OCEAN CITY- The 4th Annual Branch Kreppel Blue Marlin Tournament, named for a beloved local angler and diver who passed away in 2008, gets underway next weekend with a captain’s meeting and registration on Thursday, followed by three full days of fishing action next Friday through Sunday.

As the name of the event implies, blue marlin are the target species for the tournament, which has become a precursor of sorts for the prestigious White Marlin Open two weeks later. The minimum size requirements for a captured blue marlin in the tournament is 400 pounds and 105 inches in length.

While the action offshore will certainly be the center of attention for the tournament, the activities at the docks should be no less exciting. The weigh-ins at the scale at Sunset Marina will be held each fishing day from 4-9 p.m. There will also be plenty of the associated food, drink, music and favorite stories associated with the tournament’s namesake.

Last year, over $43,000 in prize money was doled out to the winners in several categories. The crew on the “No Quarter” took first place with 120 points, while the crew on the “Reel Joy” was second and the “Wound Up” was third, each with 100 points. The largest tuna caught during the tournament was a 65-pounder hauled in by the crew on the “Billfisher,” while the largest dolphin was a 31-pounder caught by the “No Quarter.”