7th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic Pays Out Over $1.29 Million!

New Tournament Record Set with 714.7 lb. Blue Marlin

Jasper Time's team weighs in their 714.7 lb. blue, a new ECBC record.

Destin, Fla. (June 24, 2009) – The 7th annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC), which took place June 16-21 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, remained the richest tournament on the Gulf Coast by handing out an incredible $1,292,000.00 in cash awards, making this the fourth year in a row the tournament has paid out over a million dollars. In the process, a new tournament record was set in the Blue Marlin Division. Sixty-seven teams participated. And it wasn’t long in the time before the call came in to Tournament Headquarters at 7:30am Saturday morning. Jasper Time, a 60’ Hatteras, was clearing the sea buoys with a fat 124-inch blue marlin onboard. Tournament director Shawna Meisner advised them to ice her down and bring her to the scales—the blue would be the first fish weighed when the scales opened at 4:00pm.

The news spread like wildfire and a crowd was waiting anxiously as the fish was hoisted… and made 714.7-pounds! A new ECBC record was set and Jasper Time walked away with $325,203.75. Pretty amazing all by itself, but even more amazing when you know that it was angler Chip Temple’s first blue! This was also Capt. Tommy Braden’s second time to the scales—last year he brought in the third place marlin.

Jasper Time takes their check: $325,203.75.

The 68-foot Viking A Work of Art, captained by Ron Woodruff, took 1st Place Release Team with two blue and one white marlin released. The team took home $96,647.50 and will have their name inscribed on The Magnificent Blue Perpetual Trophy. Life is Good came in second with two blue marlin released, and Reel Addiction took third with a blue and a white.

The top dolphin, weighing in at 47.8 lbs., was caught by Brian Schwan fishing aboard You Never Know!, a 64-foot Viking captained by Joey Birbeck. Tommy Browning, Jr. fishing aboard the 67-foot Bertram Britney Jean with Capt. Danny Timms, weighed in a 72.6 lb. wahoo for first place in that division. The 60-foot Hatteras First Choice with Capt. Mike Roberto, took top tuna with a 171.1 lb. yellowfin. Sherry Polk, fishing aboard Share-E, a 48-foot Viking with Capt. Eddie Savoy, was the Top Lady Angler. Shawn Clemons, Jr., fishing aboard the 60-foot Bertram Experts Only with Capt. Dale Gardner, was the Top Junior Angler.

Thirty-seven billfish were released including 15 blue marlin, 15 white marlin and seven sailfish. Overall, 87 gamefish were boated including 42 dolphin, 21 yellowfin & two blackfin tuna and 22 wahoo.

You can view complete tournament results at http://www.fishecbc.com/Local/news/2009/articles/2009_Results.htm.

"Last year I said I couldn’t wait to see what this year brings, and I’m so excited that it brought us a new ECBC tournament record!" said Shawna Meisner, Tournament Director. "We’re also proud that we handed out over a million dollars in cash awards for the fourth year in a row. For such a young tournament that’s amazing. But of course the best part was seeing so many of our old friends back again this year, meeting new teams and the incredible support from our sponsors.”

Spectators at the weigh-in Saturday night had a good time, too.

The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin donated over 5,000 pounds of meatfish weighed from this year's tournament to Harvest House, a local food bank. The tournament also supports The Billfish Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the conservation and enhancement of the billfish population worldwide, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast by donating cash funds raised through raffles, auctions and other activities.

The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin was presented by Galati Yacht Sales and Viking Yachts.

For more information about the event, contact Tournament Director Shawna Meisner at 850-267-6168, or find information online at www.fishecbc.com. For more information about Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, call 800-470-7389 or visit www.sandestin.com.