Hello everyone, have you ever heard a fish story that’s almost too incredible to believe? Well, this one’s a real catch! A fishing crew recently made a splash at the 66th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in North Carolina with a prize-worthy marlin that’s making waves.
The team aboard the Hatteras-based boat, aptly named “Release,” reeled in a blue marlin weighing an astonishing 504 pounds. This massive catch earned the group a jaw-dropping $1.7 million! The captain of this 53-foot vessel, Rom Whitaker, skillfully led his crew to victory, while Angler Kirk Pugh was the one who actually pulled in the striking big blue fish.
Now, get this: these guys have been fishing together in this tournament for 22 years and had never before boated a marlin in this competition. A North Carolina resident close to the anglers shared this little nugget with Fox News Digital, though she preferred to stay anonymous.
To give you an idea of how extraordinary this catch is, blue marlins typically inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They usually range from 11 feet in length and weigh between 200 to 400 pounds, according to National Geographic. So, this 504-pound marlin is definitely a giant!
The tournament kicked off with a record-breaking number of 302 fishing boats setting sail on Monday, making it a highly competitive event. Madison Struyk, the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament’s Executive Director, told Fox News Digital that Captain Rom’s win was a fantastic way to start the week.
She mentioned, “Captain Rom’s win in the Fab Fish Level and Game Time’s leaderboard shakeup yesterday afternoon created the perfect start to the week.”
The “Release” team, including Kirk Pugh, Rob Powell, Pete West, Bill Brown, Chris West, and Bert Powell, proudly posed with their catch at The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. This event isn’t just about the thrill of the catch; it’s also for a good cause.
Struyk shared that the Big Rock Foundation, the charitable arm of the tournament, is the largest non-profit billfish tournament globally. Since 1986, it has donated over $10 million to worthy organizations, and for the past three years, it has made annual contributions of over a million dollars.
The fishing tournament is set to continue until Sunday, so there’s still plenty of action to look forward to. This story is a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and a bit of luck. Here’s to hoping the “Release” team enjoys their well-deserved victory and that the tournament continues to be a success for all involved.
Folks, whether you’re a fishing enthusiast or just love a good underdog story, this is one for the books!
