Fourth-place tuna wins $1.8 million

Continued from Page 66 money.

The heaviest wahoo was caught Tuesday by John Harris, of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, who was an angler on Shooting Star. The 57-pound fish won Shooting Star $4,700.

Captain Deadley angler Chad Jackson, of Ft. Myers, Florida, caught a wahoo weighing 55 pounds on Monday and snagged second place and $31,065.

Mathew Gessler, of Chads Ford, Pennsylvania, weighed in a 46-pound wahoo on Friday and earned his Boy’s Toy team $29,065.

First place for dolphin fish went to Andrew Spangenberger, of New Freedom, Pennsylvania, who fished on Roncito, and caught a fish weighing 50.5 pounds to win $32,065.

Timothy Goodman, of Palm Beach, Florida, reeled in a 32-pound dolphin on Friday for second place. The Open awarded his team on the Aquila, $82,520.

On Wednesday night, Will McAteer, of Kent Island, caught a 31pound dolphin aboard Maverick to place third and win $30,065.

Top three boats in the points division: Fin Planner, 17 white marlin releases, 1,190 points; Max Bet, 16 white marlin releases 1,120 points; Taylor Jean, 13 white and one blue marlin releases 1,085 points.

Top release boats: Fin Planner, 17 white marlin releases, 1,190 points; Max Bet, 16 white marlin releases 1,120 points; Trash Man, seven white and three blue marlin releases, 1,015 points.

Top three anglers: Brian Demile, Trash Man, six white and two blue marlin releases, 770 points; Bernard Linney, High Yield, 10 white marlin releases, 700 points; Dave McKendrick, Taylor Jean, seven white and one blue marlin releases, 665 points.

Eight fewer boats registered this year compared to the 49th Open, but the total payout was approximately $1.7 million more than the previous year’s total of $8.6 million.

“My family worked hard. My daughters, my grandchildren, everybody was working 12-hour days for about 10 days straight,” Motsko said.

His daughters, Sasha Motsko and Madelyne Rowan, help run the tournament.

The first White Marlin Open took place in 1974 with 57 boats registered and a guaranteed $20,000 in prize money.

“We got a lot of publicity because it was the 50th. A lot of people recognize what we’ve been doing. Sometimes people just forget about it, but we’ve been here for a long time,” Motsko said.

The 51st White Marlin Open is slotted for Aug. 5-9 next year. Motsko said planning will begin in another two-to-three weeks.