Boat Lands $3.9 Million White Marlin to Cap Wild Week at the White Marlin Open

iSportsman Staff

Rough offshore conditions and a two-day extension turned this year’s White Marlin Open in Ocean City, Maryland, into one of the most unpredictable in its 52-year history. Some days saw hundreds of boats hitting the water; others, only a handful braving the swells, according to the Virginian-Pilot. But when the scales closed Sunday night, one thing was clear—the first white marlin to hit the board, and one of only a couple, held on to win it all.

Billfisher, a boat based in Ocean City, landed a 72-pound white marlin Wednesday that topped the tournament’s most lucrative leaderboard, earning $3.9 million. Angler Dan Gough hooked the fish, which measured 70½ inches—just a half-inch over the qualifying length—and weighed two pounds over the 70-pound minimum.

The only real threat came Saturday when Catch 23, a Jupiter, Florida-based boat owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, brought in a 71-pound white marlin. Angler Trey McMillan of Charleston, South Carolina, fell just one pound shy of tying the leader, but still earned $389,377 for the catch.

In the blue marlin division, the early-week giant from Barbara B—a 929.5-pounder caught Monday, Aug. 4, by Drew Osmeyer of Timonium, Maryland—held strong to claim the category win and ultimately earned $1.29 million. The fish was the fifth-largest ever weighed in tournament history.

The tuna category saw a major shakeup. Virginia Beach’s Mama C, which thrilled the Day 2 crowd with a 95-pound yellowfin and an early lead, was knocked down to third by a 188-pound bigeye from Sea Hab of Cape May, New Jersey, and a 186½-pound bigeye from Ocean City’s Shorebilly. The Sea Hab tuna brought home $764,813 and Shorebilly’s catch earned $344,980. Mama C still walked with $111,500.

Other notable payouts included:

Wahoo: G-Force, a 55-pounder for $28,000.

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi): Barbara B again, with a 32.5-pound fish worth $26,000.

Swordfish: Blue Runner, a 191-pounder for $58,000.

The 2025 White Marlin Open featured 282 registered boats, a $7.2 million purse, and the usual blend of drama, skill, and luck. Since its founding in 1974, the event has awarded over $95 million in prize money, cementing its title as the “World’s Largest Billfish Tournament.”

For more results and full payout breakdowns, visit the official tournament leaderboard.

Fish Worth Millions Caught Off Maryland Coast