Sandestin, Fl-- For spectators, the final day at the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is not as exciting as they weigh-ins Saturday night. But for the teams that have spent the last three days out on the water, this is the reason they come.
Over 1 million dollars was handed out to the forty something boats that brought fish to the scales either Friday or Saturday.
Some of the bigger prizes were "Reel Fire" bringing in a 161 pound yellowfin tuna worth $96,000.
The fish was caught by Angler Kate Ferrara.
Boat "Breathe Reel Deep" accumulated 700 points by bringing in both a blue and white marlin.
Those two were worth a total of $106,000.
A boat named "Committed" won $114,000 for bringing in 4 sailfish.
The second biggest check went to "Chasin Tail" as their 51 pound dolphin got them a smooth $141,000 dollars.
And finally, the biggest cash prize went to the boat C.E. out of Orange Beach, Alabama who caught a 613.4 pound Blue Marlin.
They racked up a grand total of $283,000.
Here was a very happy Scott Cooper, the angler who caught the Marlin,
"You know really it was all the extra help we had this week. Marlon Brown is another captain, Billy Bixler is another captain, Joe Roe Burton. And if not for that team effort and all working together, the wire man, the gaff man, the captain, everybody did a great job. Couldn't have done it without them."
As for how they are going to split up the grand prize, Cooper said he wasn't sure but thinks there will be some arguing amongst the guys.