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
 
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