Monday, June 18 – Ocean City Shark Tourney Sets Record

OCEAN CITY – The 27th Annual Ocean City Shark Tournament wrapped up yesterday with a record 84 boats participating this year with 22 sharks weighed in and 82 released.

The breakdown of the sharks brought to the docks included 13, mako; five, blue; and four, Thresher.

The breakdown of sharks released included 29, mako; 42, blue; two, Thresher; one, spinner; seven, sandbar or dusky; and one, hammerhead.

Taking first place in the Mako Division and top prize in the annual event was a 188-pound mako shark caught by Jeff Phipps of Baltimore aboard the “Hammer.” That fish was worth $25,111. Rounding out the mako division was the “Bitter Salt” and angler Andy Petrusis of Baltimore with a 164-pounder worth $13,381; the “Seaduction” and angler Cory Curcell of Lititz, Pa. with a 161-pounder worth $7,450; and a 154-pounder caught by Terry Shade of Martinsburg, W.Va. aboard the “Reel Addiction” worth $3,780.

In the open division, there was a lot of excitement this year and plenty of noteworthy catches.

Topping the weigh scales was a 435-pound Thresher shark caught by Tim Brinker of Selbyville aboard “Carol’s Teakettle.” The shark was worth $3,608.

The top money winner in the open division, the second-place fish in terms of weight, was a 341-pound Thresher caught by Kevin Hall of Parkton, Md. aboard the “Restless Lady.” That beast was worth $21,058.

Rounding out the top open division finishers was a 335-pound Thresher caught by the “Shark Tooth” by Michael Borns of Forest Hill, Md. worth $7,089; a 199-pound blue shark caught by Scott Shockley of Selbyville aboard the “Total Chaos” worth $,897; a 183-pound blue shark hooked by Bob Martin of Manchester, Md. aboard the “Tree Hugger” worth $5,670; and a 161-pound Thresher caught aboard the “Evidently” by Bob Phillips of Severna Park worth $3,780.

The winner of this year’s Sharker of the Year was Captain Chester Sadowski of Stevensville, Md., who earned 322 points aboard the “Jezebel.” The award was presented based on combined mako points earned while fishing in the Mako Mania Tournament and Shark Tournament.

For complete results and story, check out The Dispatch on Friday.