White Marlin Open 2023: Tuna rule the night as wait for first billfish continues

It's Day three of the 2023 White Marlin Open, and Wednesday could be a big one for the anglers competing in the world's largest billfishing tournament.

You can follow along here for updates throughout Day 3 of the White Marlin Open, as Delmarva Now reports live from the scales at the Harbour Island Marina from the time they open at 4 p.m. until they close at 9:15.

Day two was a quieter one overall at the scales after Monday's constant action, as only 22 boats decided to fish on Tuesday. But a new leader in the Wahoo category did emerge, and a few more qualifying tuna catches were brought to the scales as well. The billfish categories and the swordfish category still remain vacant, as the tournament awaits the first qualifying fish to come to the scales.

The wait for billfish continues as more tuna roll into the scales

With a little under an hour left until the scales close for Day 3, there have still yet to be any billfish brought to the scales. Much of the action throughout the first half of the weeklong tournament has centered around the tuna category, with multiple bigeye tuna exciting the crowd at Harbour Island Marina and the anglers who catch them.

The wait for the first billfish is reminiscent of the 2022 White Marlin Open, when the first billfish were not caught until Day 4. With just two days left in the tournament, and most of the boats expected to fish on the final day,

What this tournament has had, especially on Day 1 and Day 3, is plenty of tuna, as qualifying yellowfin and bigeye come to the scales consistently once they open. The occasional wahoo and dolphin have also been highlights throughout the first three days. And the tournament is still waiting for its first swordfish, after there were none caught in last year's tournament.

More bigeye tuna, new dolphin leaders as Day 3 moves along

There is a new leader in the dolphin category, as Monday's 21-pounder has been surpassed as Day 3 continues. Will McAteer and the Maverick reeled in a 31-pound mahi, making them the new boat to beat in the dolphin competition.

Shortly after the Maverick left, the Under Taker brought in a new second place Mahi, weighing 26-pounds and caught by CJ Walus.

Earlier in the hour, two more bigeye tuna came in and rearranged the current leaderboard in the tuna division. Dante Soriente and the MJ's reeled in a 178-pounder that moved them into third place at the time. But they would be surpassed not long after by Jack Roesner and the Full Service, who took a 203.5-pound bigeye to the scales. Roesner now is in second place behind Chris Mentlik's bigeye catch earlier in Day 3, and Soriente currently sits in fourth.

More qualifying yellowfin continue to come into the scales as well, filling out the tuna standings in the tournament.

Major shakeup in the Tuna leaderboard as first boats arrive

The boats have finally started to arrive in Harbour Island Marina, and along with their arrival came a big shakeup in the tuna category.

The Fish Lick, with angler Chris Mentlik, brought in a massive 247.5-pound bigeye tuna that immediately vaulted to the top spot on the tuna leaderboard for the week. It'll be hard for another boat to top that tuna catch, both today and in the next two days of the tournament.

The Fish Lick also brought in four more yellowfin tuna, with three of them qualifying.

Right after the Fish Lick was the Reel Oppor-tuna-ty boat, which moved into third place in the tuna category. Angler Eddie Quick reeled in a rare Allison yellowfin tuna that weighed 162.5 pounds.

A few more boats also brought in some smaller qualifying tuna, as tuna remains the fish of the tournament as Day 3 moves along.

Boats expected to arrive soon after one hour at the scales

The scales opened at 4 p.m., and after an hour, the wait is still on to see when any qualifying fish will make their way to the marina. According to the tournament, they have received plenty of radio calls indicating that boats are on their way with fish, and it is just a matter of when they arrive.

With 383 boats out fishing today, fans and tournament organizers are expecting another busy day, more reminiscent of Monday's constant action instead of Tuesday's slower day.

How many boats went fishing today?

After only 22 boats decided to fish on Tuesday, 383 of the 400 boats competing in the tournament have set out to fish today. Another exciting day could be ahead at the scales at Harbour Island Marina, as the tournament is still looking for its first qualifying billfish to be brought to the scales.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD: White Marlin Open day 2 leaderboard: Tuna, wahoo categories get new leaders

DAY 2 ACTION: White Marlin Open 2023: First catch of day 2 a tuna currently worth $70,000

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Live updates from White Marlin Open: Tuna is king, but no billfish