Huk Big Fish Classic Tournament Returns To Ocean City, MD for The Overnight Bite!

The overnight bite is back! One of Ocean City's most exciting offshore tournaments, the 13th Annual Huk Big Fish Classic, returns to Talbot Street Pier July 24-26, 2026, bringing with it a record-breaking $1.2 million purse and 32 hours of nonstop fishing action.

Overnight Adventures

Unlike most tournaments, the Huk Big Fish Classic gives anglers the opportunity to fish overnight. Teams can choose one of two fishing windows—Friday into Saturday or Saturday into Sunday. Boats are permitted to leave the dock beginning at 2 a.m., with lines in at 7 a.m. and lines out at 3 p.m. the following day, allowing crews to strategically fish both daylight and nighttime hours.

Growing Every Year

The tournament has come a long way since its first year. The inaugural tournament featured just 32 boats competing for a $92,000 payout. Today, it has grown into one of the East Coast's premier offshore events, attracting anglers from up and down the coast with more than $1.2 million on the line.

One unique aspect of the tournament is its flexibility for traveling teams. Boats don't have to leave from Ocean City—they may depart from their home ports anywhere between New Jersey and Virginia. As long as they follow tournament rules and return to Talbot Street Pier for the official weigh-in, they're eligible to compete.

Crews can fish as far as 125 miles from the Ocean City Sea Buoy, giving them access to productive offshore canyons in search of tournament-winning catches.

What Are They Catching?

Eligible species include some of the Atlantic's most prized game fish. Anglers can weigh white marlin (minimum 68 inches and 60 pounds), blue marlin (minimum 104 inches), swordfish (minimum 58 inches), sailfish (minimum 60 pounds), tuna (minimum 35 pounds), wahoo (minimum 25 pounds), and dolphin (mahi-mahi) and other qualifying species weighing at least 15 pounds.

A Big Break...Literally

The Huk Big Fish Classic is also a celebration of Ocean City's rich fishing history. The local sportfishing industry experienced tremendous growth after the Storm of 1933 created the Ocean City Inlet, opening a direct route between the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. That new access transformed Ocean City into one of the premier offshore fishing destinations on the East Coast.

Come Watch

For spectators, the action begins when the boats return. Each afternoon, crowds gather at Talbot Street Pier to watch giant tuna, marlin, swordfish, and mahi come across the scales. The weigh-ins are free to watch and offer one of the most exciting displays of Ocean City's legendary fishing culture.

From its humble beginning with just 32 boats to today's million-dollar purse, the Huk Big Fish Classic continues to showcase why Ocean City remains one of the East Coast's top destinations for offshore fishing. Whether you're chasing a trophy fish offshore or cheering from the dock, this is one tournament you won't want to miss.