Big Rock: Rich payout of $6.5M stays home, dwarfs multiple major pro sports

(The Center Square) – Top prize of more than $6.5 million in one of the world’s oldest and richest sportfishing tournaments, and a big draw for the No. 7 domestic tourism state in the nation, stayed in North Carolina.

Connor Daniel’s catch of a record 919.9-pound blue marlin on Tuesday remained the heaviest through the close of the 68th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament on Saturday. Forty-seven winners across the tournament’s many categories shared in the better than $9 million purse, two-thirds of which went to the 63-foot Jarrett Bay vessel out of Wilson County.

In addition to heaviest, it was the first of 500 pounds or greater brought to the famed scales in Morehead City along the Crystal Coast, earning the Fabulous Fisherman prize.

More than 270 boats entered, coming from as far away as New England, Florida and even around the gulf to Texas.

For context on the prize money shared by Capt. Cameron Guthrie and anglers Daniel, Conner Daniels and Carly Guthrie, the PGA Tour’s TOUR Champi...