Every August, Ocean City, Maryland transforms into the sportfishing capital of the East Coast. Hundreds of boats, thousands of anglers, and millions of dollars in prize money converge on this barrier island town for a single event: the White Marlin Open (WMO).
Now entering its 53rd year, the White Marlin Open is widely recognized as the world’s largest and richest Billfish tournament. Whether you’re a competitive angler plotting your added-entry strategy or a curious spectator wondering what all the fuss is about, here’s everything you need to know about the White Marlin Open in 2026.
What Is the White Marlin Open?
Anglers come to Ocean City in Maryland every August to chase prize money across six eligible species: White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphin (Mahi Mahi), and Swordfish. The town has leaned into its nickname, “White Marlin Capital of the World,” since the 1930s, and this tournament is a big part of why it stuck.
What sets the WMO apart from other tournaments is its unique added-entry system, often compared to calcuttas. Teams pay a base registration fee, then opt into additional prize levels at increasing buy-ins – a modest entry gets a shot at the guaranteed purse, while stacking every level on offer can put a team in the running for eight figures.
This tiered approach means every team controls its own risk and reward, from first-timers fishing on a modest budget to seasoned crews wagering six figures. It also explains why the payouts get so large: prize money comes from what teams collectively buy into each year, not a fixed prize pool, and the total has climbed well past $121 million since the tournament began chasing the Marlin and other gamefish that ride the Gulf Stream north each summer.
It draws celebrity anglers, such as Michael Jordan (yes, the Michael Jordan), professional crews, and weekend warriors alike – all competing on equal footing once lines go in the water.
History of the White Marlin Open
The idea for the White Marlin Open came to Jim Motsko, an experienced mate, on his honeymoon in 1973. Fishing a local Billfish tournament on Andros Island, he noticed side bets being settled informally between anglers after the scales closed, with no structure or guarantee behind the payouts. He wanted to build something different: a tournament with a fixed entry fee and a purse every angler could count on.
Motsko returned to Ocean City and, with his wife and cousin, organized the first White Marlin Open in 1974. That year, 57 boats entered the competition, and the winner – Vince Sorenson, with a 68.5 lb White Marlin – received a $5,000 check. Motsko even had to take out a bank loan to cover the tournament’s expenses.
From that modest start, the event grew steadily, decade after decade, into the tournament it is today. Stacking several prize categories into a single event turned out to be the key: it’s a big part of why the WMO has outdrawn every other Billfish tournament on the calendar for so long, and why it can now claim to be one of the largest fishing tournaments in the world, regardless of species targeted.
Jim Motsko’s daughter, Madelyne Motsko, now runs the tournament he founded, carrying the family torch into its sixth decade.
When Is the White Marlin Open in 2026?
The 2026 format is new: instead of the usual 3-out-of-5-day window, organizers have stretched the tournament to a full six days, Monday, August 3 through Saturday, August 8, and boats still only need to fish three of them. Unstable offshore weather in recent years has repeatedly forced captains into last-minute changes of plans, so the extra days are meant to give every crew more room to find a good weather window.
Tournament Director Madelyne Motsko explained the reasoning: “Unpredictable weather patterns have made it increasingly difficult for teams to plan their fishing days. By extending the window to six days, we’re giving every crew a better chance to compete under fair and favorable conditions.”
Here’s the 2026 schedule at a glance:
| Event | Date | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | Saturday, August 1 | 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Harbour Island Marina |
| Registration | Saturday, August 1 | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | South Jersey Marina |
| Registration | Sunday, August 2 | 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Harbour Island Marina |
| Fishing days | Monday, August 3 – Saturday, August 8 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Offshore canyons |
| Weigh-ins | Monday–Saturday, August 3–8 | 4:00 p.m. – 9:15 p.m. | Harbour Island |
| Marlin Fest | Monday–Saturday, August 3–8 | 11:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m. | Ocean City Inlet |
| Polygraph Testing | Sunday, August 9 | TBA | TBA |
| Awards Ceremony | Sunday, August 9 | 4:00 p.m. | Ocean City Marlin Club |
Fishing hours are 8:00 a.m. (lines in) to 3:30 p.m. (lines out) each day. Boats must declare their non-fishing day before 8:00 a.m. each day the boat is not fishing.
One important note for Blue Marlin anglers: if a Blue Marlin is still being fought at 3:30 p.m., the crew can continue fighting that fish until it is boated, released, or lost. That’s the only exception to the lines-out deadline.
