OCEAN CITY- The Ocean City Marlin Club’s 54th Annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament last weekend was again a big success with a hot marlin bite ongoing off the coast of the resort and thousands of dollars in prize money awarded to the winners in several categories.

While it might lack the glamour and the high payouts of the White Marlin Open, for example, the Marlin Club’s Labor Day White Marlin Tournament trumps all others when it comes to history and prestige. Called the “granddaddy” of resort area fishing tournaments, the annual Labor Day White Marlin Tournament is the oldest among the tournaments held in and around the resort area each summer. The first was held in 1958 and the annual event has endured for five-plus decades and several generations of local anglers.

In the Billfish Release division, the aptly named “Billfisher” took first place with 1,600 total release points. The crew on the “Par Five” was second with 800 points and was awarded $4,265 in prize money. The “Reel Joy” took third in the Billfish Release division with 650 total points and was awarded $1,539. The crew on the “Last Straw” collected 400 points and was awarded $1,026 in prize money.

In the Daily Billfish Division, the “Reel Joy” took first place with 450 points and earned another $1,350 in prize money. The “Par Five” crew earned 500 points in the Daily Billfish Division and also earned $1,350.

In the Tuna Division, it was angler Ron Reid on the “Reel Joy” taking first place with a 54.8-pounder worth $5,750. Sabrina Shannon, fishing on the “Reel Desire” took second with a 54.2-pound tuna and earned $2,233 in prize money. The “Reel Desire” also swept the Dolphin Division. Sabrina Shannon took first place with a 13-pound dolphin worth $2,871. Troy Graham, also on the “Reel Desire” took second with a 11.6-pounder worth $1,114.

The Master Angler Award went to Theo Spengos with 400 points. The “Salty Sons” also had a junior angler, Nathan McGinnis, who self-hooked his own fish. The total Calcutta money awarded during the tournament came to $22,500.