The White Marlin Open will be held Aug. 5-9. The 46-year-old deep-sea fishing tournament held annually in Ocean City, Md., awards prize money for catches of white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin and shark.
The first tournament, held in 1974, drew 57 boats, 150 anglers and paid $20,000 in prize money with the top award of $5,000. The 2018 event drew 382 boats, more than 3,000 contestants, and paid out $5.4 million in prize money including the top individual award of $2.5 million. For more on the White Marlin Open's rich history, click here.
Below is a selection of photos featuring the top prize winners of the last five tournaments.
Pascual Jiminez was the big winner of the 2018 White Marlin Open after reeling in an 83 pound white marlin on the final day of the tournament. (Photo: WBOC)
Pascual Jiminez was the big winner of the 2018 White Marlin Open after reeling in an 83 pound white marlin on the final day of the tournament. (Photo: WBOC)
In the 2017 White Marlin Open, Glen Frost and team caught this record breaking fish to win the white marlin category. Weighing in at 95.5 pounds the fish was worth over $1.6 million.
After the winner of the white marlin category in the 2016 White Marlin Open was disqualified, the first-place tuna in the tournament increased from $767,000 to $2.8 million. (Handout photo)
Cheryl McLeskey of the boat Backlash reeled in this first place white marlin, weighing in at 94 pounds to take the top price of $1.18 million in the 2015 White Marlin Open (Photo: WBOC)
John Bayliss took home the top prize of $1.28 for the white marlin he caught in the 2014 White Marlin Open. (Handout photo)