Taylor Jean Sport Fishing – captained by Ken Hager (with Capt. Blaine Birch in recent years) – has amassed an impressive record in East Coast big-game fishing tournaments since 2011. Below is a comprehensive summary of the team’s tournament placements, notable catches, and winnings, organized by category.
Our journey to greatness began with an impressive showing in the Mid Atlantic Tuna Tournament, securing a third-place finish and setting the foundation for future success. With a small check, the first of many to follow of $1,675.
Mako and a check for $10,250
Mako Taylor Jean has been a consistent contender in New Jersey’s annual Mako Mania shark tournament. Bringing home second place and $20,282
This was a breakout year for Taylor Jean, proving our ability to take on the fiercest sharks in the ocean and taking home money in the top 3 prestigious shark tournaments in the area.
With another first-place Mako, we solidified our reputation as a top contender in the world of competitive shark fishing. Bringing home $3,772.
A first-place finish in the Mako Fever Tournament was a defining moment, proving that Taylor Jean was not just participating but dominating. $8,500
As our focus expanded beyond sharks, we claimed victory in the dolphin category at Hoffman’s Invitational. It was a small tournament but local where we docked our boat so we joined and brought home $1,000 for 1st place dolphin.
An outstanding performance in the Mid Atlantic 500, with consistent daily wins and a 2nd place finish in White Marlin, marked our entry into the billfish circuit. Taylor Jean has been a standout performer in this high-profile billfish and tuna tournament. Their most significant MidAtlantic achievement came in 2017, when angler Ken Hager boated a 72-pound white marlin to take 2nd Place Heaviest White Marlin, earning a hefty $217,665 prize . This 72-lb marlin was one of the top catches of the 26th annual MidAtlantic and netted one of the tournament’s largest checks.
Tuna fishing became a major focus for Taylor Jean, leading to another top finish.
This year, the team weighed a 452-pound blue marlin – a massive fish that briefly held 2nd place before finishing among the top blues of the week .
A landmark year with multiple first-place victories in both tuna and blue marlin categories.
This was a defining year for Taylor Jean, as we swept multiple categories in the South Jersey Tuna Tournament, proving our expertise in targeting yellowfin and and were rewarded with a check for $49,279 for the effort.
Another strong performance at the Mid Atlantic, showcasing our versatility across multiple species. Bringing home 2 checks, one for $36,707 and $34,639.
The Blue Fin Open and Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring brought some of our most exciting and competitive wins to date.
Our 2023 season demonstrated Taylor Jean’s versatility, with podium finishes in billfish, dolphin, bottom fish, and tuna.
Won Top Dolphin Team with the largest mahi-mahi.
Earned $21,360 for 2nd Place Release and 3rd Place Overall Boat.
A stellar year of record-breaking catches and over $600,000 in tournament winnings.
From 2013 to 2025, Taylor Jean Sport Fishing has amassed over $1,454,719 in verified tournament winnings.
This figure excludes smaller prizes, suggesting actual total earnings may surpass this amount.