1,000 Billfish Caught in 2026 White Marlin Open

By Jimmy FeeAugust 10, 2026

This 80-pound white was the heaviest of seven whites weighed in (and more than 900 caught and released) during the 2026 White Marlin Open.

Last week’s White Marlin Open out of Ocean City, Maryland spanned some of the best marlin fishing of the season, as the field landed just shy of 1,000 white marlin, blue marlin, spearfish, and sailfish.

Of those billfish, the 80-pounder weighed in by Mister Pete of South Carolina took home the big bucks, with the crew earning $3.5 Million for the top skillie.

Of the 76 blue marlin caught, only one made it to the scales, a 607-pounder, worth $1.3 Million to the crew of the MaxBet.

Of the 60 tuna weighed in, the million-dollar payday went to the Gray Fox out of Mantoloking, New Jersey for their 179-pound bigeye. The Gray Fox crew also won the wahoo division (and another $72K) with a 69.5-pounder

Catch Totals from the 2026 White Marlin Open

The fishing looked great and all, but I can’t just ignore the inaugural “Lunch Calcutta,” wherein crews competed to make the tastiest lunch for some of the organizers at the WMO. With meals including lobster rolls, mahi-and-peach sandwiches, and bacon-wrapped PB&J’s, this might be a tradition we need to bring to StriperFest with me and Cheech as the judges.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by White Marlin Open (@white_marlin_open)

All told, nearly $10 Million in prize money was doled out in the 53rd Annual White Marlin Open. Full tournament standings and rules for the 53rd Annual White Marlin Open are available at www.whitemarlinopen.com.

Next up on the big money offshore tournament schedule, The MidAtlantic

Jimmy Fee

Jimmy Fee is the Editor of On The Water and a lifelong surfcaster. He grew up fishing the bridges and beaches of Southern New Jersey before moving to Cape Cod in his early 20s. He's pursued striped bass from North Carolina to Massachusetts. He began with On The Water in 2008, and since then has covered a variety of Northeast fisheries from small pond panfish to bluewater billfish in the through writing, video, and podcasting.