Moorings resident James Luihn and his crew aboard the Donna Mae caught a 569.9-pound blue marlin to take third place and more than $192,000 in prize money in the 61st annual Big Rock Tournament in Morehead City, N.C., held June 7-15.
Luihn, a commercial restaurant builder, said it took him about 4 1/2 hours to reel in the huge billfish after hooking it in 4,000 feet of water northeast of Morehead City. The fish ate a trolled, silver-blue Andy Moyes lure.
Luihn said it was the first time in 14 appearances at the Big Rock that he brought a marlin to the scales.
“It was awesome,” he said.
Luihn’s friend, captain Joe Webb of Anna Maria Island, Florida, skippered the 61-foot custom-built Chadwick sport fishing boat.
The angler said he plans to get the fish’s bill and tail mounted for a trophy. He said all the marlin weighed at the tournament were donated to North Carolina State University marine biologists for study.
The Big Rock is one of the oldest, largest and richest fishing tournaments in the United States with prizes totaling more than $2.8 million. The 2019 contest drew a fleet of 184 boats.