What is the White Marlin Open?
If you’ve been a Billfish chaser for some time, chances are you’ve heard about the White Marlin Open. This tournament doesn’t need much introduction as it’s considered one of the most renowned deep sea fishing tournaments in the world. The WMO has a tradition dating back to 1974; over 45 years later it’s made a name for itself among the top fishing competitions in the US and beyond.
The Motsko family founded the tournament and they’re still in charge of it today. The White Marlin Open is an annual event that takes place in Ocean City, Maryland, and for a week, this is a hub of Marlin fishing. The WMO is famous for having the most impressive prize budget among Billfish tourneys (over $6 million in 2010), which is another significant perk anglers can’t resist.
While White Marlin is the most desired catch, there are divisions where you can win more than solid money prizes by boating the largest Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Blue Marlin, Sharks, and Wahoo. If you feel you’ve got what it takes to be the next “number one” of the White Marlin Open, then Ocean City should definitely be at the top of your fishing bucket list.
When is the White Marlin Open?
WMO is always held in the first full week of August. The tournament dates announced each year indicate fishing days, but there are events that anglers need to attend before and after the fishing days. This is what you can expect during the week of WMO:
Day 1–2
The opening days of the tournament are reserved for late registration and the payment of Added Entries (additional divisions you’d like to compete in).
Day 3-7
These are five fishing days during which you get the chance to prove your skills and bring in your biggest catch. Remember you’re allowed to fish for three days, and two lay days are mandatory. Weigh-in at the Harbor Island Marina are open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. every day.
Day 8
On the last day of WMO, all the tournament participants gather at the award ceremony where winners are presented with their prizes. The polygraph test is also done on the last day, to confirm that all the catches and releases were done according to WMO rules.
What divisions can you compete in at the White Marlin Open?
You don’t need any special qualifications to enter the White Marlin Open, it’s an open-type tournament. The base entry is $1,300 if you register by June 1, after that you will need to pay $1,600. This is quite affordable, considering that the entry fees of similar Billfish competitions can cost up to five times more.
What’s particularly good about the WMO is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to participate, but you can still earn a formidable sum. If you’d like to increase your chances of winning those lottery-sized prizes, you can compete in some (or all) of two dozen optional Added Entries.
The general rule of thumb with these additional categories is that the bigger the entry fee, the bigger the award you can win. Here’s an overview of the Added Entries, aka White Marlin Open divisions.
Levels A, B, C, D are the categories where teams with the heaviest White and Blue Marlin win the prizes. To enter Level A, the fee is $300, Level B is $700, Level C $1,000, and finally, Level D costs $2,000. The higher the entry fee, the bigger the payout. This means that you would get much more money for your heaviest Marlin if you’re competing in Level D than in Level A. The award for each level is divided between the three best teams.
Level E and WM are for the heaviest White Marlin, but it’s a “Winner Take All” prize. If you decide to compete in this division E and you land the heaviest White Marlin, all the prize money from Levels A,B,C,D goes to your pocket. The price of that opportunity is $5,000. Level WM is the ultimate prize in the White Marlin category. If you decide to enter this level and pay $10,000, if you catch heaviest Marlin, all the prize money from Levels A,B,C,D,E is yours.
If you’re looking to hook the heaviest Blue Marlin, Level F is for you. This is another “Winner Take All” category, and to participate in it, the fee is $2,000.
T Levels are reserved for the passionate Tuna anglers. In the T1 and T2 Levels, the three best teams split the prize for the heaviest Tuna, and T3 and T4 are “Winner Take All” divisions. T1 entry is $500, T2 $1,000, T3 is $1,500, and finally T4 is $3,000.
If you’re certain that you can catch the biggest Tuna of the day, then you should enter Level DT to win the Heaviest Tuna “Daily Winner Take All” cash prize. It will cost you $1,500 to compete.
If you decide to enter Level R, you will be competing with all other boats in the category to see who will score the most release points. The best three boats will split the prize money, and the entry fee is $1,000.
Level M is called the “Daily Meat Fish” and the prize money will be split evenly between the two teams that catch the heaviest Mahi Mahi and the heaviest Wahoo. To enter this level, you need to pay $500.
Level BF stands for “Big Fish,” and it’s a “Winner Take All” award. Whether you catch the biggest Marlin (White or Blue), Tuna, Swordfish, Shark, Wahoo, or Mahi Mahi, you will get all the money that was gathered from all the angler entries for this level. The entry fee is $1,500.
There are also Captain and Mate awards for these members of the team, in the event that they catch the heaviest White Marlin and enter this category. To compete in each of these divisions, entry fee is a $100.
