Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament brings high stakes and community spirit to NC waterfront

It's one of the most famous fishing tournaments in the world, the 67th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

While the community celebrates the prize winners, boat crews say it takes long hours and a lot of pressure.

272 boats entered into this tournament, but most people only see the scales, not what it takes to get there.

The biggest challenge is being in the right place at the right time." says Matt Mosley, crew member.

Its not all trophy fish and cheering crowds. For some crews at the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament—the day ends cleaning the boat and no Marlin to show for it.

You just get up and go another day. I look forward for the opportunity to be out there and try to make the most out of the opportunity as it comes.

Crew mate Matt Mosley says he’s entered the tournament every year for 20 years. He comes from Rocky Mount.

Mosley says the tournament changed from when he first entered it as a teen.

It’s a lot less boats. It’s a different type of fishing.

And its not cheap either.

I believe we paid just over 30 thousand.

Not in one lump sum, but across multiple prize levels and jackpots. They more they enter, the more money they could win if they catch the right fish. Like buying a lottery ticket.

To win prizes like the fabulous fisherman, more than 800 thousand dollars is on the line, to reel in the first 500 or more pound blue marlin.

It gets you exciting, you try not to think about that though.

Mosley says he’s fished with his two other crewmates for nearly 5 years. While they’re preparing all season, he says they start fishing more in April.

I wouldn’t say we change our strategy every year, but we definitely adapt it.

He says they look forward to the tournament – which got its start in 1957.

A small group of anglers set out to prove they could catch marlin off the North Carolina coast. Now it brings a packed waterfront crowd.

Everybody sees it as just a fishing tournament and the winners win a lot of money but the biggest thing about this tournament is how much money the big rock donates to local organizations.

Big Rock continues through Saturday.