It felt like autumn offshore today and the fish responded to the cooler temps with vigor. The action also spurred a friendly rivalry between North Carolina and Virginia teams. By the time the scales closed Friday, Tar Heel boats were aligned first and second on the leaderboard, led by End Game, a 58 Buddy Cannady based at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center.
“We were fishing north, outside Washington Canyon,” says End Game’s skipper, Barry Daniels. “It was crowded up there with all the Cape May boats. I did mark some bait, but we didn’t see any birds.
“We caught our first fish early. It was a blue marlin pushing 400 pounds and it put up a good fight. We scored a triple-header on whites around mid-day and added another single white at 1:30. We’re going again tomorrow and we need to finish strong. There are quite a few blue marlin around, which makes it interesting with the added points. It’s anybody’s ball game with that factor.” End Game finished Friday with 480 points, good for first place overall.
Widespread, a 51 Crown Marine sportfisher also based at Oregon Inlet, finished with an identical 480 points and second place overall based on time. Widespread tallied a blue marlin, white marlin and three sailfish for its score.
“We were right out front, all by ourselves,” says Widespread Capt. Jay Watson. “I didn’t see anything, but we caught a triple and two singles. Angler Matt Foster scored a personal grand slam with a blue, white and sail.” Widespread will fish out the week on Saturday.
Don’t despair, Cavaliers. Just Right, a locally-based 56 Viking run by Capt. Robbie Brown, kept the state’s fishing rep alive after a solid day Friday. The team released three whites and one blue marlin for a third-place standing of 410 points, easily within striking distance of the lead. Wall Hanger, a 57 Spencer with Capt. Brian Allen at the helm, is right behind with 400 points. Stacy Allen caught two verified blue marlin for the score. Wall Hanger calls Morehead City its home port. Mercenaria, the first-day leader, is currently in fifth place with 350 points. It will also fish on Saturday.
The 46 boats competing Friday racked up 40 white marlin, 13 blues and three sailfish. Only one game fish was weighed, a 10.6-pound dolphin, caught aboard Honky Tonk (57 Ricky Scarborough/Capt. Kyle Fisher) by angler Chris Larson.
Fifty-six boats will motor through Rudee Inlet before dawn Saturday with state bragging rights on the line. Oh, and there’s a little moola at stake, too—$837,000. May the best one win the challenge.