The Non-Billfish Doubler Level allows you to double any money you win in any of the game fish categories. So if you catch the biggest Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, or Shark, the prize money you get from that catch will double if you enter this level for $200.
When you pay $100 to qualify for the Tuna Bonus and manage to land that monster, you will get an additional $10,000 in prize money.
Finally, there’s a Daily Billfish Points category for the boat that scores the most Billfish points every day. To be a part of that score chase, you need to pay $500.
Small Boat Divisions
There is a special category for all boats with a length overall (LOA) under 40 feet – Level SBW. This is a competition for the heaviest White Marlin in the small boat division, and it’s a “Winner Take All” award. If you’re eligible for this category, pay $1,000 and you’re ready to go.
Level SBT is open for all the small boats and teams that believe they can hook the biggest Tuna in the tournament. The entry is $1,000 and because this is a “Winner Take All” prize, the payout for the winner is enticing.
Mahi Mahi are abundant in bluewater, but can you catch the biggest one on a small boat? If you think you’ve got what it takes, then enter the Level SBD “Winner Take All” for a $1,000, because it could be your best bet.
The last “Winner Take All” level in the small boat category is for the “Big Fish” – Level SBBF. Catch the heaviest Blue or White Marlin, Wahoo, Shark, Mahi Mahi, or Swordfish and you’ll be the winner of the level. The entry is $1,500.
If you’re feeling brave and confident, you can bet across the board, in all categories, and it will put you out $30,000.
What if you don’t have a boat, but still want to participate in the tournament?
The White Marlin Open is the event of the season in the area, so many local charter captains are preparing all year to take their customers to the best bite and the highest prize. There are guides who specialize in tournament runs, and all you have to do is contact them and arrange everything.
The White Marlin Open Rules
There are special minimum requirements regarding the weight and length of your catch to score points in the WMO:
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White Marlin needs to be at least 70 inches long and weigh at least 70 pounds;
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Blue Marlin must be at least 114 inches long (there’s no minimum weight criteria) to qualify;
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Mahi Mahi should weigh 20 pounds or more;
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Wahoo are eligible when they meet the 40-pound mark;
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Tuna should be at least 50 pounds;
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Sharks are in the game as long as they’re 100 pounds and heavier.
There’s a special point system in place that determines who achieved the best result in their category and in the tournament as a whole.
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Releasing a White Marlin will grant you 70 points, and if you decide to keep it, it will be scored one point per every pound.
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You will get 175 points if you release a Blue Marlin, while a boated Blue brings 1/3 point per pound.
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For the release of Swordfish, Sailfish, or Spearfish, you will get 70 points. If you decide to keep a Sailfish (it must weigh at least 30 pounds and be 63 inches long), each pound is worth 2 points.
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Boated Swordfish is worth one point per pound, just make sure it meets the 80-pounds and 47-inch standard.
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You’re not allowed to keep Spearfish.
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Every boat and angler participating in the White Marlin Open can fish up to three out of five fishing days.
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All anglers participating in the WMO must be registered before they start fishing.
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Federal law requires anglers to use non-offset circle hooks when targeting Billfish with natural bait. If you’re using artificial lures only, you’re allowed to use J-hooks.
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You’re not allowed to use any type of harpoons or lance/dart gafs.
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You’re in charge of getting a federal license for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, necessary when competing in the tournament.
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If you have a saltwater recreational fishing license in any US state (except the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, or Hawaii), you don’t need to buy any additional permit.
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You don’t have to go to Ocean City to participate in the WMO. You can depart from specifically marked piers within 100 nautical miles of the Ocean City inlet sea buoy. You’re not allowed to fish over the 100-mile border at any time.
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Anyone on the boat can hook a fish, but one of the registered anglers must immediately take over the rod and fight it on their own. No one else can be in contact with the rod or the line in that time.
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If there’s a tie in weight between two White Marlin, the fish that wasn’t gaffed will be the winner.
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From whatever fishing pier you’re departing from, you can move out after 4:00 a.m. Lines must be out of the water by 3:30 p.m. In case an angler is still fighting his catch at 3:30 p.m. he’s allowed to continue until the catch is boated, released, or lost.
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Everything you catch (and release) must be documented in a catch report. You should leave the report at the scorer’s table by 9:15 p.m.
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The viewing of the tournament is open to the public for free.
As one of the biggest and richest billfishing events in the US, the White Marlin Open and the prestige it offers is like a siren’s call to avid deep sea anglers. Not only do you get a chance to hook a wall-worthy White Marlin, but also to win one of the most renowned tournaments on the planet. Not to mention the life-changing prizes that come with the territory. Get your lines at the ready and check for yourself why Ocean City is dubbed as the “White Marlin capital of the world.”
