White Marlin Open
Ocean City is known as Maryland’s largest tourist beach town, but during the first full week of August each year one thing that is on every Marylander’s mind is the White Marlin Open and who will be the one to catch Whitey. The tournament begins Monday through Friday during the first full week of August. The five day tournament has become the richest billfishing tournament in the world and this year had a payout of $4.9 Million dollars. Sportfishing boats come from around the world to compete and fish in the offshore canyons that have helped to make Ocean City the White Marlin Capital of the World. If you are not able to get onto a boat and compete in the search for the million dollar fish, that doesn’t mean you have to miss the experience. The fleet of 353 boats competing can be seen heading out of the Ocean City Inlet as early as 4 am each morning of the tournament. If that’s too early for you, Harbour Island located on 14th St. is where the weigh inns are held each day beginning at 4 pm.
Teasers Cup and Sunset Marina
Along with the White Marlin Open comes the Teasers Cup. The Teasers Cup takes place at Sunset Marina and Teasers at Sunset Grille. The Teaser Cup runs during the course of White Marlin Open and it is open to boats that are competing in the tournament, to see which crew can run up the biggest bar tab over the week. Teasers offers things such as 15 L bottles of Verve Clicquot that cost $3,000 dollars that captains and mates will spray across the bar to really get the party going. Which ever boat runs up the biggest bar tab by Friday, is the winner of the Teasers Cup. Since 2012 Goin In Deep has won and been awarded the dollar bill pattern suit jackets. The Teasers Cup and C Dock at Sunset Marina are an experience for everyone whether competing or not, to be able see some of the most prestigious sport fishing boats in the country. The atmosphere that is in the air all week is a once in a lifetime experience that gets to be had annually.