Does OCEANCITY.MD sell entries for Heels & Reels?

No—register only through the official tournament or host marina channels linked on this page. We publish planning context, not entry desks.

Will this tournament affect my recreational charter day?

Often yes near host docks—weigh-in crowds, trailer traffic, and reserved slips can slow staging. Ask your captain, and keep a non-tournament backup window. See charter trip picker and marinas .

Does it overlap Marlins for Mason?

Yes—both are listed July 30–August 1, 2026. Confirm cross-entry and Calcutta eligibility with each organizer; some Mason ladies paths require Heels & Reels entry.

How close is White Marlin Open?

WMO late registration opens August 1–2 at Harbour Island, with fishing August 3–8. Heels & Reels awards land on August 1—plan lodging across the full stretch.

Ladies · 18th Annual

Franky Pettolina Marlin Club Heels & Reels

Ladies billfish weekend at the Ocean City Marlin Club—sits on the same dates as Marlins for Mason and immediately before White Marlin Open week, so lodging and slip demand spike hard.

July 30–August 1, 2026 (fish 1 of 3 days; registration July 29)

Status (Eastern US date): Loading…

Confirm entry fees, lines-out times, and public weigh-in access with organizers before you travel. Status uses US Eastern calendar dates.

All fishing tournaments Events calendar page Official website

About this tournament

Heels & Reels (Franky Pettolina Marlin Club Heels & Reels, 18th annual) is the Club’s late-July ladies billfish tournament. 2026 chairmen listed on the Club page are Ryan Freese, Kayvan Bahrami, and Chris Evans. It is the social and competitive bridge from midsummer Club events into White Marlin Open registration weekend.

Published 2026 rhythm: registration Wednesday, July 29, 6:00–8:00 p.m.; fishing days July 30, 31, and August 1 with a fish-1-of-3-days structure; weigh-ins each fishing day 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Fisherman’s Marina; awards Saturday, August 1 at the OCMC clubhouse. Download the brochure for eligibility, release scoring, and Calcutta notes.

The same calendar window hosts Marlins for Mason, the charity marlin-release fundraiser for the Dravet Syndrome Foundation. Some ladies Calcutta paths on the Mason registration page require Heels & Reels entry—crews stacking both must read both packets before wiring two sets of fees.

Immediately after awards, White Marlin Open late registration opens August 1–2 at Harbour Island. Treat July 29–August 9 as one lodging and marina strategy, not three unrelated weekends. West Ocean City Sunset Avenue and Harbour Island corridors both compress.

Visitor FAQs: White Marlin Open visitor FAQ, tournaments FAQ, marinas, and lodging. Club phone: 410-213-1613.

At a glance

Host: Ocean City Marlin Club
Venue: Fisherman’s Marina (weigh-ins) · OCMC clubhouse (awards)
Address: 12933 Sunset Ave, West Ocean City MD (confirm)
Format: Ladies billfish; register July 29 6–8 p.m.; fish 1 of 3 days July 30–Aug 1; weigh-ins 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Fisherman’s Marina; awards Aug 1 at OCMC—immediately before WMO week.
Target species: White marlin, Blue marlin, Other billfish (verify)
Phone: 410-213-1613

For spectators

Confirm whether Fisherman’s Marina scales permit public access for evening weigh-ins.
Awards Saturday at OCMC are typically entrant-focused; ask about guests before attending.

For anglers & crews

Confirm ladies eligibility and release/scoring rules in the current brochure.
If also entering Marlins for Mason, map overlapping Calcutta requirements before registration night.
Book marina, lodging, and crew logistics before WMO traffic arrives August 1.

Planning tips

Pad marina and Route 50 minutes—tournament weeks compress West Ocean City and inlet corridors.
Book lodging early; billfish and tuna weeks stack with summer beach demand.
Confirm weigh-in windows and public viewing rules with the host marina before you promise kids a “scale night.”
Treat July 29–August 2 as a continuous high-demand weekend for West Ocean City.
Have a shared crew spreadsheet for Heels & Reels day choice vs Mason day choice vs WMO registration desk times.

Map (approximate)

Open larger map (OpenStreetMap) — Approximate location; confirm exact gate or venue with organizers.

Tickets, registration & official links

Related fishing tournaments

Marlins for Mason Tournament — July 30–August 1, 2026 (registration July 29 6–8 p.m. at OCMC)
White Marlin Open — Aug 1–2 registration · Aug 3–8 fishing (any 3 of 6 days) · Aug 9 polygraph TBA & awards 4 p.m. Marlin Club
Huk Big Fish Classic — July 24–26, 2026 (captain’s meeting July 23 · 32-hour Fri–Sat or Sat–Sun slots)
Marlin Club Kid’s Classic — July 18–19, 2026 (registration July 17)

Related Events calendar pages

white marlin open

FAQs

Does OCEANCITY.MD sell entries for Heels & Reels?: No—register only through the official tournament or host marina channels linked on this page. We publish planning context, not entry desks.
Will this tournament affect my recreational charter day?: Often yes near host docks—weigh-in crowds, trailer traffic, and reserved slips can slow staging. Ask your captain, and keep a non-tournament backup window. See charter trip picker and marinas.
Does it overlap Marlins for Mason?: Yes—both are listed July 30–August 1, 2026. Confirm cross-entry and Calcutta eligibility with each organizer; some Mason ladies paths require Heels & Reels entry.
How close is White Marlin Open?: WMO late registration opens August 1–2 at Harbour Island, with fishing August 3–8. Heels & Reels awards land on August 1—plan lodging across the full stretch.