Being the weighmaster at a big game sportfishing tournament takes more than simply being able to read the scales--just ask Paul Pristas, the ECBC Weighmaster.

Before weigh-ins even begin Paul must check and set up the equipment--scales are calibrated, certified and tested and the condition of the jib, tail ropes and pulley system confirmed.

Once weigh-ins begin the weighmaster is responsible for first inspecting the fish to be sure it qualifies to be weighed--he must verify the fish as one of the tournament's eligible species, be sure the fish is fresh and hasn't been mutilated and that it meets both federal and tournament minimum requirements.

Finally the fish is raised and the official weight announced--but the process is not complete. At this point the other member of Paul's team, his wife Jean, takes control. Amid the excitement and chaos at the scales Jean calmly ensures that official tournament paperwork is filled out, that the fish is recorded in the logs for scoring and that the leaderboard is updated.

All of this takes experience, and that's just what Paul and Jean bring to the event. Paul worked with the National Marine Fisheries Service for twenty years collecting biological data. Tournaments are a good source of that data and Paul attended so many during his tenure with NMFS that he became a familiar and trusted face and was asked to act as Weighmaster at several tournaments. Jean joined him six years ago as Recorder.

Paul retired from the NMFS in 1994 and moved with Jean to Colorado, but they still keep active as one of the Gulf's best known Weigh-In Teams--a job they perform to this day for such prestigious events as the Pensacola International Billfish Tournament and the Bay Point Invitational in addition to the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic.

Welcome back Paul and Jean!