Five years ago, Mike Standing decided he'd like to see a striped bass tournament run under the same format as big-money offshore billfish tournaments.
A Virginia Beach restaurant owner and charter captain, Standing also saw the benefits the resort city would enjoy if he could attract hundreds of teams to Virginia Beach to compete for big money.
While his efforts haven't yet equalled the likes of the million dollar-plus White Marlin Open, Standing's Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout has grown into the richest striped bass tournament on the East Coast - likely the world. Teams come from up and down the coast, with several others making the trip from inland areas.
Last year's payout was a record $202,545. Standing fully expects to top the 200 grand mark again this year when the fifth annual striper bonanza starts with a Wednesday captains' meeting.
Standing expects more than 200 teams again this year. Teams can fish one of the three tournament days from Thursday through Saturday.
Standing also has captured the offshore tournament scene with daily after-fishing parties and a grand awards affair. His tournament also employs the use of Calcuttas - varying entry levels where teams chance larger entries with the hopes of winning more money.
The winner is at least guaranteed a 21-foot Contender center console fishing boat, loaded with a 225 horsepower, four-stroke motor - all sitting on a shiny new trailer.
Weather forecasts look decent as of Monday and lots of big fish have been caught from Wachapreague down to the North Carolina state line.
And with big money on the line, Standing has taken the necessary steps to make sure teams keep it legal. There is a mandatory lie detector test scheduled for the winning team captain.
Standing had a vision several years ago and he's made it work - to the benefit of the City of Virginia Beach and to the promotion of what arguably is the best striped bass fishing in the world.