Rough Seas Move Challenge Cup

OCEAN CITY- Heavy seas offshore caused by the remnants of Hurricane Katia last weekend forced the Ocean City Marlin Club to reschedule the 33rd Annual Challenge Cup for this weekend.

The Ocean City Marlin Club is hoping to pull even with its friendly rivals from Cape May this when the two clubs vie this weekend for the Challenge Cup for the 33rd time. The Challenge Cup, which pits teams of boats from the Ocean City Marlin Club against teams from the Cape May Marlin and Tuna Club, officially began in 1979 as a formal competition between the two clubs, which meet in the canyons off the coast every September to battle for the coveted trophy. Last year, the Ocean City Marlin Club wrested the trophy away from Cape May for its third win in four years.

With the win last year, the Ocean City Marlin Club inched closer to pulling even in the series. If the history books are correct, Cape May now leads the series with 14 wins, while Ocean City has won the Challenge Cup 13 times. The tournament got underway today with the first of two official fishing days, Friday and Saturday. It’s strictly a release tournament and both clubs can enter as many boats as they wish as long as they are members of their respective clubs. The release totals of the top six teams from each club will determine the winner and the keeper of the Challenge Cup.