Maryland White Marlin Tournament With Million-Dollar Prizes to Proceed as Scheduled

Officials with a Maryland fishing tournament have announced their event will go on as scheduled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The White Marlin Open said on its Facebook page that the tournament will be held as planned beginning on Aug. 3, the Salisbury Daily Times reported Wednesday.

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The Facebook post said the event will follow government guidelines on spectator crowd size, but adds it doesn’t know what restrictions will be in place in August.

UNITED STATES - AUGUST 04: During the White Marlin Open fishing tournament in Ocean City, Md., the official weigh-ins take place at Harbour Island on 14th street. The party atmosphere of folks gathered to watch the anglers bring in their catches for the day draws thousands of guests each year. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images) — In 2008, during the White Marlin Open fishing tournament in Ocean City, Md., the official weigh-ins take place at Harbour Island on 14th street. The party atmosphere of folks gathered to watch the anglers bring in their catches for the day draws thousands of guests each year.

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Held in Ocean City, the tournament runs for five days with different fishing categories such as white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, shark, swordfish and dolphin.

The White Marlin Open was created in 1974 by Jim Motsko, who still serves as the organization’s president. The tournament has grown every year, and through the years has hosted more than 100,000 participants and distributed more than $63 million in prize money.

Ocean City fisherman Tommy Hinkle won the 2019 tournament with his catch of a 79.5-pound white marlin, earning just under $1.5 million.