Top Dog wins 27th Annual Hatteras Village Offshore Open
The 27th annual Hatteras Village Offshore Open wrapped up on Saturday, May 15, and Top Dog came out on top as the overall winner with five released blue marlins and a $17.127.50 payout.
The Hatteras Village Offshore Open has a multiple-day fishing format and offers seven different levels in which anglers can earn cash prizes. Levels include heaviest blue marlin, daily release points, and game fish, (tuna, dolphin, and wahoo), with the overall winner scoring the most release points. The Release won the Biggest Blue Marlin title with a 574.50 lb. catch on Friday, May 14, while the First Look nabbed first place for tuna at 42.70 lbs., and the Sea Striker earned first place for dolphin at 37.9 lbs.
The event was canceled in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but returned in 2021 with live coverage and regular updates of the Hatteras-centered event. The Hatteras Village Offshore Open is the kick-off tournament for the NC Billfish Series, due to Hatteras’ longstanding status as the Blue Marlin Capital of the World.
May is peak blue marlin time in Hatteras, and the catch-per-boat effort for the Hatteras Village Offshore Tournament is higher than any other tournament in the U.S. Since its inaugural year in 1995, there have been six blue marlins over 600 pounds that won the biggest blue marlin category, with an 861 pound giant in 1998. Over the last few years, the biggest blue marlin have ranged in size from 531 pounds to 690 pounds. In 2019, four blue marlins were brought to the dock with the largest at 656 lbs.
The full leaderboard and stats from 2021’s May 11-15 tournament is listed below and can be found online at https://www.hvoo.org/hvoo_updates/hvoo-tournament-leader-board.php.
Grand Slam Sponsors for the event include the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and Blue Marlin Sponsor Atlantic Packaging. Other sponsors include Bonze Lures, Spencer Yachts, Western Branch, Gregory Poole, Bayliss Boatworks, Jarrett Bay Boatworks, Albemarle Boats, Midgett Realty, Bray’s House Moving, Flying Fish and Jernigan Oil.
Proceeds from the tournament support the Hatteras Village Civic Association in their mission to continue providing scholarships to college-bound village residents, as well as supporting charitable causes within the community.
LEADER BOARD – AS OF MAY 15, 2021
