Majority of Fleet Takes a Day Off to Regroup
What started as a light breeze yesterday afternoon increased to a gusty wind by late in the evening last night making the decision to take a Lay Day on Day Four that much easier for nearly the entire tournament fleet at the 2019 MidAtlantic and only six of the 156 registered boats headed out on Day Four. Much of the tournament fleet spent the day catching up on boat maintenance, rigging baits, checking tackle or simply taking a well-deserved rest as they prepare to make the final charge on Day Five. With most of the categories within striking range including the blue marlin division which continues to be wide open after four days of fishing it should be another exciting finish tomorrow at sportfishing’s “Main Event.”
The excellent billfish bite continued yesterday and final totals after the scales closed at both venues last night indicated 60 billfish were released including 55 white marlin and five blue marlin. As the scales closed tonight, no fish were weighed at either venue and the standings remain unchanged. To recap, Brooks Smith’s Uno Mas from Stuart, Florida continues to lead the white marlin category with his 71-pounder. Marty Judge of Upper Marion Township, Pennsylvania continues to hold onto second place with a 68-pounder caught aboard his Judge. Nick Eubank on his Double Barrel from Boca Raton, Florida and John Raimondo on his Sea Mistress from Avalon, New Jersey are still tied for third heaviest white marlin at 67 pounds. No blue marlin was weighed on Day Four and the category continues to be vacant.
In the tuna division, Berlin, Maryland’s Curtis Macomber on his Stalker holds onto heaviest and second heaviest tuna with big eyes of 226 and 207 pounds. Tommy Hancock aboard his Dem Boys from Isle of Palms, South Carolina has the third heaviest tuna at 96 pounds.
The dolphin category remains tied between Laytonsville, Maryland’s Todd Dickerson with his Top Dog and Baltimore, Maryland’s Curtis Campbell aboard his Reel Estate at 33 pounds. Carlstadt, New Jersey’s Ed Russo on his Big Deal and Stone Harbor, New Jersey’s Jamie Diller aboard Canyon Lady remain tied for second heaviest dolphin at 27-pounds.
The wahoo division remains controlled by Newmanstown, Pennsylvania’s Ross Clubb on his Chain Reaction
with a 33-pounder. Tucker Colquhoun from Ocean City, Maryland on Special Situation still owns the second heaviest wahoo at 29-pounds. Andy Schlotter of Hilltown, Pennsylvania’s on his My Time still has the third heaviest wahoo at 28-pounds.
Jay Moscaro’s Meraki released a white marlin today.
Please note the MidAtlantic tournament is a private event. Tournament venues are not open to the general public and require credentials for entry.
For further information contact Tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at 609-884-0177. Be sure to visit the tournament’s official web site at www.themidatlantic.com where you’ll find all the facts, figures and information about this year’s event including a complete rundown of calcutta payouts, rules, points and an event schedule. There’s also a link to purchase official tournament merchandise. Each night you can follow the weigh-in session with live video feed from both marinas via a link on the tournament’s web site. You can also follow all the action on Facebook at The MidAtlantic Tournament; on Twitter; @midatl and on Instagram; @themidatlantictournament.