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PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The fleet competing in the 22nd Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic is now in the Gulf of Mexico. The 33 tournament boats lining up and heading out through the Destin pass today at noon.

It’s always an impressive site to see these boats throttle up and head south east and west towards there particular fishing grounds. The teams Boats now fishing for blue Marlin, tuna, wahoo and dolphin. And fishing for a prize purse of $850,000, and incredible sum given just 33 boats remain in The fleet.

Choppy conditions earlier this week in the Gulf of Mexico caused many boats to drive out. Those that remain though are very confident the fishing this weekend will be terrific.

“Well, the bite is on right now. {Dino McDowell/”Lifeline” Owner} We really feel good about our location, where we’re going and I really can’t disclose that. There’s a couple of rigs, but there’s a couple of new rigs that are out there that we really love. We have {8 Fifty Productions/Patrick Wilson} noticed we have noticed that everything is starting to settle down even more. It’s going to be a great trip. It’s going to be a little bumpy going out Friday but from there it looks good”, said Dino McDowell, the Owner of the boat “Lifeline”.

“It seems like it’s getting better and it’s picking up. And from all the reports we’ve heard it’s within range for this one also. So we’re going to get out there and hopefully they’re still biting, and hopefully we get a couple of them”, said Patrick Somerville, Captain of the boat “Blue Ruch Captain”.

So again, the boats will be fishing today, Saturday and Sunday with the weans Saturday and Sunday at Baytown Marina starting at four each day.