Wednesday, August 19 ~ Fish Day Three Press Release

After a night of powerful thunderstorms and heavy rain passed through the south Jersey coast overnight, Day Three of the 2009 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 dawned sunny and breezy and 62 boats gave it a go and found favorable conditions offshore. It was an early and exciting start to this evening’s weigh-in session as Captain Ryan Higgins aboard Pat Healy’s Viking 68 based in New Gretna, New Jersey backed to the scales and weighed a white marlin of 77 pounds which was bested by angler Drew McDowell of Palm Beach, Florida and took the lead in the category. Gina Addeo’s Gina Lisa from Staten Island, New York is now in second place with a 75 pounder. Steve Castellini’s Uncle T from Ocean City, New Jersey is third place with a 74-pound white marlin.

Sonny Falcone of Staten Island, New York aboard his Cookie II continues to lead the blue marlin category with his 453 pounder. Second and third place in the category are vacant.

A change occurred in the tuna category today when Jeffrey Scanelli of Bohemia, New York weighed a 67-pound yellowfin tuna and joined Bob Belansen of Cape May, New Jersey on Beast and Peter Cherasia of Rumson, New Jersey on Shark Byte in a tie for second place. Charlie Duerr of Tinton Falls, New Jersey continues to lead the category with a 69-pound yellowfin caught aboard Sea Hag.

Dan Borislow of Palm Beach, Florida continues to lead the dolphin category on his Triple Crown with a 34 pounder. Albert Stork of Forked River, New Jersey on Southern Comfort leads the wahoo division with a 66-pound ‘hoo.

Boats with significant billfish releases today include Viking 68 with two white marlin and a non-point earning sailfish. Jonathon Duffie of Gaithersberg, Maryland aboard Billfisher and Gigi St. John of Frederick, Maryland on Size Matters each released three white marlin. Jim McCarthy of Sinking Springs, Pennsylvania aboard Covert Mission, Charlie Duerr of Tinton Falls, New Jersey aboard Sea Hag, Steve Hotz of Medford, New Jersey on Deal Breaker, Matt Keller of Westminster, Maryland on Marli and Bob Barbaro of Clayton, New Jersey aboard Badger each released two white marlin.