THEBIGROCK · 101w
THEBIGROCK GAME TIME Wins the 66th Annual Big Rock Tournament; Three Teams Each Take Home Over $1.8 Million in Historic Payouts The 66th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, presented by Jarrett Bay Boatworks, featured a record-breaking fleet of 302 boats competing for a staggering total purse of $7,562,700. For the first time in sportfishing tournament history, the top three teams each won over $1.8 million! GAME TIME was crowned the winner of the Big Rock Tournament with their 516lb blue marlin, which dominated the leaderboard all week. They claimed the Levels I, II, III, and IV prizes, totaling $1,816,375. RELEASE earned the title of Fabulous Fishermen by securing the Level V win on Day 1 for boating the first 500lb blue marlin of the tournament. Their 504lb catch not only placed them second overall but also brought in a top payout of $2,215,325 (Level I-IV: $485,575 + Level V: $1,729,750). The 64′ Jarrett Bay, BUILDER’S CHOICE, demonstrated that it pays to play. Their 431.8lb blue marlin earned them $1,479,000 in the Level VI: Prime Storage Super 20 Division (a $20,000 calcutta), plus an additional $323,050 for their third-place finish in Levels I, II, III, and IV, totaling $1,802,050. AVA D’s 46.2lb mahi set a new benchmark in the Level VII: Dolphin Winner Take All Division, sponsored by Parker Boats. The crew earned $603,500 for their catch, which is a record payout for a dolphin in any tournament globally! SANDBOB prevailed in the Level VIII Release Division, earning $150,875 plus a daily prize of $50,291.67, for a grand total of $201,167. The team accumulated 2250 points by releasing five blue marlin and two white marlin within four days of fishing. HONKY TONK won the Level IX Non-Sonar Release Division for releasing three blue marlin, earning a total of $114,750 – $86,062.50 for the weekly prize and $28,687.50 for a daily prize. TOP SHOT secured the top spot in the Level X & XI Outboard Divisions with four blue marlin releases, earning $50,575. 268 billfish were released during the tournament – 196 blue marlin, 35 white marlin and 37 sailfish. Teams had multiple opportunities to win part of the $7.5 million purse through daily release cash prizes, overall release point winners, along with daily and weekly prizes for the heaviest dolphin, tuna, and wahoo.
