Website Testing
We are currently testing our website for our upcoming tournament. Please ignore the hookups and releases page and the ticker on the home page that says a marlin is coming to the scales today... there are no marlin coming in. Thanks!
Big Rock Programs!
The new 55th Annual Big Rock program has been delivered to your favorite marina, restaurant, hotel and retailer! Please be sure to patronize all Big Rock sponsors while visiting Carteret County and beyond!
Tournament dates are June 7-15, 2013
Big Rock Marlin Fishing Tournament Announces Boy Scout Grant
Pictured: Tom Bennett, Casey Wagner, Ben Moore
According to Crystal Hesmer, Tournament Director with the Big Rock Marlin Tournament, East Carolina Council, BSA with offices in Kinston, NC has been awarded a $75,000 grant to build a land based pirate ship at Camp Sam Hatcher located at Newport, NC. The grant from the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament will be matched by East Carolina Council, BSA with an additional $75,000. Read more »
Flybuoy soars to victory in 54th Big Rock
Talk about a wing and a prayer.
Flybuoy, captained by Robert Hollingsworth of Charleston, S.C., flew through the week atop the 54th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament leader board with a 499.3-pound blue marlin caught Monday by Todd Baxley. Flybuoy (pronounced “fly-boo-wee”) landed in first place to win $494,710. Read more »
Windy shootout looms as 54th Big Rock heads into final day
The 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament turned into a one-day shootout Friday as rough offshore conditions made it difficult to catch billfish on the second-to-last day of the competition.
While 15 boats indicated their intention to head offshore Friday, officials at Big Rock headquarters could only confirm that three boats actually went offshore. No billfish were hooked or released. Conditions at times were brutal as winds gusted up to 35 knots. At times, the sea state was rougher than Thursday when a Nor’easter initialy churned up 7-to-10 foot seas in Big Rock’s fishing grounds. Read more »
Gusty winds begin to impact 54th Big Rock
The second half of the 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament kicked off Thursday with a harsh weather forecast and competitors found it even rougher than expected when they reached the Gulf Stream 60 miles offshore.
Anglers on 72 boats managed just four billfish releases (three white marlins and a blue marlin) as a Nor’easter churned up 7-to-10 foot seas in Big Rock’s fishing grounds. The gusty winds made trolling difficult and simultaneously knocked down a super billfish bite that had been hot since before the competition began. Read more »
No blue marlins boated on 54th Big Rock’s midpoint day
As the first half of the 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament came to a close Wednesday, competitors needed to look ahead and not in the rear view mirror.
Just two of the 120 boats in the field are eligible to fish the remaining three days of the competition. Only 26 boats will be allowed to fish two days. That means the other 92 boats have just one day of fishing remaining. Captains on those 92 boats will have to choose wisely if they hope to catch a blue marlin big enough to win. Read more »
Inspiration flashes into second at 54th Big Rock
Inspiration captain Casey Wagner, Morehead City, and angler Terry Clark, Beaufort, landed a 437.7-pound blue marlin Tuesday to grab second place in the 54th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament during the competition’s second day.
But Wagner is second to none when it comes to special Big Rock moments. Read more »
Flybuoy opens 54th Big Rock with 499.3-pound blue marlin
Flybuoy, captained by Robert Hollingsworth of Charleston, S.C., grabbed the inaugural lead of the 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament with a huge catch that just missed a special prize.
Flybuoy’s blue marlin tipped the scales at 499.3 pounds to jump into first place and position itself to win $444,050. But it just missed the 500 pound requirement to receive the tourney’s instant $246,500 Fabulous Fisherman’s prize. Read more »
Flybuoy opens 54th Big Rock with large blue marlin catch
The 54th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament opened Monday under ideal conditions and this proved to be perfect for the crew of the Flybuoy..
Flybuoy, captained by Todd Baxley of Charleston, S.C., landed the first blue marlin of the tourney after a 92-minute fight. Baxley is now headed toward the Big Rock scales and is estimated to arrive around 5:30 p.m. Read more »
