With less than a week to go before the 2020 MidAtlantic tournament kicks off, crews at both host venues are putting the final touches on their marinas in preparation for what is sure to be an event you don’t want to miss! Canyon Club Resort Marina in Cape May, New Jersey and Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Maryland are both set to roll out the red carpet and warmly welcome the finest boats and crews in offshore sportfishing for the 29th edition of sportfishing’s “Main Event” on the summer tournament calendar. The offshore action can’t get much better along the mid-Atlantic coast than it currently is based on the fishing reports that continue to filter in every day. Warm core eddies have carried beautiful water across the area and massive schools of bait have followed bringing white marlin, blue marlin and tuna as well. Pockets of weed have provided feeding opportunities and cover for dolphin and wahoo and recent catches of both species have also been impressive as a number of both species weighing well over 40 pounds have been decked.

The tournament gets underway on Sunday, August 16 with final registration and calcutta entries accepted at both marinas from 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Fishing days are set for Monday, August 17 through Friday, August 21 and crews will select three days to fish offshore of the five available. Basic tournament entry fee is $3000 and prize money is drawn from a series of calcuttas, or side bets, with fees ranging from $1000 to $6000. Participants may enter to any level they feel comfortable keeping in mind the bigger the risk, the larger the payout potential. The anticipated total prize purse is expected to top $3 million and cash prizes are awarded in a variety of payouts for white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, dolphin and wahoo.

As they say ya gotta’ be in it to win it and being in the calcuttas at the MidAtlantic often can result in a lottery-like cash award. No other tournament offers the chance to win big in so many ways as the MidAtlantic. In recent years the tournament has repeatedly paid out six figure checks to numerous winners in different categories and often well over 30 different winners receive payouts! Who doesn’t want a piece of that action! Although white marlin winners often walk off with the biggest checks though catching a big blue marlin can provide a big payday too at the MidAtlantic!

If you’re a tuna fanatic then the MidAtlantic is the event for you. Last year Curtis Macomber of Berlin, Maryland aboard his Stalker decked big eyes of 226 and 207 pounds and won $802,275 for the heaviest and second heaviest tuna! Additionally, Tommy Hancock of Isle of Palms, South Carolina aboard his Dem Boys nabbed $147,353 for his 96-pound tuna which finished in third place! That’s some serious cash were talking about here!

In many tournaments dolphin and wahoo are by-catch and receive a nominal cash payout. Not at the MidAtlantic! Last year Laytonsville, Maryland’s Todd Dickerson aboard his Top Dog and Baltimore, Maryland’s Curtis Campbell on Reel Estate finished tied for the heaviest dolphin at 33 pounds. Top Dog won $68,361 and Reel Estate won $34,474. Anthony Martina of Middletown, Delaware on his Sea Wolf had the third heaviest dolphin at 29 pounds and won $12,586. Wahoo winners also won some serious cash including Tucker Colquhoun of Ocean City, Maryland aboard Special Situation finished in second place and received $57,481 for his 29-pounder while Andy Schlotter of Hilltown, Pennsylvania aboard his My Time received $23,735 for a 28-pound wahoo which finished in third place!

If you’re sitting on the fence, come join the fun! Summer may be winding down but the offshore fishing season is in full swing and the MidAtlantic is a fine opportunity to test your skills and quite possibly win a bundle of cash! The MidAtlantic is a family-friendly event where kids from eight to 80 can have a blast! Cape May and Ocean City are beautiful venues with plenty to do shore side for the entire family. Beautiful beaches, many exceptional outdoor dining spots, boardwalks, historic sights and many other attractions await you! What better way to cap your summer in this crazy world we’re living in today!

If you haven’t signed up you should make plans NOW to reserve your spot. The tournament will follow all the necessary health and safety precautions required to keep all staff, participants and guests safe and healthy. Please note that port caps are set at 95 boats for each port so registering online in advance is strongly suggested. This step will also help limit the lines for last minute registration on Sunday, August 16. Go to the tournament web site at www.themidatlantic.com and sign up.

For further information contact Tournament Director Aaron Hoffman at 609-884-0177. Be sure to visit the tournament’s official web site at www.themidatlantic.com where you’ll find all the facts, figures and information about this year’s event including a complete rundown of calcutta payouts, rules, points, photos and an event schedule. There’s also a link to purchase official tournament merchandise. You can also get the latest information by following the tournament on Facebook at The MidAtlantic Tournament; on Twitter; @midatl and on Instagram; @themidatlantictournament.