The 4th of July in the United States of America commemorates the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. Today the USA has become what is considered the most powerful country in world. The 4th of the July is also the date on which perhaps the world’s largest fishing tournament is held (as defined by the size of allowable waters to fish).
The World Cup Blue Marlin Championship is held each year on July 4th. The tournament allows teams to fish anywhere in the world for 8 hours in their time zones. The World Cup is for 1 day only, for 1 species only, and with 1 winner only. There is no second place in the World Cup. This is a chance for American anglers to compete against other anglers throughout the world. Winning fish have come from waters off the coasts of Africa, the Azores, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Central America, Hawaii and in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the outer banks of North Carolina. Past winner hometowns include those located in Australia, England, Portugal, Belgium, Santo Domingo, Bermuda and Cape Verde. The majority of the recorded winners since 1985 have been Americans. It’s probably too late to register and compete in this years World Cup Blue Marlin Championship but, put it on your bucket list for a future year.
July is the month when quite a few other renowned big-game fishing events are held. They include The South Jersey Yacht Sales Offshore Showdown, Pensacola International Billfish Tournament, Ocean City Tuna Tournament, Montauk Canyon Challenge, Hatteras Blue Marlin Release Tournament, Skins Marlin Derby, The Billfish Pachanga, Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo and Jimmy Johnson’s Atlantic City “Quest for the Ring” Championship. These are held on the waters off the coasts of NJ, FL, MD, NY, NC, HI, SC, AL and TX. The Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo bills itself as the world’s largest fishing tournament that attracts over 3,000 anglers and 75,000 spectators.
Any discussion about big-game fish deep-sea fishing tournaments wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the White Marlin Open. It is typically held in early August and is known as the “World’s Largest and Richest Billfishing Tournament”. The 2021 event drew 444 boats, over 3,500 contestants, and paid out over $9.2 million dollars in prize money. Find out more at https://whitemarlinopen.com/.