06-19-2013, 11:10 AM
It's been nearly nine months since Superstorm Sandy made landfall on New Jersey and while the entire coastline was impacted by the storm, much of south Jersey, including Cape May, received only minor damage compared to coastal communities to the north. The crews at South Jersey Marina and Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May have been hard at work during the off season between repairs, upgrades and projects at both facilities in preparation for the upcoming season. Among them was the completion of dredging of Canyon Club Resort Marina to an eight-foot-plus depth at mean low water.
Additionally, preparations for the tournament season are well underway, including the 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000. Now in its 22nd year, this year's event is set for August 18-23 and will once again attract the best in the business of big game fishing from near and far. As it has and always will be Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey will serve as the host facility and tournament headquarters for boats fishing out of Cape May. Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland has again be enlisted to serve as tournament headquarters for those who desire to fish from that port. Once again full weigh-in of all species will be available at both marinas with live video feed from each available so participants can keep up with the action as it unfolds each evening.
Tournament week kicks off with the Registration, Captain's Meeting and Cocktail Party at both marinas on Sunday, August 18. Participants will select three of the following five days to fish the canyons offshore and regardless of sailing port, all participants must fish within 125 miles of the Cape May Sea Buoy. Billfish cash awards include $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 for the heaviest, 2nd heaviest and 3rd heaviest white marlin and blue marlin respectively. The heaviest, 2nd heaviest and 3rd heaviest tuna are each worth $75,000, $35,000 and $20,000. Other cash awards include $10,000 each for the heaviest dolphin and wahoo. Minimum weights for billfish to qualify for cash include 65 pounds for white marlin and 400 pounds for blue marlin. Tuna, including big eye, yellowfin and true albacore, must weigh at least 50 pounds to win cash. There is no minimum weight for dolphin or wahoo. All billfish released will earn points towards valuable awards and the top three winners of each billfish category will be recognized. Tuna weighed will also earn points for these same awards and an award will be presented for most points overall.
A cash purse of $500,000 is guaranteed based on a field of 125 boats though calcutta proceeds will likely push to total purse well over $1.5 million! As in the past several
calcuttas will again be available including the new My Port Calcutta which, simply put, is just that! This calcutta awards cash to the three heaviest white marlin, three heaviest blue marlin and three heaviest tuna caught out of each port during the tournament with the prize breakdown identical to that of the $1000, $1500 and $2500 calcuttas.
Dockside hospitality is one of the trademarks of the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and tournament participants will again be treated to nightly dining and beverages. Several special events are planned for this year including an Original Oldies Dance Party on Thursday night in Cape May produced by Brik Productions and WIBG (WIBBAGE) radio station, the one time king of rock and roll in Philadelphia that set the standard for rock stations nationwide in the 50's and 60's. Time to break out the poodle skirt,
dle shoes, leather jacket and fuzzy dice and dance the night away!
We hope you'll plan to join us for what's sure to be another memorable Mid-Atlantic $500,000. From the offshore fishing, which has been off the charts the past several years, to the dockside hospitality, it's no wonder this tournament is known as the "Main Event" on the calendar in August by tournament anglers. Don't delay! For further information please contact Tournament Director Bob Glover at 609-884-2400 or visit the tournament's official web site at www.ma500.com.
The 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is proudly sponsored by Premier Sponsors Ocean Yachts and South Jersey Yacht Sales and Premier Engine Sponsor Johnson & Towers/MTU. Primary Host Marinas are Canyon Club Resort Marina and Sunset Marina. Exhibiting Sponsors include: Big Game Fishing Journal; Christi, Inc.; Engines, Inc.; Fine Line Studio; Garmin; Gentilini Motors; Guy Harvey; Interlux; Kindle Auto Plaza; Mack Boring and Parts; Midlantic Gold Rush; Offshore Electronics; Offshore Financial; Penn Reels; Pipe Dreams Marine; Premier Yacht Management; Ransome Caterpillar; Raymarine; Release Marine; Rick Bogert; Salt Life; Seakeeper; Sperry Top- Sider and The Service Center at Canyon Club.
