Wahoo Rodeo and Flounder Round-Up

OCEAN CITY- The newest addition to the summer fishing tournament schedule in the resort area- the 1^st Annual Wahoo Rodeo and Flounder Round-up- got underway this morning with the first of three official fishing days.

Billed as 'truly a tournament for everyone,' the first-ever Wahoo Rodeo and Flounder Round-up debuts this weekend with an opportunity for offshore anglers and bay fishermen to compete in a fun event with cash and prizes in several categories including, as the name implies, the top three largest wahoo and flounder caught during the event. Other species targeted include tuna and dolphin.

The event got started yesterday with registration and a captain's meeting at host Sunset Marina in West Ocean City. The action in the water got underway this morning with the first of three fishing days. Captains must choose to fish two of the three days, which include Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Offshore, tournament participants will target wahoo, dolphin and tuna with a boundary limit of 100 nautical miles from the sea buoy. Participating boats may leave from the Ocean City or Indian River Inlets, but qualifying fish must be weighed at the host Sunset Marina. In the offshore segment of the tournament, lines can go in at 8 a.m. and must be out at 3:30 p.m.

The inshore segment of the event will target flounder and prizes will be awarded for the top three largest fish. The boundaries for the Flounder Round-up include anywhere in between the Route 90 bridge and the Verazzano Bridge and one nautical mile off the coast of the resort. Lines can go in at 6:30 a.m. and must be out by 3:30 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three largest fish in each division with various added entry levels available to enhance the payouts. The minimum weight for wahoo and tuna is 30 pounds, while the minimum qualifying weight for a dolphin is 20 pounds. The existing size limits for flounder will apply and IGFA rules will apply for all activity offshore. For example, live bait, chunking and wire line are permitted.

In addition, there will be a Top Lady Angler prize for the largest wahoo or flounder caught by a female age 16 or older and a Top Junior Angler prize for the top wahoo or flounder caught by a youth age 15 or younger. In both cases, the angler must accompany the winning fish to the scales.

Sunset Marina will host the event with daily weigh-ins from 4-7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 4-6:30 p.m. on Sunday. A banquet and awards ceremony will be held at the conclusion of the event on Sunday at the Ocean City Marlin Club.