was also caught on Day One.
Sushi, owned by Charley Pereira of Nags Head, North Carolina sits atop the dolphin category with his 35-pounder weighed on Day Three. In second place is Singer Island, Florida’s John Gudelsky and his Reel Joy with a 26-pounder, also weighed on Day Three. Fanwood New Jersey’s John Schwab aboard Pegasus with a 22-pounder weighed on Day One.
With a sixth day of fishing added due to Hurricane Erin the tournament concludes tomorrow. We will provide a full wrap-up of the event on Sunday afternoon.
Several have inquired so we’ve included the tournament’s current records below. This, along with other tournament information, can be found on the event’s web site www.themidatlantic.com.
Weight Records
White Marlin – 95 lbs. – Topless – Scott Steele – 2009
Blue Marlin – 1135 lbs. – Billfisher – Jon Duffie – 2021
Tuna – 254 lbs. – Absolut-ly – Bernard/Drew Dinardi – 1993
Dolphin – 56 lbs. – American Lady – Russell Baiocco – 2010
Wahoo – 104 lbs. – Special Situation – Charles Phelan – 2022
Shark – 833 lb. Tiger – Reel–Istic – Billy Verbanas – 1993 (Sharks were discontinued in 1994)
Cash Payout Records
Cash Purse Total – $5,929,050 – 2021
Heaviest White Marlin – $1,416,891 – Lights Out – Bill Haugland – 2024
Heaviest Blue Marlin – $1,180,342 – Pipe Dreamer – Chip Caruso – 2023
Heaviest Tuna – $1,000,065 – Pipe Dreamer – Chip Caruso – 2021*
* Payout was for first and second place fish weighed
Point Records
White Marlin – 1950 pts. – Ditch Digger – Al Conan – 2006
1950 pts. – Trashman – Gene Sowers – 2023
Blue Marlin – 674 pts. – Gina Lisa – Rich Addeo – 1997
Tuna – 626 pts. – The Right Place – Bob Hugin – 2021
Most Points Overall – 2010 pts. – Trashman – Gene Sowers – 2023
Misc.
Total # of white marlin caught – 810 (780 released – 30 boated) – 2016
Total # of blue marlin caught – 68 (62 released – 6 boated) – 2019
Total # of billfish caught – 840 (810 white marlin and 30 blue marlin) – 2016
(780 WMR/30 WMB* & 25 BMR/5 BMB*)
* WMR – White Marlin Released
* WMB – White Marlin Boated
* BMR – Blue Marlin Released
* BMB – Blue Marlin Boated
Please note the MidAtlantic tournament is a private event. Nightly weigh-in sessions at Canyon Club Resort Marina and Sunset Marina as well as other tournament venues and sponsor displays are not open to the public and require credentials and/or prior arrangement for tour or entry.
For more information contact tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at 609-84-0177 or visit the tournament’s website at www.themidatlantic.com where you’ll find all the facts, figures and information about the 2025 MidAtlantic including a complete breakdown of calcuttas, rules, points, and a Tournament Week schedule. You can also follow
the tournament on Facebook at The MidAtlantic Tournament, on Twitter @midatl and on Instagram @themidatlantictournament.