Team Phenom in the 2023 White Marlin Open

As we rounded the Ocean City inlet on our first day of fishing it finally dawned on me. We were fishing the White Marlin Open, the largest billfishing tournament in the world. Helicopters overhead and thousands of spectators on the beach still didn’t prepare me for what was next. You see we had a fish to weigh in at the scales. It was an awesome first day on the water for the Phenom 37. The first ever tournament entry for Phenom Yachts. Angler Richie Rodgers had hooked and reeled in a Yellowfin Tuna that was worthy of a trip to the weigh in station. There are anglers who have fished this tournament for years without ever making it to the scales. Captain Jim Isaac did his best to prepare us as we went under the route 50 bridge for the weigh in but even his experience couldn’t justify what was to come. As we rounded the final corner into Harbor Island Marina it started to sink in. Thousands of spectators lined the shores and hung over their balcony rails cheering us on. This was a spectacle and we were right in the middle of it. As we neared the dock the sheer magnitude of the event started to take shape. While we tied up, the tournament director made his way to our boat and informed us we were the first boat to bring a fish to the scales in the 50th anniversary of the White Marline Open!

Honestly, we couldn’t have written a better script if we tried. As we filled out the catch report and prepared to bring our tuna out of the fish box it started to sink in. As I looked around I couldn’t help but think of how far this brand has come in such a short period of time. Introduced less than a year ago at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show we were now a legitimate brand with real offshore capabilities. Things that those of us working for the company already knew but now so did the public. We had gone out with over 400 of the best boats in the world and held our own and then some.

All of a sudden, I was snapped out of my brief reflection by the announcer’s microphone. The fish was hoisted off the boat and attached to the scale. We had a 52-pound yellowfin tuna and were officially the tournament leader. Another benefit of being first to the scales but one that was short lived as the night went on. It didn’t matter to Team Phenom though as we were on top of the world and had a memory that will be hard to surpass. We headed out to dinner that night with a spring in our step as we reflected on the day and prepared for day 2. The tournament fishing bug had been stoked and we were ready to try and do it all over again during our final 2 fishing days of the tournament.