2009 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 Tourney results

After tabulating all the entries and adding up the calcutta figures, the 2009 Mid-Atlantic $500,000 field was set at 136 boats with a total cash purse of $1,761,602.
For the third consecutive year the final day produced a tournament record in the white marlin category. As predicted the weather began to deteriorate with Hurricane Bill’s far reaching wind as the tournament drew to a close.
On Day Five only 11 boats headed offshore in sporty sea conditions and one would believe topping Thursday’s record-setting weigh-in session would not be possible.
Scott Steele of Catonsville, Md. aboard Toplesss saved his best day for last. Early in the evening’s weigh-in session he pulled up to the scales at Sunset Marina in Ocean City, Md. and sent a shockwave through the tournament as he weighed a new tournament record white marlin of 95 pounds and won the Heaviest White Marlin category and $653,375.
Mark and Amy Granville-Smith of Manassas, Va., aboard Phat Mann and John Raimondo of Newton Square, Pa., aboard Sea Mistress finished in a tie for second with a white marlin of 78 pounds. Sea Mistress received $118,290 in prize money while Phat Mann received $106,415.
An 81-pound white marlin caught aboard the Top Notch and weighed on Day Four is not among the winners. After weighing in the fish, biologists found ice lodged in the gullet that had failed to drop out of the fish when it was hung by the tail. It appeared to be enough ice to influence the weight recorded. It was agreed to pull the fish from consideration.
In the blue marlin category, Sonny Falcone of Staten Island, NY, aboard his Cookie II swept all three places as no other qualifying blue marlin was weighed. Cookie II received $381,665 for their 453-pounder caught on Day One of the tournament.
The tuna category was the most contested of the week and prize money awarded is reflected by the levels of calcutta participation. Charlie Duerr of Tinton Falls, aboard Sea Hag was the big winner with $173,600 for his 69-pound yellowfin while Adam Glushakow’s Predator from Salisbury, Md., who tied with Sea Hag, received $55,000.
A three-way tie for Third Heaviest Tuna with yellowfin of 67 pounds resulted in Bob Belansen of Cape May, aboard Beast and Peter Cherasia of Rumson, on Shark Byte each receiving $66,557 while Jeffrey Scanelli of Bohemia, NY aboard his April Fool won $54,682.
Warren, New Jersey’s Bill Gallo aboard Joanna won the Heaviest Wahoo category with a new tournament record of 97-pounds and received $10,000. Mike Ackley of Mannington, received $10,000 for his Heaviest Dolphin of 37-pounds caught aboard Foray.