A 919.9-pound blue marlin brought to Big Rock Landing on Tuesday—boated as “Marlin Fever” around 12:50 p.m.—set a new tournament record and won the Fabulous Fisherman prize worth $871,250. With 211 boats out fishing and a purse over $9 million, the Day 2 leade
MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. — At Big Rock Landing, the morning didn’t just heat up. Around 12:50 p.m. on Tuesday. a blue marlin hauled in as “Marlin Fever” finally cleared the line of sight for the crowd watching the scales. The fish weighed 919.9 pounds, the first catch over 500 pounds, and the largest fish ever caught.
It was also a clean break from anything the tournament had seen before. The new weight set a record for the tournament itself.
“Marlin Fever” hooked up about two hours earlier, bringing the day’s first catch into the harbor at a moment when attention was already locked on what could possibly top Monday’s momentum.
The prize that came with it was enormous. The win earned the Fabulous Fisherman prize worth $871,250. And if the fish holds up and wins the tournament, “Marlin Fever” would bring in $6.2 million.
By 2:20 p.m., the day was already getting another headline. “Hit N Run” boated a second blue marlin at around 2:20 p.m., nearly 30 minutes after it was first caught. The boat is expected back at 4:00 p.m., with more chances still in play.
Big Rock Landing had started strong on Monday, too, with two blue marlin on the scales. “Savanna Leigh” returned with a 439.2-pound blue marlin yesterday—marking the first blue marlin weighed at the 68th annual tournament. “Free Ranger” also weighed in a marlin, finishing just three pounds short at 436.2 pounds.
As boats pushed out again for Day 2, the numbers showed just how crowded the hunt had become: 211 boats were out fishing today.
The total purse for this year’s tournament is over $9 million.
The leaderboard after Tuesday’s first weigh-in now reads:
1) Marlin Fever — 919.9 pounds
2) Savanna Leigh — 439.2 pounds
3) Free Ranger — 436.2 pounds
With “Marlin Fever” sitting at the top after an all-time record catch, the question at Big Rock Landing is simple and immediate: can anything still challenge a fish that already hit the biggest mark the tournament has ever recorded?
Big Rock Landing Marlin Fever blue marlin tournament record 919.9 pounds Fabulous Fisherman prize Morehead City North Carolina