Supporting Sponsors include: Alexseal Yacht Coatings; AtlantiCare; Baitmasters of South Florida; CanyonGear Custom Lures; Costa Marine Canvas; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fortuna Rum; Lucky Bones Backwater Grille; Oceanview Marine Welding; SATCOM Direct; Sturdy Bank; Twin Disc mid-Atlantic and Weather Routing, Inc.
Additionally, preparations for the tournament season are well underway, including the 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000. Now in its 22nd year, this year's event is set for August 18-23 and will once again attract the best in the business of big game fishing from near and far. As it has and always will be Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey will serve as the host facility and tournament headquarters for boats fishing out of Cape May. Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland has again be enlisted to serve as tournament headquarters for those who desire to fish from that port. Once again full weigh-in of all species will be available at both marinas with live video feed from each available so participants can keep up with the action as it unfolds each evening.
Tournament week kicks off with the Registration, Captain's Meeting and Cocktail Party at both marinas on Sunday, August 18. Participants will select three of the following five days to fish the canyons offshore and regardless of sailing port, all participants must fish within 125 miles of the Cape May Sea Buoy. Billfish cash awards include $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 for the heaviest, 2nd heaviest and 3rd heaviest white marlin and blue marlin respectively. The heaviest, 2nd heaviest and 3rd heaviest tuna are each worth $75,000, $35,000 and $20,000. Other cash awards include $10,000 each for the heaviest dolphin and wahoo. Minimum weights for billfish to qualify for cash include 65 pounds for white marlin and 400 pounds for blue marlin. Tuna, including big eye, yellowfin and true albacore, must weigh at least 50 pounds to win cash. There is no minimum weight for dolphin or wahoo. All billfish released will earn points towards valuable awards and the top three winners of each billfish category will be recognized. Tuna weighed will also earn points for these same awards and an award will be presented for most points overall.
A cash purse of $500,000 is guaranteed based on a field of 125 boats though calcutta proceeds will likely push to total purse well over $1.5 million! As in the past several
calcuttas will again be available including the new My Port Calcutta which, simply put, is just that! This calcutta awards cash to the three heaviest white marlin, three heaviest blue marlin and three heaviest tuna caught out of each port during the tournament with the prize breakdown identical to that of the $1000, $1500 and $2500 calcuttas.
Dockside hospitality is one of the trademarks of the Mid-Atlantic $500,000 and tournament participants will again be treated to nightly dining and beverages. Several special events are planned for this year including an Original Oldies Dance Party on Thursday night in Cape May produced by Brik Productions and WIBG (WIBBAGE) radio station, the one time king of rock and roll in Philadelphia that set the standard for rock stations nationwide in the 50's and 60's. Time to break out the poodle skirt,
dle shoes, leather jacket and fuzzy dice and dance the night away!We hope you'll plan to join us for what's sure to be another memorable Mid-Atlantic $500,000. From the offshore fishing, which has been off the charts the past several years, to the dockside hospitality, it's no wonder this tournament is known as the "Main Event" on the calendar in August by tournament anglers. Don't delay! For further information please contact Tournament Director Bob Glover at 609-884-2400 or visit the tournament's official web site at www.ma500.com.
The 2013 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 is proudly sponsored by Premier Sponsors Ocean Yachts and South Jersey Yacht Sales and Premier Engine Sponsor Johnson & Towers/MTU. Primary Host Marinas are Canyon Club Resort Marina and Sunset Marina. Exhibiting Sponsors include: Big Game Fishing Journal; Christi, Inc.; Engines, Inc.; Fine Line Studio; Garmin; Gentilini Motors; Guy Harvey; Interlux; Kindle Auto Plaza; Mack Boring and Parts; Midlantic Gold Rush; Offshore Electronics; Offshore Financial; Penn Reels; Pipe Dreams Marine; Premier Yacht Management; Ransome Caterpillar; Raymarine; Release Marine; Rick Bogert; Salt Life; Seakeeper; Sperry Top- Sider and The Service Center at Canyon Club.
Supporting Sponsors include: Alexseal Yacht Coatings; AtlantiCare; Baitmasters of South Florida; CanyonGear Custom Lures; Costa Marine Canvas; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Fortuna Rum; Lucky Bones Backwater Grille; Oceanview Marine Welding; SATCOM Direct; Sturdy Bank; Twin Disc mid-Atlantic and Weather Routing, Inc.