Anglers reel in 500-pound beast on first day of NC tourney. See the $1.7 million fish

A massive fish worth $1.7 million was caught off the North Carolina coast on the first day of the 66th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, event officials announced Monday, June 10.

Angler Kirk Pugh of Wilmington and Capt. Rom Whitaker of Hatteras claimed the $1,729,750 “Fabulous Fisherman” prize for pulling in the “first fish boated over 500 pounds,” officials said. The six-day event is based out of Morehead City, a 150-mile drive southeast from Raleigh.

The marlin edged its way into the whopper status by 4 pounds, weighing in at 504, the tournament said.

“The crowd went wild when they heard ‘504 pounds.’ On the spot, the crew became millionaires,” tournament officials wrote.

“After decades of competing in the tournament, this was the first time Rom has ever brought a blue marlin to the Big Rock scales.”

Pugh, a real estate company owner, said he has been participating in the tournament 22 years. He credited the win to Whitaker and his crew at Release Sportfishing.

It took Pugh an hour and seven minutes to wear down the fish.

“I couldn’t have pulled it in by myself. ... I just sat in the chair and turned the crank,” Pugh said in a video posted by the tournament.

“I think we stared at it longer than it took me to catch it. ... We measured him 11 ways from Sunday and I just about jumped in the water to hold it on a scale to see if he was long enough.”

Blue marlin can reach 14 feet and weigh 2,000 pounds, so it didn’t take long for an even bigger marlin to take the tournament’s biggest marlin.

Angler Clay Nalley and Capt. Ben Brownlee’s boat Game Time brought in a 516-pound marlin later in the day on Monday that could be worth $1.8 million if it remains the biggest of the tournament, officials said.

Fishing continues through Saturday, June 15.

This story was originally published June 11, 2024 at 12:58 PM with the headline "Anglers reel in 500-pound beast on first day of NC tourney. See the $1.7 million fish."