MOREHEAD CITY, NC -- The Crystal Coast, along North Carolina's Southern Outer Banks, invites fishing fanatics of all ages to try their hand during the 55th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament June 7-15, 2013.

Gate, Maine. Watercolor on paper.

House at Spruce Head. Watercolor on paper.

One of the largest sport fishing tournaments in the U.S., the Annual Big Rock Tournament is held on the Morehead City waterfront, miles from the intracoastal waterway and gulf stream current. Drawing more than 200 competitors each year, the nine-day event is scheduled to begin with the first marlin caught and weighed-in by a boat officially entered in the tournament.

Whether it’s for a fishing first-timer or a seasoned “old salt," each year the contest hooks hundreds of anglers, providing a great fishing experience and excellent payout -- recently more than $524,000 was collected for the first place 652.8 pound blue marlin.

Named “Best Yachting Town” by Yachting magazine, the Crystal Coast is one of two places on the Eastern seaboard where the gulf stream current tickles the coastline, resulting in clear, warm waters. Year-round, vacationers have the freedom to spend their days exploring un-crowded coastline, dining at flip-flop friendly restaurants, shopping at fanciful boutiques filled with coastal treasures or setting sail on private chartered fishing excursions.

For more information on North Carolina's Crystal Coast or the 55th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, visit www.crytalcoastnc.org or www.thebigrock.com.