Congratulations to WELDOR’S ARK for winning the 2022 NC Billfish Series and Top Private Boat award. The crew aboard the 55′ Jarrett Bay racked up a total of 3300 points across the series of participating tournaments. FIN PLANNER finished in 2nd place with 3000 points, and claimed the Top Charter Boat title.
The Big Rock Tournament is proud to be an NC Billfish Series participating tournament. Also included in the series: Hatteras Village Offshore Open, Swansboro Rotary Blue Water Fishing Tournament, Cape Fear Blue Marlin Tournament, Hatteras Grand Slam, Big Rock Kids Tournament, Ducks Unlimited Billfish Tournament and Pirates Cove Billfish Tournament.
Each year, the eight NC Billfish Series tournaments team up with weigh masters Randy Gregory and George Lott to recognize and award the best tournament boats and anglers in North Carolina. The mission of the NC Billfish Series is to promote North Carolina’s billfish tournaments, sportsmanship, marine conservation and competition in our world renown offshore fishery.
Competing boats are awarded points for billfish released or landed in the NC Billfish Series tournaments with trophies for the overall winner, top private boat, top charter boat, and top outboard boat for the best three out of eight tournaments plus points for participating in each tournament. Trophies will be awarded for the largest blue marlin, yellowfin tuna, dolphin and wahoo. Individual awards will be given for outstanding junior boy, junior girl and lady angler.
The 2022 series finished with an overall release rate of 99% and a total of 205 billfish recorded across the eight participating tournaments. There were 128 blue marlin caught from the 205 billfish, 125 of which were released. Also included in the total billfish release count were 37 white marlin and 40 sailfish.
2020 Big Rock Winner, PELAGIC HUNTER II, was named Top Outboard Boat with 1350 points after taking home 1st Place in the Outboard Division during the 2022 Big Rock Tournament (for the 3rd year in a row!)
Junior Angler Emma Kate Kleinhans’ 38.9 lb. catch during the 2nd Annual Big Rock Kids Tournament earned DEVELOPIN’ HABITS the Largest Dolphin this year! Both APRIL MAE and DESPERADO secured titles in the NC Billfish Series for fish landed during this year’s Big Rock tourney! APRIL MAE clinched the Top Wahoo spot with a 50.2 lb. catch and DESPERADO’s 131.2 pounder won Top Tuna by a landslide!
The 2022 Top Junior Anglers earned their points during Big Rock Kids— Top Boy Jr. Angler goes to Will Hanley off LABRADOR with 1 blue marlin and 2 sailfish releases & Top Girl Jr. Angler goes to Sailor White for her blue marlin release aboard WELDOR’S ARK. Congrats to Top Lady Angler, Sara Hanna Fortier, off FIN PLANNER with 1 blue marlin & 1 sailfish release.
To view the 2022 NC Billfish Series Final Standings, CLICK HERE.