On Sunday, March 29, the directors of the Ocean City Shark Tournament announced that the 2014 event would be the last, after more than three decades on the water.
When the tournament first came into being in 1981, only 11 boats participated, but over the years it would continue to grow in popularity, with more than 80 boats participating in the early 2000s.
The event soon became a cherished staple in Ocean City with hundreds of people flocking to OC each year to try their hand at catching the biggest fish.
But from its inception, the tournament’s founders wanted to stress conservation. The event always included a strong educational component amidst the competitive spirit, with far more sharks caught and released over the years than brought to the scale.
Each summer for the past 34 years, the Ocean City Fishing center would buzz for four days with music, food, and crowds of thrilled anglers and spectators alike as the incredible catches were brought in and weighed.
But this event was far more than just competition. It brought anglers from all over together for one fun-filled weekend and many participants lament that they will miss the camaraderie of it all the most.
Captain Willie Zimmerman, the 2010 tournament's Sharker of the Year, said the tournament was something he always looked forward to and that he'll miss the competition. More messages continue to ring in on the group’s Facebook page, comments such as “It was a great run, you all should be very proud” and “Where’s the dislike button?!”
The decision to end the event was in no way taken lightly but was brought on by several contributing factors. In recent years, rough weather and heavy seas had taken a toll on participation and attendance, with only 14 teams participating in 2013 and 18 teams last year.
But apart from the weather, the popularity and ease of shark fishing has begun to diminish with the rise in popularity of tuna and billfish. Recently, these fish had begun to migrate to Ocean City waters earlier and earlier in the year. In response to this, event organizers aimed to move the event up to make it more conducive to shark fishing, but unfortunately attendance did not increase.
The statement released Sunday on Facebook by directors Mark and Charlotte Sampson, Wayne and Kathy Shelton, and Doug and Vicki Cymek reads:
“After careful consideration, the directors of the Ocean City Shark Tournament have decided to retire and announce the 2014 tournament will be our last. Over the past 34 years, we have worked to develop an event that would be fun, exciting, and educational for both competitors and spectators. The goal was to provide an environment where shark anglers could compete for substantial prize money with responsible fishing practices.
We greatly appreciate the wonderful support we have received from anglers, spectators, sponsors, and the press over the years. We have been happy to get to know and work with so many great people and businesses along the way. All have helped to shape the Ocean City Shark Tournament into what it was and kept it going for so long. We’ve had many fun times under our tournament tent and on the docks during the weigh-ins and we know that we will miss those relationships in the future. Thank you and farewell!” ~KJ
Thursday, April 2, 2015 - 09:00
On Sunday, March 29, the directors of the Ocean City Shark Tournament announced that the 2014 event would be the last, after more than three decades on the water.
When the tournament first came into being in 1981, only 11 boats participated, but over the years it would continue to grow in popularity, with more than 80 boats participating in the early 2000s.
The event soon became a cherished staple in Ocean City with hundreds of people flocking to OC each year to try their hand at catching the biggest fish.
But from its inception, the tournament’s founders wanted to stress conservation. The event always included a strong educational component amidst the competitive spirit, with far more sharks caught and released over the years than brought to the scale.
Each summer for the past 34 years, the Ocean City Fishing center would buzz for four days with music, food, and crowds of thrilled anglers and spectators alike as the incredible catches were brought in and weighed.
But this event was far more than just competition. It brought anglers from all over together for one fun-filled weekend and many participants lament that they will miss the camaraderie of it all the most.
Captain Willie Zimmerman, the 2010 tournament's Sharker of the Year, said the tournament was something he always looked forward to and that he'll miss the competition. More messages continue to ring in on the group’s Facebook page, comments such as “It was a great run, you all should be very proud” and “Where’s the dislike button?!”
The decision to end the event was in no way taken lightly but was brought on by several contributing factors. In recent years, rough weather and heavy seas had taken a toll on participation and attendance, with only 14 teams participating in 2013 and 18 teams last year.
But apart from the weather, the popularity and ease of shark fishing has begun to diminish with the rise in popularity of tuna and billfish. Recently, these fish had begun to migrate to Ocean City waters earlier and earlier in the year. In response to this, event organizers aimed to move the event up to make it more conducive to shark fishing, but unfortunately attendance did not increase.
The statement released Sunday on Facebook by directors Mark and Charlotte Sampson, Wayne and Kathy Shelton, and Doug and Vicki Cymek reads:
“After careful consideration, the directors of the Ocean City Shark Tournament have decided to retire and announce the 2014 tournament will be our last. Over the past 34 years, we have worked to develop an event that would be fun, exciting, and educational for both competitors and spectators. The goal was to provide an environment where shark anglers could compete for substantial prize money with responsible fishing practices.
We greatly appreciate the wonderful support we have received from anglers, spectators, sponsors, and the press over the years. We have been happy to get to know and work with so many great people and businesses along the way. All have helped to shape the Ocean City Shark Tournament into what it was and kept it going for so long. We’ve had many fun times under our tournament tent and on the docks during the weigh-ins and we know that we will miss those relationships in the future. Thank you and farewell!” ~KJ