PHOTOS: 2019 White Marlin Open in Ocean City

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August 9, 2019

海角社区app/Kristi King

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May 2, 2026 | (Teta Alim)

The 46th annual drew crowds 鈥� and even an NBA legend 鈥� to Ocean City, Maryland, this week.

Michael Jordan’s 80-foot yacht was also in the water among the many boats seen this year.

The White Marlin Open is the biggest and richest billfish tournament in the world. A winning white marlin, for example, can be worth $1.5 million. The estimated total prize money for all the fish categories this year is more than $6 million.

At the end of each fishing day, boats return from off shore to have their catches recorded and weighed, and spectators gather to watch the procession at the weigh-in dock.

1/21

Tommy Hinkle, who won the top prize with a 79.5-pound White Marlin, is the tournament’s first two-time winner. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

2/21

Brenda Rudnicky holds up an otolith, which is a small fingernail-like growth found in tuna that can be used to calculate the age of a fish. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

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It’s Day 5 of the White Marlin Open on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, in Ocean City, Maryland. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

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A boat is seen on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019 in Ocean City, Maryland. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

5/21

Crew from “Chasin Tail” pose with their 74-pound White Marlin caught on Day 1 of the White Marlin Open. (Courtesy Town of Ocean City)

6/21

The Hellsea caught at 22.5-pound dolphin on Day 1 of the White Marlin Open. (Courtesy Town of Ocean City)

Not all the White Marlin Open qualifiers are going to a Maryland food bank, but most are. (Courtesy Town of Ocean City)

7/21

8/21

Here’s a poster for this year’s White Marlin Open. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

9/21

It’s the last day of the White Marlin Open on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

10/21

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City accepts donations from people who want to park in the church during the fishing tournament. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

11/21

Michael Jordan鈥檚 boat the Catch 23 is heading to the weigh-in dock 鈦︹仼
— Kristi King (@king海角社区app)

12/21

A drone captures footage of Ocean City and broadcasts back to a large screen at the weigh-in dock.

13/21

A big screen at the weigh-in dock depicts images captured by a drone. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

14/21

Crowds standing around for hours at the weigh in scales were occasionally entertained by the chance to catch thrown souvenirs. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

15/21

Brenda Rudnicky, from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute studies some of the marlin caught during the contest to determine their ages and diet. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

16/21

Brenda Rudnicky holds up an otolith, which is a fingernail-like growth found in the ears of fish that can be used to calculate the age of a fish. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

17/21

A Marlin is weighed for the competition. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

18/21

As fish are being lifted for weighing, before they become completely still on the line, the scale readings can vary by many pounds as fish swing or are touched by handlers. That makes for anxious moments for anglers and spectators. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

19/21

Most of the qualifying fish are donated to the Md Food Bank. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

20/21

The Green Turtle of Annapolis, Md. had one of the tournament鈥檚 heaviest tunas. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

21/21

Anne Aramendia caught a 91 pound wahoo on the final day of the White Marlin Open; the third largest in tournament history. (海角社区app/Kristi King)

Kristi King

Kristi King is a veteran reporter who has been working in the 海角社区app newsroom since 1990. She covers everything from breaking news to consumer concerns and the latest medical developments.

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