It was a wild finish to the high stakes MidAtlantic Tournament . When the dust settled, the Mantoloking-based Deadicated rode off into the sunset with a check worth $1.1 million for its tournament-winning blue marlin.
According to a tournament spokesperson on the final day of the tournament Friday, two boats came in with very heavy blue marlins on the deck. The first one was a 760 pounder that was weighed at Sunset Marina, the Ocean City, Maryland weigh station, at 6 p.m. It was landed on Tommy Hancock’s Dem Boys, out of Isle of Palms, South Carolina and quickly shot to first place in the blue marlin category.
However, that crew's glory was short-lived. About 60 miles north by way of the ferry, another blue marlin was going up on the scales at the Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May. This one was landed on Matt Asplundh's 72-foot Viking yacht Deadicated. At the helm was Capt. Bryan Boyle. Angler Chris Carr fought the fish on rod and reel for an hour.
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A considerable crowd had gathered to watch the fish get pulled up the scale, which took some strategic maneuvering. Even condo owners stepped out onto their balconies to take in the sight. Weighmaster Chris Booth announced the great billfish's weight of 795 pounds. While the Deadicated took home a check for $1.1 million and some change, Dem Boys got the second-place winnings that totaled $497, 714.
Triggerfish
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle party fishing boat reported a few triggerfish were caught on the boat during Tuesday's three-quarter day trip. He said they working on readings over the rough bottom that also produced catches of bluefish, fluke and sea bass. Falcone said they conditions were ripe for long, ocean drifts.
Angler Chel Baybay caught a nice dinner on the Daunltess party fishing boat when she reeled up a lobster. The colder water this summer has kept the ling biting and Capt William Egerter Jr. said they're catching about 10 to 30 fish per angler.
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The bonito and false albacore remain inshore and giving anglers a good fight on rod and reel. There have also been some shots of Spanish mackerel and chub mackerel. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. on the Jamaica said they had good shots of fish on Wednesday's trip. The Paramount party fishing boat at Bogan's Basin will be running a special bonito and albie trip on Labor Day. The boat departs at 6:30 a.m. and returns at 2:30 a.m.
The bonito have crashed the surf on the tides. Paul Marzolla, who's appeared in the fishing reports before, phoned in a catch from the Sandy Hook surf. Marzolla caught the fish on a plain metal lure. He said there were false albacore and Spanish mackerel but they were out of casting range.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Mantoloking fisherman's blue marlin wins $1.1 million in MidAtlantic contest
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