Severna Park Man Reels in Million-Dollar Marlin

A Severna Park man and his crew reeled in a jackpot last week.

Coastal Point reports Tommy Jones and his crew hauled in an 83-pound white marlin on Aug. 7, winning the annual White Marlin Open in Ocean City, along with about $1.2 million in prize money.

“Looking back, it almost seems like it was destiny,” Jones told the website. “This is the pinnacle of sport-fishing.”

The contest, which bills itself as "the world's largest billfish tournament," saw 445 billfish caught, but only seven qualified for prizes, according to Coastal Point's report. Jones' boat, the Kingfisher/OdinSpear was one of 262 in the contest, according to the event's website.

The prize for Jones represented half of the total prize money at the event, according to the website.

Last year's white marlin winner also came from Anne Arundel County. Bill Woody of Pasadena reeled in a 72-pound fish worth a $1.4 million prize, according to Coastal Point.