Destin, Fla. -- A little over two months remains, yet the excitement is already building. The 8th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic kicks off June 22 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Florida, the southeast's premier beach destination. And if this year's event is anything like its predecessors, expect more sport-fishing records to fall.
"Ultimately our goal is to register more than 100 boats and award a purse in excess of $2 million," says ECBC Tournament Director Shawna Meisner. "We predict 2010 will be our strongest tournament to date and we hope to top last year's tournament record blue marlin by weighing in a state record grander. We've certainly got the anglers, boats and crews to do just that."
The 2009 Classic showcased 350 anglers aboard 67 production and custom sportfishing yachts. Thirty-seven billfish were released among the fleet, with 87 yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin brought to the scales. The highlight, however, was a new tournament record. Angler Chip Temple, fishing aboard Jasper Time, a 60-foot Hatteras, landed a 124-inch, 714.7-pound blue marlin to earn his team $325,204 in prize money. It was Temple's first blue marlin. The 2009 edition also marked the fourth year in a row that more than $1 million dollars was awarded to contestants, making it the top draw on the challenging Gulf of Mexico billfish circuit.
Now in its eighth year, the ECBC has become a key stop for the World Billfish Series and the International Game Fish Association Offshore Championship. The new presenting sponsor, Mojo Sportswear Company, will debut a new fishing line at this year's tournament. Other major sponsors include Galati Yacht Sales, Gulf Coast Hatteras, MTU, Florida Detroit Diesel and SunQuest Cruises. Besides paying out hefty purses to the winning teams, the Classic is committed to the local community. Charitable contributions are made to the Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Harvest House and The Billfish Foundation, a non-profit marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting global billfish populations.
"We've already put in our order for gorgeous weather so everyone can enjoy themselves," Meisner added. "We'd like to encourage families to come to the resort to hang out and relax while the contestants are out fishing. We'll have plenty of entertainment to supplement all the excitement at the scales."
The 2010 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic runs June 22-27 at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. For registration forms, dockage or more information, visit www.fishecbc.com. For more information on the resort and overnight accommodations, call 800-470-7389 or visit www.sandestin.com on the web.
