DESTIN, Fla. (WKRG) — An Alabama team took home the top prize for a fishing tournament around Destin over the last weekend of June.
The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin classic operated in clear skies for its 20th anniversary. A Work of Art reeled in a monster 638.7 pound Blue Marlin for $545,681. The team said they released three other large marlins on the trip.
Angler Christian Fast, Capt. Jason Buck and the team aboard A Work of Art won the tournament.
“I’ve fished the ECBC since the beginning,” said Art Favre with A Work of Art. “We were fortunate to win the top Catch and Release one time, but this is our first in the kill division. So this is a sweet win after all those years, to get in the top slot in this tournament. I’m honored and humbled by it.”
A total of 84 teams battled the gulf for a prize pool of $1.987 million.
No ice in Destin delima
Local restaurants around Destin ran out of ice in the heat and store’s high demand from fishermen. The tournament confirmed they ordered less ice than in previous years and ran out.
One of the reasons we ran out the first day this year was because we bought A LOT last year and a lot of these boats now have ice makers so we didn’t use it all so we didn’t order as much this year.
Tournament staff
Efforts to contact these establishments for comment have failed.
Tournament standings:
TOP BLUE MARLIN (2022)
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | ANGLER | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Work of Art | Jason Buck | Christian Fast | 638.7 lbs. |
| 2 | Benedetta | Curt Gwin | Kirk Aronson | 547.9 lbs. |
| 3 | Raise ’em Up | Hunter Forbes | Nimrod Frazier | 513.3 lbs. |
TOP RELEASE TEAMS (2022)
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | WINNING CATCH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quantified | Justin Drummond | 2,925 points / released 2 blue marlin, 7 white marlin, 3 sailfish |
| 2 | Rising Son’s | Cricket Crochet | 1,500 points / released 3 blue marlin |
| 3 | C-Ya | Devin Potts | 1,375 points / released 2 blue marlin, 1 white marlin, 1 sailfish |
TOP CREW (2022)
| # | BOAT | CREW | WINNING CATCH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quantified | Capt. Justin Drummond; Mates Matt Driscoll, Cyler Pape | 12 fish / 2,925.0 points |
| 2 | Raise ’em Up | Capt. Hunter Forbes; Mates Lee Gilmore, Ladd Sawyer | 5 fish / 1,608.2 points |
| 3 | C-Ya | Capt. Devin Potts; Mate Christian Stewart | 4 fish / 1,375.0 points |
TOP DOLPHIN (2022)
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | ANGLER | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soul Candy | Jordan Whiteman | Smith Reaves | 38.9 lbs. |
| 2 | Evil Eyes | Kelly Graham | Wally Gentry | 37.6 lbs. |
| 3 | Reel Wicked | Steve Pixley | Daniel Guilbeau | 36.1 lbs. |
TOP TUNA (2022)
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | ANGLER | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Shaker | Dennis Bennett | Chris Hatcher | 192.4 lbs. |
| 2 | Reel Fire | Scooter Porto | Kate Ferrara-Dorland | 170.8 lbs. |
| 3 | Perra Mala | Brian Bramlett | Lance Rucker | 149.4 lbs. |
TOP WAHOO (2022)
| # | BOAT | CAPTAIN | ANGLER | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salt Shaker | Dennis Bennett | Jeff Singleton | 64.7 lbs. |
| 2 | Change Order | Max Smith | Michael Savage | 54.7 lbs. |
| 3 | Change Order | Max Smith | Thomas Anderson | 36.2 lbs. |
INDIVIDUAL TEAM AWARDS (2022)
| AWARD | BOAT |
|---|---|
| PERPETUAL RELEASE TROPHY | Quantified |
| EARLY BIRD WINNER | All-In Fishing |
INDIVIDUAL ANGLER AWARDS (2022)
| AWARD | ANGLER | BOAT | WINNING CATCH |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOP OVERALL ANGLER | Christain Fast | A Work of Art | 683.7 lb. blue marlin |
| TOP RELEASE ANGLER | Jaselyn Berthelot | Rising Son’s | released 3 blue marlin |
| TOP LADY ANGLER | Jaselyn Berthelot | Rising Son’s | released 3 blue marlin, weighed 1 dolphin & 1 yellowfin tuna (73.3 lbs.) |
| TOP JUNIOR ANGLER (billfish) | Tate Yancey (10) | Miss Ma’am | released 1 white marlin |
| TOP JUNIOR ANGLER (gamefish) | Jack Murdica (13) | Never Settle | weighed 2 yellowfin tuna (98.9 lbs.) |
CASH AWARDED BY TEAM (2022)
| BOAT | AWARDS | TOTAL PURSE |
|---|---|---|
| A Work of Art, Viking 92 | 1st Blue Marlin, Blue Marlin & Release Jackpots | $545,681.25 |
| Quantified, Spencer Yachts 64 | 1st Release Team, 1st Crew, Release Jackpots | $264,505.00 |
| Salt Shaker, Viking 58 | 1st Tuna, 1st Wahoo, Tuna Jackpots | $168,307.50 |
| Raise ’em Up, Sunny Briggs 56 | 3rd Blue Marlin, 2nd Crew, Blue Marlin Jackpots | $156,339.00 |
| C-Ya, Spencer Yachts 74 | 3rd Release Team, 3rd Crew, Release Jackpots | $101,443.75 |
| Benedetta, Viking 70 | 2nd Blue Marlin, Blue Marlin Jackpots | $85,626.00 |
| Change Order, Hatteras 46 | 2nd & 3rd Wahoo, Wahoo Jackpots | $72,206.25 |
| Reel Wicked, Donzi 73 | 3rd Dolphin, Dolphin Jackpots | $70,939.50 |
| Evil Eyes, Viking 64 | 2nd Dolphin, Dolphin Jackpots | $60,138.00 |
| Reel Fire, Viking 76 | 2nd Tuna, Tuna Jackpots | $58,653.00 |
| Rising Son’s, Viking 58 | 2nd Release Team, Release Jackpot | $54,825.00 |
| Liquid Apple, Viking 68 | Tuna Jackpot | $51,300.00 |
| Squid Row, Viking 50 | Dolphin & Wahoo Jackpots | $50,850.00 |
| Renegade, Custom 52 | Wahoo Jackpots | $50,771.25 |
| Sea Wolff, G&S 62 | Blue Marlin Jackpot | $30,375.00 |
| UP TO IT, Viking 52 | Dolphin Jackpots | $28,440.00 |
| Briar Patch, Viking 68 | Blue Marlin Jackpots | $27,000.00 |
| Soul Candy, F&S 61 | 1st Dolphin | $26,880.00 |
| Perra Mala, Spencer Yachts 57 | 3rd Tuna, Tuna Jackpots | $23,779.50 |
| Don’t Blink, Viking 76 | Tuna Jackpot | $21,375.00 |
| Linda Lucille, Viking 65 | Tuna Jackpot | $12,825.00 |
| Get Reel, Hatteras 60 | Dolphin Jackpots | $12,825.00 |
| Panhandler, Hatteras 63 | Dolphin Jackpot | $10,462.50 |
| Never Settle, Viking 74 | Wahoo Jackpot | $1,552.50 |
| All-In Fishing, Viking 55 | Early Bird Winner | $,1000.00 |
