Double B wins 53rd Big Rock
The Double B won the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament without a last-minute scare when no hook-ups took place Saturday during the final six hours of fishing.
Kenny Sexton, Manteo, captain of the Double B, grabbed the lead for good Monday afternoon when he showed up at the Big Rock scales with a 652.8-pound blue marlin reeled in by Travis Stephenson of Angier. Sexton and crew receive $524,375 for the victory. Read more »
Gulf Breeze Changes Billfish Bite
A brisk southwest wind has shifted the spectacular fishing of yesterday to a slow bite. So far of the 32 boats fishing in the last day of the tournament, we have recorded no hook-ups.. Someone did catch a dolphin today so we will have gamefish at the scales!
Tonight's Awards Banquet will begin at 7:00 pm at the Crystal Coast Convention Center.
Top anglers ready for Big Rock finale
Release grabbed the lead in the billfish release division Friday, the only major shake-up to the leaderboard as the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament heads into its final day.
Rom Whitaker, Hatteras, who captains the Release, followed up five white marlin releases Thursday with a blue marlin and a white marlin release Friday to increase his release point total to 1,150. That tops the 1,050 points earned earlier in the week by Jesus Freak, captained by David Walker of Mechanicsville, Va. Walker’s crew released two blue marlins and two white marlins. Read more »
Releases dominate fourth day of 53rd Big Rock
Even though the fourth day of the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament produced more billfish activity than any previous day, nobody was able to catch a blue marlin big enough to bring to the scales.
Anglers on 113-of-135 released seven blue marlins, 31 white marlins and 3 sailfish as the billfish bite increased for a second straight day. But the big blue marlin proved elusive and the division remains unchanged as Big Rock heads into its final two days. Read more »
Sushi rolls onto Big Rock leaderboard
A renewed offshore bite helped Sushi roll into third place Wednesday as the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament reached its midpoint with the best offshore action of the week. Read more »
Wild swings continue on Big Rock's second day
The second day of the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament gave no indication it would be different from the first, but Tuesday proved to be the polar opposite of Monday since there were few changes to the leader board.
Even though wind, temperature and sea state were about the same, the bite wasn’t. Competitors on 121-of-135 boats that headed offshore managed just six blue marlin releases and three white marlin releases during six hours of fishing. Read more »
Double B & Blue Water have great Big Rock opener
MOREHEAD CITY — The 53rd Big Blue Marlin Tournament opened to a full gamut of emotions Monday as competitors experience a full range of highs and lows during the first six hours of fishing.
It was a day unlike any other in Big Rock history. Read more »
BMW Test Drives
BMW will be onsite each day of the tournament showcasing the newest BMW models including the all-new 2012 BMW 6 Series. In addition to the 6 Series, BMW will feature the BMW 5 Series, 7 Series, Z4 and the X5. This is your opportunity to get behind the wheel of The Ultimate Driving Machine® and experience the thrill firsthand. BMW will be located near the weigh station, so be sure to visit the test-drive area and learn more about our exciting vehicles.
BMW is present at the weigh station each day for test drives...come on out and test drive one of these fine vehicles!
Big Rock reaches $1 million for 14th straight year
MOREHEAD CITY — The “waiting game” portion of the 53rd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament ended late Saturday as tournament officials watched registrants push the purse over $1 million for the 14th straight year.
By 8 p.m. Sunday, 135 boats were registered to compete and the Big Rock purse reached $1,464,925. Read more »
Fin Hunter wins 14th KWLA competition
MOREHEAD CITY — Fin Hunter caught and released the first billfish of the 14th annual Keli Wagner Lady Angler (KWLA) tournament and that proved good enough for the win.
The Fin Hunter anglers released a sailfish worth 125 points exactly one hour into the competition. Two other boats – Stream Weaver and Fight-N-Lady – managed to catch and release sailfish as well, but those teams finished second and third, respectively, because tiebreaking criteria rewards the boat that scores the most release points first. Fin Hunter will receive $7,118.75 for the victory. Read more »
