Ocean City 2023

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Finally, today I got the pontoon boat out of storage and now seating on the boat lift.
It's time to catch a lot of minnows and go flounder fishing.

[Reelax]

Sounds like the beginning of a few months of summer fun Gerry!! I am sure both Mr c’s are excited to get the flounder hunt going:)

Hear is a few pics of the area fishing with you over years…. The 2018 White Marilyn Open is a memory I will never forget!!! Very special memories!!!


Fish on!

Thanks Buddy;)

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Nice memories indeed, unforgettable, thanks for sharing.

My first outing did not go well.
After 15 minutes on the water, I noticed the boat was feeling heavy, and leaning on one side.
I came back and put the boat on the lift to check the issue. Well.. when they serviced the boat after storage, for unknow reason, they removed the drain plugs from the pontoons and forgot to put them back. Luckily I have a boat lift, otherwise the boat would have sunken by then. Now waiting for the technician to put new plugs back in, hopefully today.

[raz]

My first outing did not go well.
After 15 minutes on the water, I noticed the boat was feeling heavy, and leaning on one side.
I came back and put the boat on the lift to check the issue. Well.. when they serviced the boat after storage, for unknow reason, they removed the drain plugs from the pontoons and forgot to put them back. Luckily I have a boat lift, otherwise the boat would have sunken by then. Now waiting for the technician to put new plugs back in, hopefully today.

YIKES!
Scary stuff. Glad you were able to return and get the boat on the lift before disaster struck!
Keep posting those Ocean City outings!

[Gecha (Gerry)]

They had to get the boat off the water to drain the pontoons before installing new plugs. It appears the old plugs were not removed. They are plastic plugs and both cracked when in storage. No one's fault, just happened. Don't know why they use plastic instead of aluminum plugs?
Now new plugs are installed and I can use the boat again.... Let's go fishing

[raz]

Interesting. Are the new plugs plastic also?
Looking forward to reading more adventures!

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Interesting. Are the new plugs plastic also?
Looking forward to reading more adventures!

Yes, the new plugs are also plastic. They say they now use plastic because previously the threads on the metal plugs in salt water had a tendency to corrode and almost impossible to remove after a few years.

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Yesterday was the opening of the White Marlin Open. It's their 50th anniversary.
This year 655 boats registered for the 5 day tournament, fishing 3 days. 378 boats went out on the first day.
Many nice fish caught, but still 4 days of fishing left, leaderboard changing constantly.
The scales are so crowded it's almost impossible to get close, and forget about parking. Best way it to follow up on their web site.

[raz]

I read of a 199 pound Tuna weighed...currently worth $1,000,000.00

[Gecha (Gerry)]

I read of a 199 pound Tuna weighed...currently worth $1,000,000.00

You're correct. Not a huge tuna at 199 lbs but so far worth its weight in gold.
Day 2 was pretty windy and only 22 boats went out.
Today is also windy, will check the results later in the day.

[Gecha (Gerry)]

Day 3, leaderboard changed.
Weather was nice and l383 boats went offshore. It was like a parade leaving the inlet.
1st place Tuna 247.5 lbs worth over $1,200,000
2nd place Tuna 203.5 lbs = $95,000
3rd place Tuna 199 lbs = $38,000

1st place Wahoo 57 lbs = $2,000
2nd place Wahoo 55 lbs = $32,000
3rd place Wahoo 40 lbs = $32,000

No White or Blue Marlin registered yet.

Day 4, windy and heavy rain in some places, only about 60 boats out. Still waiting for results.

[Reelax]

Day 3, leaderboard changed.
Weather was nice and l383 boats went offshore. It was like a parade leaving the inlet.
1st place Tuna 247.5 lbs worth over $1,200,000
2nd place Tuna 203.5 lbs = $95,000
3rd place Tuna 199 lbs = $38,000

1st place Wahoo 57 lbs = $2,000
2nd place Wahoo 55 lbs = $32,000
3rd place Wahoo 40 lbs = $32,000

No White or Blue Marlin registered yet.

Day 4, windy and heavy rain in some places, only about 60 boats out. Still waiting for results.

Wow day 5 all boats will be out and gunning for white Marlin… is the whole board open???

[Gecha (Gerry)]

551 white marlin and 46 blue marlin were caught during the tournament but only 1 qualified. It was caught on the last day.
The 118" 640.5 lbs blue marlin won the record price of $6.2 million
In the tuna division, $1.0 million was won by the 265 big eye.
In the $50K Take All Level, the win was $1.7 million with a 215 lbs big eye.

It was pretty exciting to see all those boats leaving every morning.
Also spectacular seeing them return late afternoon through the inlet.

[raz]

Amazing!

[Gecha (Gerry)]

It's been a while since my last post. Pretty busy here with the kitchen renos and wife always adding to the TO DO LIST.
I took some time last week to go a few miles offshore on a very calm day and we had some good action. Friend caught a nice 42" red drum (released) and as we were pulling the lines up, a 5 foot shark decided to join the party.

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IMG_2332.JPG (60.52 KiB) Viewed 5466 times

Cool, windy weather forecasted for the rest of the week, so no fishing, will be knocking a few items off the list.