MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. (WITN) – A blue marlin has already been boated in this year’s Big Rock Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament.

‘Release’ hooked a blue at 9:17 a.m. and boated the fish at 10:24 a.m. The boat is expected at Big Rock Landing at 2:30 p.m. to be weighed.

The 53-footer is out of Hatteras Harbor.

This is the 66th annual tournament that lasts until Saturday.

The tournament says 302 boats are competing for a purse of $7,560,575 with 271 teams fishing on the first day.

Big Rock says there are 271 boats out on the water this morning. They have until 3:00 p.m. each day to catch a marlin.

For the Fabulous Fisherman contest, the first eligible boat to snag a marlin over 500 pounds wins $1,729,750, while a fisherman who brings in the largest marlin this week and has entered every level takes home $4,285,625.

While there are six days of fishing, boats can only be out on the water for four days.

Stay with us both on-air and online as we keep you up to date with the latest on the tournament.