Pope lands 28-pound dolphin at Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament

By Rick Scoppe
Published in Sports on June 13, 2015 11:28 PM

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By RICK SCOPPE

rick.scoppe@jdnews.com

MOREHEAD CITY -- Margaux Pope was all smiles Friday.

And why not? The 17-year-old rising senior at Wayne Country Day School in Goldsboro had just landed her first dolphin during the 57th annual Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament. Not only that, it was a nice specimen -- a 28-pounder caught on the Sea Toy of Dover, Del.

It was, she said, the first big fish of any kind she'd ever caught.

"It was hard," she said with a smile. "I'm not a boy, so I don't have a lot of muscle. But it was fun. I've never caught a dolphin."

As the Sea Toy headed to sea Friday morning, Pope said she was a bit wary of what the day would hold.

"It wasn't rough at all. Actually, I was scared I was going to be sick," she said. "But it was really fun. I would do it again definitely."

Pope was asked for a play-by-play of her catch.

"Everyone was like, 'Grab the line, grab the line,' so I just ran up there and started reeling and then I saw it jump and I was like, 'Oh!' I just kept reeling," she said. "I was excited."

And when the dolphin finally got close enough for the crew to bring it into the 59-foot Spencer?

"It was exhilarating. It was awesome," she said. "I want to do it again."