Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic

[silverking]

Weather offshore has moved fishing back a day, but the 2019 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is underway in Sandestin. We have 80 boats fishing and more than $1.8 million on the line. Betting is still open until the 7 am start on Friday.

Scales open on Saturday and Sunday evenings at the Baytowne Marina. It's open to the public if anyone wants to come over and watch the weigh-ins. Blue marlin must measure 110 inches (LJFL) and we usually have a couple 500-plus-pounders weighed, along with triple-digit yellowfin and some big wahoo and dolphin.

To follow the action and look at the photo galleries, visit: www.fishecbc.com

[silverking]

17th annual ECBC is a wrap. Only one blue marlin weighed, but it was significant. Swept billfish division and most optionals, giving Team It Just Takes Time a $596,025 payout. That's among the top single team payouts ever recorded in Gulf big-game events. It was also the first blue boated on the new-to-him 62 Viking by owner/angler Nick Pratt and just the second he's caught. Not bad for beginner's luck.

In the unofficial "It pays to play" division, Squid Row won nearly $85,000 for a 24-pound wahoo because of optional jackpot entries.

[Srbenda]

He just paid for 30% of his boat.
Nice haul!

[FTReelty]

Juan says he wants wants to see the real pictures from the tournament-all the contestants!

[silverking]

He just paid for 30% of his boat.
Nice haul!

Wishful thinking probably by the owner but more like 10% for a 62 Viking.

It was more than $28K to enter across the board, plus fuel, dockage, crew, etc. Not a cheap hobby by any means.

And I know which contestants Juan is referring to. Sandestin is a PG event. The Miss Billfish bikini contest will be held at the Blue Marlin Grand Championship next month.

[FTReelty]

Look forward to the results of that one! Thanks for keeping us up to date.

[FishWithChris]

What is the largest boat entering this thing?

I keep hoping Frank and Eddie on the Fa La Me (92' Viking) make their way to the gulf sometime soon... but they love their Atlantic/Caribbean waters way too much

[silverking]

A Work of Art is a 92 Viking. Relentless Pursuit is a 95 Jim Smith. Both are regulars on the Gulf circuit. Average length of boats fishing is 68 feet, I'd say.