Tournament officials hope to entice more fishermen with new prize

White Marlin Tournament officials are hoping a new winner-take-all entry level in the Tuna category will help attract more fishermen.

This year's newest addition will have an entry fee of $3,000, and can be won by catching the heaviest tuna.

We're told the newest entry level was created as an incentive for northern fishermen, from New Jersey and New York, to make the journey down to Ocean City to take part in the event, because officials says fishermen from northern states are more likely to fish for tuna than marlin.

We spoke to the tournament president who says if someone plays it right and enters in multiple tuna categories they could walk away with a seven figure prize.

"If a person is a tuna fisherman or and they get into that one and maybe one other tuna there's a very good chance they'll win a million dollars just on that," said tournament president Jim Motsko.

We asked Motsko if some of the controversy that has surrounded the tournament in recent years has affected them in anyway.

Most notably, the lawsuit raised by 2016 winner Phil Heasley that failed in court, upholding the tournaments decision to disqualify him for dropping his lines too early and for failing a polygraph test.

"Our entry fees are up already, and the marinas are already packed for the big boats.  So I don't see it effecting us in a negative way.  If anything it will be a positive thing that shows that we're doing what we've gotta do," said Motsko.

Traditionally two-thirds of entries come in the 24 hours leading up to the beginning of the tournament.  But if you do plan to enter this years event, you can save yourself $300 by registering by June 1.