Day One of the 2024 MidAtlantic dawned sunny and breezy after a line of overnight thunderstorms pushed through the tournament venues. The remnants of Hurricane Ernesto had moved far north and offshore but left behind a swell that made conditions offshore a bit sporty for the 88 boats that gave it a go on Day One. MidAtlantic event staff worked late into the night tallying calcutta entries and the unofficial purse is set at over $5.7 million with a field of 198 boats. The scales at Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland were busy shortly after the evening’s weigh-in session got underway at 5 PM. The white marlin category currently has a 74-pounder atop the leaderboard for Trappe, Maryland’s Mark Murphy aboard his Leslie Ann for angler Mike Bradley. Wayne Franks of Royersford, Pennsylvania aboard his Wayne’s World is currently in second place with a 67-pounder for angler Fred Tuttle. Third place remains vacant.
The other big news of the day came in the tuna division where all three places were filled today. Currently Steven Pilipauskis of Harwood, Maryland aboard his Reel Tight took the early lead in the category after weighing a 180-pound big eye for angler Nick Marcinkowski. Val Fichera’s Warden Pass is in second place with a 174-pound big eye for angler Frank Rao. Third place currently belongs to Dan Fabri and his Cape May, New Jersey-based El Jefe with a 57-pound yellowfin. No qualifying blue marlin, dolphin or wahoo were weighed on Day One.
Some of the boats with significant billfish releases today include David Reeve’s Pachanga with four white marlin and two blue marlin let go. Matthew Weber’s Max Bet released seven white marlin while Charles Moore’s Mama Who and Jeff Crabtree’s Pipe Down each released six white marlin. Martin Judge aboard his Judge and Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 each released five white marlin today. Pat Healey’s Viking 82 released three white marlin. John Gudelsky’s Reel Joy released two blue marlin and one white marlin.
Keep in mind you can follow all the weigh-in action via live stream from Cape May and Ocean City by visiting the tournament’s web site www.themidatlantic.com. beginning at 5 p.m. each night.
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 are not open to the public and require credentials for entry.
For more information on this year’s MidAtlantic contact Tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at 609-884-0177 or visit the tournament’s web site at www.themidatlantic.com where you’ll find all the facts, figures and information about the event including a complete breakdown of calcuttas, rules, points, and a Tournament Week schedule. You can also follow along on social media Facebook at The MidAtlantic Tournament; on Twitter @midatl and on Instagram @themidatlantictournament.