One hour after scales opened at Harbour Island Marina in Ocean City on Day 5, a Maryland angler brought in a new white marlin and claimed the billfish tournament’s top prize.
And it was a world record payout for Jeremy Duffie of Bethesda, Md., who reeled in a 77.5-pound white marlin, fishing off Ocean City boat Billfisher, on Friday to claim $4.4 million.
Swordfish, a new category of fish introduced for the first time to the tournament to replace sharks, remained elusive.
There were no other changes to the leaderboard on the final day:
White marlin
77.5 lbs: Billfisher, Ocean City; Jeremy Duffie, Bethesda, Md.; $4,400,000
71.5 lbs: C- Student, Southside, Texas; Keeley Megarity , Houston, Texas; $120,000
Blue marlin
511 lbs: Cabana, Fenwick Island, Del.; Bill Britt, Silver Spring, Md.; $960,000
Tuna
247.5 lbs: Southern C’s, Ocean City; Jason Hersh, Maple Glen, Pa.; $940,000
246.5 lbs: Big Stick, Ocean City; Anderson Bowen, Suwanee, Ga.; $100,000
242.5 lbs: Komotose. Manteo, N.C.; Richard Hawse, Pasadena, Md.; $320,000
Wahoo
71 lbs: Jenny Poo, Palm Beach, Fla.; Chris Thompson, Mt. Airy, Md.; $20,000
54 lbs: WaterMarlin, Seaford, Del.; Hans Mulford, Seaford, Del.; $20,000
51.5 lbs; Irish Twin; Patrick Brown; Miami, Fla.; $18,000
Dolphin
59.5 lbs: Irene, Stuart, Fla.; Frank Sinito Jr., Cleveland, Ohio; $24,000
29 lbs; 10-4 Joker, Chincoteague, Va.; Vernon Merritt Jr., Chincoteague, Va.; $91,000
28 lbs.: JEB, Ocean City; Vince Piaccinini, Lutherville, Md.; $20,000
Swordfish
No leader
More from White Marlin Open 2022
RECORD PAYOUT:List of first place finishers has world record payout for big winner
PHOTOS:A new big money leader and more on day 5
VIDEO:Keeley Megarity talks about catching 2022 White Marlin Open’s first White Marlin
