History
The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic was started in 2003 when a group of guys from Galati Yacht Sales and Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort decided it was time to bring a big money tournament back to the Destin area. The rest, as they say, is history.
ECBC By the Numbers
From our beginning, the ECBC has grown 217% in participation and a whopping 450% in cash awards. And we continue to grow every year.
2022 | new tournament record for # of releases per team (Quantified - 12 billfish) 84 Teams, 558 Anglers, $1,987,100 in Cash Awards 68 Billfish Caught, 62 Released—43 blue marlin, 17 white marlin, 8 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—638.7 lbs., 547.9 lbs., 513.3 lbs., 503.7 lbs., 469.3 lbs., 457.4 lbs. 75 Gamefish Weighed—27 dolphin, 28 yellowfin tuna, 20 wahoo |
2021 | new tournament record for yellowfin tuna (231.1 lbs. on Quicktime) 88 Teams, 537 Anglers, $1,976,300 in Cash Awards 55 Billfish Caught, 52 Released—36 blue marlin, 17 white marlin, 2 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—681.0, 472.2, 411.7 lbs. 56 Gamefish Weighed—13 dolphin, 13 yellowfin tuna, 30 wahoo |
2020 | new tournament record for yellowfin tuna (198.8 lbs. on Ridgeback) 79 Teams, 482 Anglers, $1,747,700 in Cash Awards 39 Billfish Caught, 32 Released—23 blue marlin, 29 white marlin, 3 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—660.4, 601.0, 553.3, 538.0, 512.4, 505.0, 437.7 lbs. 51 Gamefish Weighed—10 dolphin, 19 yellowfin tuna, 22 wahoo |
2019 | new record for largest payout to a single team: $596,025 to It Just Takes Time 80 Teams, 526 Anglers, $1,864,075 in Cash Awards 33 Billfish Caught, 32 Released—28 blue marlin, 5 white marlin Blue Marlin Weighed—574.0 lbs. 73 Gamefish Weighed—51 dolphin, 13 tuna, 9 wahoo |
2018 | 2 new records set: # of teams, cash awards 91 Teams, 571 Anglers, $2,040,200 in Cash Awards 48 Billfish Caught, 43 Released—30 blue marlin, 12 white marlin, 1 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—699.2, 665.2, 640.8, 518.0, 475.7 lbs. 54 Gamefish Weighed—22 dolphin, 21 tuna, 11 wahoo |
2017 | tropical storm Cindy, over 40 boats withdrew due to weather 36 Teams, 238 Anglers, $624,675 in Cash Awards 31 Billfish Caught, 29 Released—8 blue marlin, 21 white marlin, 2 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—553.0, 551.0 lbs. 45 Gamefish Weighed—7 dolphin, 20 tuna, 18 wahoo |
2016 | 4 new records set: # of teams, cash awards, tuna (190.6 lbs.), wahoo (112.2 lbs.) 85 Teams, 544 Anglers, $1,952,750 in Cash Awards 55 Billfish Caught, 51 Released—23 blue marlin, 20 white marlin, 12 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—838.2, 835.8, 652.2, 409.0 lbs. 86 Gamefish Weighed—25 dolphin, 46 tuna, 15 wahoo |
2015 | new tournament record for blue marlin (899.6 lbs.) 78 Teams, 398 Anglers, $1,586,400 in Cash Awards 43 Billfish Caught, 39 Released—28 blue marlin, 14 white marlin, 1 unspecified Blue Marlin Weighed—899.6, 551.0, 548.0, 445.8 lbs. 112 Gamefish Weighed—52 dolphin, 40 tuna, 20 wahoo |
2014 | 77 Teams, 430 Anglers, $1,683,075 in Cash Awards 36 Billfish Caught, 35 Released—15 blue marlin, 14 white marlin, 4 sailfish, 2 unspecified Blue Marlin Weighed—594.9 lbs. 94 Gamefish Weighed—42 dolphin, 35 tuna, 17 wahoo |
2013 | 70 Teams, 300 Anglers, $1,438,400 in Cash Awards 32 Billfish Caught, 31 Released—8 blue marlin, 16 white marlin, 7 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—613.4 lbs. 118 Gamefish Weighed—56 dolphin, 33 tuna, 29 wahoo |
2012 | tropical storm Debbie, over 30 teams withdrew due to weather 38 Teams, 194 Anglers, $575,550 in Cash Awards 28 Billfish Caught, 27 Released—7 blue marlin, 16 white marlin, 4 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—783.6 lbs. 76 Gamefish Weighed—27 dolphin, 16 tuna, 33 wahoo |
2011 | added $10k jackpots for blue marlin and release 71 Teams, 389 Anglers, $1,454,225 in Cash Awards 44 Billfish Caught, 44 Released—14 blue marlin, 28 white marlin, 2 sailfish No Blue Marlin Weighed 92 Gamefish Weighed—54 dolphin, 31 tuna, 7 wahoo |
2010 | The tournament was cancelled this year due to a massive oil spill in the Gulf. |
2009 | 68 Teams, 380 Anglers, $1,292,000 in Cash Awards 38 Billfish Caught, 37 Released—15 blue marlin, 15 white marlin, 7 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—714.7 lbs. 87 Gamefish Weighed—42 dolphin, 23 tuna, 22 wahoo |
2008 | added $5k jackpots 79 Teams, 419 Anglers, $1,536,850 in Cash Awards 38 Billfish Caught, 35 Released—15 blue marlin, 15 white marlin, 5 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—406.3, 406.2, 405.4 lbs. 60 Gamefish Weighed—24 dolphin, 19 tuna, 17 wahoo |
2007 | added release jackpots 84 Teams, 451 Anglers, $1,307,375 in Cash Awards 42 Billfish Caught, 38 Released—18 blue marlin, 18 white marlin, 2 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—627.7, 453.1, 431.4, 425.3 lbs. 77 Gamefish Weighed—36 dolphin, 24 tuna, 17 wahoo |
2006 | new tournament record for dolphin (53.1 lbs.) 77 Teams, 381 Anglers, $1,030,900 in Cash Awards 48 Billfish Caught, 46 Released—15 blue marlin, 29 white marlin, 2 sailfish Blue Marlin Weighed—692.6, 309.4 lbs. 102 Gamefish Weighed—53 dolphin, 20 tuna, 29 wahoo |
2005 | 63 Teams, 300 Anglers, $722,225 in Cash Awards 24 Billfish Caught, 22 Released—11 blue marlin, 7 white marlin, 3 sailfish, 1 unspecified Blue Marlin Weighed—624.3, 521.6 lbs. 75 Gamefish Weighed—34 dolphin, 22 tuna, 19 wahoo |
2004 | added cash release & crew divisions 49 Teams, 242 Anglers, $482,200 in Cash Awards 16 Billfish Caught, 15 Released—5 blue marlin, 10 white marlin Blue Marlin Weighed—483.3 lbs. 55 Gamefish Weighed—27 dolphin, 21 tuna, 7 wahoo |
2003 | 45 Teams, 180 Anglers, $371,250 in Cash Awards 8 Billfish Caught, 8 Released—6 blue marlin, 2 white marlin No Blue Marlin Weighed 54 Gamefish Weighed—33 dolphin, 13 tuna, 8 wahoo |
