At the Mad Tuna Tournament in Ocean City, Maryland, boats bring large tuna to the scales at the Ocean City Fishing Center and compete for significant cash prizes. This annual three-day sport-fishing tournament is billed by the organizer as the world’s largest tuna tournament. Recent payouts have exceeded $1 million, drawing boats from ports along the East Coast to Ocean City. Over 100 boats have competed in three of the last four events, making the dock area a mix of competition and spectator activity.
The prizes include awards for the heaviest single tuna, heaviest stringer, dolphin, and wahoo, with distinct Ladies and Juniors divisions. The top prize for a single tuna was $411,335 for a 230-pound fish, and combined-weight prizes have also reached six figures. Spectators can gather at Micky Fins Bar & Grill to watch the weigh-ins, where food, drinks, and daily vendors create a lively atmosphere before the fish arrive. Following the weigh-ins, participants and sponsors enjoy dinner and entertainment, with Sunset Marina nearby offering additional lodging and marina services.