Posted on August 18, 2020 Tuesday’s “real” start to The MidAtlantic Only two boats braved marginable conditions during Monday’s first day of The MidAtlantic , and they didn’t do much. However, it’s a different story today in fine weather and with most of the fleet sailing. Game On, a Delaware 47-foot Buddy Davis released two white marlin before returning to provide the first weigh-ins at Ocean City, Md. with dolphin of 4,5 and 7 pounds. That lead in dolphin won’t last long, but the daily award for that species will make it among the most valuable fish per pound in the contest. That’s always a consolation for boaters taking a shot at a marginable first day. It didn’t work ot at the recent WMO, as they had a 20-pound minimum for dolphin — but there is no minimum in this contest and even a chicken dolphin could have taken the daily money. The Double Barrell, a 92 Viking, brought a white marlin back to Cape May. but at 52 pounds it was well short of the 65 pounds required to get on the leaderboard. The scales don’t close until 9, and I’ll update the results after that. There are three leaders so far that could be around at the end. Shark Byte boated a 791-pound blue marlin, Big Oil posted a 77-pound white marlin, and MJ’S boated a 189-pound bigeye tuna. The Mid-Atlantic set a record with 183 boats fishing, breaking the old mark of 176 in 2006. In addition to the entry fee which also provides nightly food and entertainment, the entrants enter numerous Calcuttas which can range up to about $30.000 to be “all in”. This year’s total of $4,011,920 breaks the record $3.52 million set last year. There was also good news today about fluking at Atlantic Highlands. Both the Sea Hunter and the Fishermen reported the ocean fishing bounced back after a tough Monday. t looks good for tomorrow with only 5-knot northeast winds which switch to south in the afternoon.