Marlin Fever lived up to its name at the 68th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, hauling a staggering 919.9-pound blue marlin to the scales on Tuesday and rewriting the tournament record book in the process. The catch is the largest ever certified at Big Rock, vaulting the crew to the top of the leaderboard and putting them in line for a potential multi-million dollar payday if the weight holds through the final day. Crew and tournament staff said the battle on the rod lasted about two hours before the boat steamed back to Big Rock Landing for the high-stakes weigh-in.
“I don’t want that one,” crew member Justin Petrilli said after seeing the marlin launch out of the water, according to FOX5, which republished reporting from WCTI. Teen angler Connor Daniel, who was on the rod for the entire fight, told the outlet the whole thing felt like a blur as he and the crew worked to bring the fish to the boat and back to port.
How the catch unfolded
Capt. Cameron Guthrie was at the helm when Marlin Fever hooked up mid-morning and Daniel settled in on the rod for what turned into a marathon fight, according to Carolina Sportsman. Tournament officials later put the weight at 919.9 pounds, edging past the previous Big Rock record of 914 pounds set in 2019. Word of a possible record-breaker spread quickly, and by the time Marlin Fever backed into Big Rock Landing, a packed crowd had gathered to watch the historic lift to the scales.
Money on the line
The monster marlin immediately locked up the event’s first big-blue bonus for a fish over 500 pounds and triggered hefty jackpots. Reporting put the Fabulous Fisherman portion alone at roughly $871,250, and live coverage estimated that optional side pots could pump the total potential payout into the multi-million dollar range if the fish finishes on top, per WITN. Official leaderboards and payout breakdowns on the tournament’s live platform detail each division, optional jackpot and disclaimer; the tournament’s current tallies and distributions are posted on the payouts page via ReelTime. That mix of guaranteed bonuses and side pools is what can turn a single blue marlin into a seven-figure score for one crew.
Big Rock in context
The 68th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament sprawls across the Morehead City waterfront with daily fishing windows offshore and public weigh-ins at Big Rock Landing. The 2026 event runs June 6–14, according to tournament organizers. The weeklong competition draws hundreds of boats and features multiple prize divisions and optional jackpots that routinely push single-boat payouts into the seven-figure range. For those plotting their dockside viewing or time on the water, the tournament posts full rules and schedules on its official site (Big Rock schedule).
After a day that could change his life, Daniel still had one very specific prize in mind. “My dad said he’d get us a hot tub if we win,” he joked in an interview republished by FOX5. Fishing continues through the weekend, with the scales closing for final weigh-ins ahead of Sunday’s awards.