White Marlin Open Entry Fees and Divisions
The White Marlin Open uses a base-plus-added-entry fee structure. Think of it like a poker tournament with multiple side pots – the more you buy into, the more you can win.
Base entry fee
Registering before June 1, 2026 costs $1,500 per boat. However, if you wait until after that date, the fee jumps to $1,800. Either way, you can bring as many anglers as you want under that single boat entry, and the whole crew is then in the running for a guaranteed $50,000 purse.
Added-entry levels
There are nearly 50 different added-entry levels in total, split across four divisions – Open (all boats), Outboard, Small Boat (40′ and under), and the new Non-Sonar division – with boats able to enter as few or as many as they want. Pricing scales with the payout: cheaper levels split winnings between the top few boats, pricier ones are winner-take-all.
These three examples show just how wide that range is:
| Level | Entry Fee | Category |
|---|---|---|
| A | $500 | White Marlin and Blue Marlin (split between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) |
| BF (Big Fish) | $1,500 | Winner-take-all, heaviest of White Marlin, Blue Marlin, Swordfish, Tuna, Dolphin, or Wahoo |
| AC | $50,000 | Winner-take-all, heaviest White Marlin |
If a team chose to enter every available added-entry level, the total investment could exceed $100,000 per boat. That said, plenty of teams compete on just the base entry – and some have won serious money doing it.
White Marlin Open Prize Money
The White Marlin Open purse varies based on the number of registered boats and the added-entry levels they choose each year. Here’s what recent editions looked like:
| Year | Boats | Total Purse | Top Individual Prize | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 408 | $8.6M | $4.5M (White Marlin, 77.5 lb) | Jeremy Duffie, Billfisher |
| 2023 | 400 | $10.5M | $6.2M (Blue Marlin, 640.5 lb) | John Ols, Floor Reel |
| 2024 | 318 | $8.59M | $3.7M (White Marlin, 77.5 lb) | Ven Poole, Waste Knot |
| 2025 | 282 | $7.2M | $3.9M (White Marlin, 72 lb) | Dan Gough, Billfisher |
How does the payout work? The tournament pays out a percentage of added-entry fees to winners. Money flows to category winners across all the levels they entered. If no fish qualifies in a particular category, that money rolls over to the next eligible category – which is exactly how the 2023 Floor Reel payout ballooned to $6.2 million.
Organizers are expecting the 53rd Annual White Marlin Open to clear $10 million in total payouts.
White Marlin Open Rules and Eligibility
The White Marlin Open is an open-type tournament. You don’t need any special qualifications to enter – just a registered boat and the appropriate licenses (covered in the regulations section below).
Eligible species and minimum requirements
| Species | Minimum Weight | Minimum Length |
|---|---|---|
| White Marlin | 70 lb | 70″ |
| Blue Marlin | No minimum weight | 114″ |
| Swordfish | No minimum weight | 60″ |
| Tuna | 50 lb | – |
| Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) | 20 lb | – |
| Wahoo | 40 lb | – |
Note that the WMO’s minimums for White Marlin and Blue Marlin are stricter than the federal minimums (66″ for White Marlin, 99″ for Blue Marlin). A fish can be legal under federal rules but still not qualify for the tournament.
Key rules
- Teams select three fishing days from the six-day window
- Fishing hours: 8:00 a.m. lines in, 3:30 p.m. lines out
- Blue Marlin time extension: a fish being fought at 3:30 p.m. may be played to conclusion
- Non-offset circle hooks are required by federal law when using natural bait or natural/artificial lure combinations (J-hooks are allowed with artificial lures only)
- Omni-sonar transducers may not be deployed before lines in
- All tackle and methods must comply with IGFA rules
- Catch-and-release point system rewards boats that release Billfish
- Anglers winning significant prize money (roughly $50,000 or more), along with their registered crew, may be required to pass a polygraph test before receiving payment
The tournament also has a strong conservation record. Of the 605 Billfish caught in 2023, 602 were released. The majority of fish brought to the scales during the tournament are donated to local food banks, providing thousands of pounds of fresh fish to the community.
How to Enter the White Marlin Open
Registration is straightforward, and there are two locations to sign up:
- Ocean City: Late registration takes place Saturday, August 1 from 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 2 from 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. at Harbour Island Marina.
- Cape May, NJ: Registration is also held in Cape May on Saturday, August 1 from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at the South Jersey Marina office.
Entry fees may be paid by check, cash, or credit card. If a credit card is used, a 5% surcharge will be added. Online registration is also available through the official WMO website well in advance of tournament week.
Don’t own a boat? You can book a charter.
