It’s widely become known as “The Greatest Show in Sportfishing” The final leg of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Circuit is here and in Orange Beach. The Orange Beach Billfish classic started the season off in May with angler Brian Stover on the “Mollie” landing the top weight in the Blue Marlin division with a whopping 776.4 pounder. The 11th-annual sportfishing tournament is one of the fastest-growing and most anticipated events on the coast. Weigh-ins will be Friday and Saturday afternoons at the Wharf in Orange Beach.

Construction on a new billfish crane was recently completed on The Wharf Marina docks and will help to speed up travel time for the big prize weigh-ins. Jim Cox and Kelly Finley animate and narrate the show giving real-time updates and live announcements at weigh-ins. The new crane will help get it to the stage area faster. A second Jumbotron has been added this year which will make it easier for the crowd to see from anywhere in the Wharf. 

Now, three tournaments in “Mollie” enters the fourth and final still holding the lead. No team has ever won the Blue Marlin Grand Championship multiple times, but this year could be the first. “It Just Takes Time” has won the Biloxi tournament three different times and last year took home the championship for the BMGC. Cox is encouraging, however, claiming “anybody that’s not even on the leaderboard could win it.” Cox states it’s the way we like it so that anyone entering will have a chance to win. Dozens of teams will have the opportunity to pilot their yachts to prime locations for a chance to find the winning fish. 

The first weigh-in starts at 5 PM Friday the 14th at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Marlin Circle. Patrons may arrive early and spend the day shopping or dining at one of the many options The Wharf has to offer. As time gets closer to the first weigh-ins onlookers can start easing towards Marlin Circle to claim their spot and snag a tournament shirt. The final weigh-in Saturday 15 will go from 5 PM to 8 PM then head on over to the Wharf Amphitheater where Parker McCollum takes the stage. 

Ever wonder what happens to all the meat from these tournaments? The Orange Beach Billfish Classic donated 1,800 lbs of fresh organic wild-caught fish that’s 900+ one gallon bags of filleted fish in May 2023. These tournaments draw communities together, bring awareness to sustainable fishing, and offer financial support to different organizations through faithful sponsors to the likes of over $730,000 to the Billfish Foundation. Distributing back to the community yet again Billfish Week July 2023 is no different. Blue Marlin Grand is partnering with Coopers Table and the Dantin Foundation for the catch-of-day drive-through food distribution. The community giveback takes place thanks to the hard work and dedication of these groups. They rely heavily on donations and local community volunteers. If you’d like to find out more about the cleanup/pick up and give out free fresh local marlin, check out the website www.CooperFarmAlabama.com. Distributions take place on Sunday the 16th from 10 AM - 2 PM or while supplies last. Poles crossed this fishing weekend will prove to bring in new BMGC records for the win, weight, and fresh meat numbers.