2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Set to Take Place August 18-23 in New Jersey and Maryland
OutdoorHub 07.10.13
With big eye and yellowfin tuna as well as an occasional wahoo and dolphin hitting the docks and the first blue marlin and white marlin of the season also being released, the offshore fishing season is off to a great start along the south Jersey coast! The weatherman has cooperated lately as well providing vessels from Cape May to Ocean City, Maryland an opportunity to pursue these gamefish at the distant canyons. And as summer rolls on tournament season gets underway and whether you’re a seasoned tournament angler or new to competitive sportfishing events we hope your plans this year include the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 which is set to take place August 18-23 in Cape May, New Jersey and Ocean City, Maryland! Boat for boat, the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is the richest marlin and tuna tournament in the world and last year nearly $1.6 million was awarded to the winners including just over $667 thousand to Robert Warder of Parkton, Maryland on his Reelentless for weighing the heaviest white marlin of 79 pounds!
The tournament features an attractive prize structure which spreads the wealth among its winners. In fact last year over a dozen participants took home a piece of the nearly $1.6 million total cash purse including 10 winners who received $15 thousand or more! With a field of 125 boats the tournament purse of $500,000 is guaranteed.
However, it’s the side bets, also known as Calcuttas, which add to the payouts some participants receive and while optional to enter, these Calcuttas can boost the cash awards significantly for the winners. Not for the faint of heart, these side bets include the three traditional Calcuttas with $1000, $1500 and $2500 entry fees and each pays out a percentage to each of the three heaviest white marlin, three heaviest blue marlin and three heaviest tuna. Additionally, the White Marlin Pro Jackpot has a $5000 entry fee and this winner-take-all award is for the single heaviest white marlin while the Sperry On The Board Reward has a $2000 entry fee and pays out each time a participant in this Calcutta has a fish in the white marlin, blue marlin or tuna category on the scoreboard at the official close of each day’s weigh-in.
The My Port Calcutta is new this year and will surely generate a lot of interest and further boost the number of winners receiving cash! With a $3000 entry fee this Calcutta will feature the same payout structure as the traditional Calcuttas for the three heaviest white marlin, blue marlin and tuna weighed in Cape May AND Ocean City during tournament week! It should be noted the minimum weights to win tournament proceeds or Calcutta prize money include 65 pounds for white marlin 400 pounds for blue marlin and 50 pounds for tuna. Though dolphin and wahoo are not eligible for Calcutta prize money, $10,000 in tournament proceeds is awarded for each and there is no minimum weight for either.
In other news vessels participating in the 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 are eligible for three free days of slip rental, any size, including dockside power, at the Golden Nugget (Farley State Marina) in Atlantic City. This package also includes a discount on fuel, a $50 food and beverage credit and a $50 spa credit. Take advantage of this exclusive offer after the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and until December 31st 2013.
Additionally, vessels taking advantage of the Golden Nugget offer between August 25th and 27th can visit the G-Force, a 53’ Hatteras with a Seakeeper gyro stabilizer installed, which will be at the Farley Marina on those dates and available for demo rides. Here’s a unique opportunity for those interested in or curious about Seakeeper’s innovative gyro stabilization technology to experience the equipment’s performance features first hand. Those interested in a sea trial should contact Brook Stevens at bstevens@seakeeper.com or see a Seakeeper representative during the Mid-Atlantic $500,000.
For further information on the 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 please contact Tournament Director Bob Glover at 609-884-2400 or visit the tournament’s official web site at www.ma500.com.
The 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is proudly sponsored by Premier Sponsors Ocean Yachts and South Jersey Yacht Sales and Premier Engine Sponsor Johnson & Towers/MTU. Primary Host Marinas are Canyon Club Resort Marina and Sunset Marina. Exhibiting Sponsors include: Big Game Fishing Journal; Christi, Inc.; Engines, Inc.; Fine Line Studio; Garmin; Gentilini Motors; Interlux; Kindle Auto Plaza; Mack Boring and Parts; Midlantic Gold Rush; Offshore Electronics; Offshore Financial; Penn Reels; Pipe Dreams Marine; Premier Yacht Management; Ransome Caterpillar; Raymarine; Release Marine; Rick Bogert; Salt Life; Seakeeper; Sperry Top-Sider and The Service Center at Canyon Club. Supporting Sponsors include: Alexseal Yacht Coatings; AtlantiCare; Baitmasters of South Florida; CanyonGear Custom Lures; Costa Marine Canvas; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Lucky Bones Backwater Grille; Oceanview Marine Welding; SATCOM Direct; Sturdy Bank; Twin Disc mid-Atlantic and Weather Routing, Inc.
