HOT TUNA SPORT FISHING

Last out….first in! Best day of the year. Let’s go!

Well Friends, this past August I was able to check a big thing off my “Bucket List”. Anyone that knows me well, knows my lifelong passion for fishing and running boats. I grew up going to Ocean City every summer for family vacations and would walk the docks back to my earliest age I can remember. I dreamed of owning a sportfish boat and fishing offshore. Decades later, in 1994, I would begin fishing offshore and running my own boat. I began with a 22’ Aquasport and then moved up to a 27’ Judge in 2000. In 2004, I upgraded to a very capable 32’ TOPAZ and began really focused offshore fishing. Initially, I fished out of Wachapreague, Va. until 2011 and then moved to running out of Sunset Marina in Ocean City in 2012. I had always dreamed of fishing the White Marlin Open someday on my boat with friends, and earlier this season I decided this could be the year. Over time, I had accumulated all the right gear and felt confident the overall HOT TUNA “program” was up to the task. With all those years of gaining offshore fishing knowledge, I felt we were ready to execute. I felt like I had been unconsciously preparing for this my whole fishing career. So with the insistence of some of my regular fishing crew and the support of my family, we made it happen. Everything lined up just right except for Mother Nature. As tournament week neared, Tropical Storm Dexter began making itself known offshore and the forecast was many days of strong Northeast winds and for a very bumpy week. Bumpy enough that tournament was extended 2 extra days in hopes of a better chance for the boats, especially smaller boats like ours, to get their 3 days of fishing in. As it turned out, we were only able to get 1 day of fishing in during the tournament week (Tuesday) due to the conditions. The weather lightened up a bit and would have allowed us to fish the added Sunday, but that was my scheduled date to head back home to Annapolis with the boat and most of my crew were not available to fish that day. Our 1 day of fishing was good though. We had our 1st White Marlin bite and release in the 1st hour of fishing! The fish was a few inches short of the minimum length the bring the scales. We had another Marlin bite about an hour later and hooked up with a substantially bigger fish but didn’t get that one to the boat unfortunately. Overall there were 283 boats in the tournament and only 134 had recorded catching a billfish. Even with our meager single Marlin release, we ranked 110th overall and were “on the board” for a while leading the Under 40’ Release category that would have had a small pay out. We got knocked out late in the week, but that’s tournament fishing. I am confident we could have had continued success if we were able to have fished all 3 of our allowed days. I am beyond thankful for the support of friends of family that I was able to make the experience happen. I feel like we went to the World Series and got a hit. Box is checked and my heart is full.

Ocean City Sunset Marina
White Marlin Open
Ringer Swivels
Alltackle.com
Squidnation

Merry Fishmas and to all a good night! 🎄

Went 2/2 on White Marlins on Tuesday and got JohnnyKelly is first White.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. 🎄

2024 Season in the books. Ready for her winter nap and shrink wrap coat. See y’all in 2025. Have a Merry Christmas from the HOT TUNA crew.

Sadly, the Ocean City fleet has lost another great
Captain. Rest easy Captain Joey. Hope they have a shiny new Taylor Made boat for you to run on the other side of the big bridge.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The importance of early detection to allow for early treatment is critical. Most of us know someone who has battled Breast Cancer and I encourage you to commit to annual screening exams if you are a woman 40 or over. It could the "Catch" that saves a life. Thanks Karen Rhodes for the great artwork!

Good luck all the Captains and Crews fishing the Big Rock this week! https://www.facebook.com/bigrocktournament