White Marlin Open Starts Ocean City 282 Boats Compete $7.2M Prize

The 2025 White Marlin Open, the world’s largest and richest offshore billfish tournament, kicked off with 282 boats competing for a $7.2 million purse, down from last year's $8.5 million with 318 boats. Rough seas and 5- to 7-foot waves kept more than half the boats docked on the first day, leading organizers to extend the tournament by two extra fishing days, allowing boats to fish three out of seven days through Sunday. Among the early highlights, a boat from Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, landed a 929.5-pound blue marlin, potentially worth over $4.4 million if it maintains the lead. Other notable catches include a 52.5-pound tuna from a Texas boat, worth more than $730,000. The tournament features competition across six categories, including white and blue marlin, with many past winners returning to vie for top prizes. Live coverage is ongoing, capturing daily updates on leaderboard changes and tournament events.