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SANDESTIN, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – The hunt for the big blue is on at the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic in Sandestin.
The tournament is now in the fishing phase.
The 84 teams participating in this year’s ECBC, hitting the Gulf of Mexico at noon Thursday, exit in parade fashion from the Baytowne Marina.
They fish for blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and dolphin, chasing a $1.9 million purse!
One of these teams enters the ECBC, having won this tournament in 2019 and having won 3 consecutive years at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic.
Nick Pratt and the “It Just Takes Time” crew won $630,000 with this blue in Biloxi just a few weeks ago!
When asked if Pratt saw himself being her after four years, he had this to say.
“Absolutely not. Just to go out and do it once, let alone go to Biloxi and do it three years in a row, is a hell of an accomplishment. You know, there are amazing teams here and like I I said, doing it once is amazing. Three times is just unheard of,” Pratt said.
When asked what his secret was for this team, “well, what we all have is that we grind it down and do whatever it takes, day in and day out to put in the effort. You know how to hang in there when times get tough and always have a positive attitude. Just find a way to fight back,” Pratt said.
Teams will fish Thursday, Friday and Saturday and catch their catch at the Baytown Marina Friday and Saturday beginning at 4 p.m.
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