Many Ocean City charter captains offer tournament-week trips specifically designed for anglers who want to compete. You’ll register your charter boat for the tournament, choose your added-entry levels, and your captain handles the rest – from rigging to strategy. Offshore charter trips out of Ocean City typically run $2,750–$3,500 for a full day targeting Marlin, Tuna, and Mahi Mahi, though tournament-week pricing and availability should be confirmed directly with the captain.
Licensing requirements
- A Maryland fishing license is not required to fish the White Marlin Open itself. Instead, the tournament requires two things: an Atlantic HMS (Highly Migratory Species) permit for the boat (one permit covers the entire vessel), and a National Saltwater Registry registration for each individual angler aboard.
- Anglers with HMS permits must report recreationally landed Bluefin Tuna and non-tournament landings of Billfish and Swordfish electronically, within 24 hours of completing the fishing trip.
- There’s no federal per-day retention limit on individual White Marlin, Blue Marlin, or roundscale spearfish – instead, combined U.S. landings of all three species are capped at 250 fish nationally per year, and the WMO’s own minimum size and format rules govern what can be brought to the scale.
Rules can change – always check with the Maryland DNR and NOAA Fisheries before heading out.
White Marlin Open Notable Winners and Records
The White Marlin Open has produced some staggering payouts over the years. Here are some of the most notable catches in recent memory.
2025 – Billfisher strikes again
The Billfisher team, based out of Ocean City, secured the top White Marlin prize with a 72 lb catch by angler Dan Gough, earning approximately $3.9 million. Michael Jordan’s Catch 23 landed a 71 lb White Marlin and a second-place finish – just one pound shy of the top prize. Jordan’s team took home roughly $389,000, with the fish caught by Trey “Cricket” McMillan of Charleston, South Carolina. The $7.2 million event saw 282 boats battle rough seas, and Barbara B’s 929.5 lb Blue Marlin – caught by Drew Osmeyer – stood as the tournament’s standout fish.
2024 – Waste Knot’s early gamble pays off
Ven Poole, fishing aboard the Waste Knot out of Raleigh, North Carolina, reeled in a 77.5 lb White Marlin worth $3,699,630.67. Waste Knot caught the first White Marlin of the competition on Day 2 and remained in the lead until the end. The total purse reached $8.59 million across 318 boats.
2023 – Floor Reel’s record-shattering Blue Marlin
John Ols from Laytonsville, Maryland, caught a 640.5 lb Blue Marlin aboard Floor Reel. That single fish earned his team $6,235,436 – the largest single-fish payout in fishing tournament history. Four hundred boats competed for a record purse of $10.5 million.
2022 – Billfisher’s first big win
Jeremy Duffie of Bethesda, Maryland, caught a 77.5 lb White Marlin aboard Billfisher, winning $4.4 million – which later climbed to approximately $4.5 million after final tallies. The 2022 event drew 408 boats and awarded over $8.6 million in total prize money.
All-time tournament record
The heaviest White Marlin ever caught in the tournament was a 99 lb fish in 1980 – a weight that hasn’t been matched since.
Marlin Fest and the Spectator Experience
You don’t need to be on a boat to enjoy the White Marlin Open. Marlin Fest runs August 3–8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the beach at the Ocean City Inlet, with live music, food and drinks, vendors, live streaming of the daily weigh-ins, and WMO merchandise for sale.
The festival is expanding right along with the tournament: 2026 is the first year Marlin Fest runs the full six days instead of the traditional five, matching the tournament’s own newly extended fishing window.
The daily weigh-ins at Harbour Island are the main event for spectators. They’re free and open to the public, taking place at 14th Street and the Bay each day of the tournament, typically from 4:00 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. Arrive early for a good viewing spot – it gets crowded fast, especially on the final days.
Watching the boats return through the inlet each afternoon is a spectacle in itself.
White Marlin Open FAQs
If fishing the White Marlin Open is on your bucket list – or you just want to experience the offshore waters that make Ocean City the “White Marlin Capital of the World” – FishingBooker makes it easy to find the right charter. Browse fishing charters in Ocean City or West Ocean City, filter by trip type and group size, and connect directly with experienced captains who know these waters inside and out.
The concept and outline of this article were created by people engaged by FishingBooker. Artificial intelligence tools were used to flesh out and reformat information into a blog article. Before being published, this article was edited and fact-checked by FishingBooker staff.
The post White Marlin Open 2026: Tournament Dates, Fees, Prizes, Rules, and How to Fish and Watch appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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