OC welcomes boaters from all over participating in 49th Annual White Marlin Open

“This is one of the biggest weeks of the year,” OC Mayor Rick Meehan said.

People from all over have come out to compete in the 49th Annual White Marlin Open in Ocean City. This year 408 boats are trying to reel in the biggest fish during this five day tournament.

“It’s amazing it brings this enthusiasm, this energy not only for the people who are coming to participate but locals love it too,” Susan Jones, the Executive Director of the OC Hotel Motel Restaurant Association, said.

Jones said while this tournament sure does add thrill to the town, it also does a couple of other things, like bring in money for businesses. “The participants who come to this tournament are certainly a little bit higher end and they are going to go out to eat in the really nice restaurants; they are not coming with coolers, they are going to spend a lot of money,” Jones said. “In addition to all of the economics and the money it brings in, really the publicity that Ocean City gets is unmatched because we are being noticed by people all around the world.”

This is something Mayor Meehan agrees with. “As far as the fishing industry is concerned, I mean anywhere you go there’s billfishing you mention the White Marlin Open they’ve either fished in it, or they’ve heard about it, and they’ve wanted to fish in it,” he said.

And we’re told you don’t have to be a participant in the tournament to still enjoy the fun, there is a weigh- in station at Harbour Island where you watch as the scale goes up to see how much the fish weigh, but that’s not all. “This year they have added the Marlin Fest here at the Inlet where they will have the big screen where you can watch the weigh-in,” Mayor Meehan said. “You’ll be able to watch the boats as they come back in through the Inlet and also enjoy some games and some food trucks.”