July 6, 2012 -

The Big Bend Saltwater Classic is underway. This is the 24th anniversary of the event.

The Big Bend Saltwater Classic was launched back in 1989. With a little over two hundred anglers participating that year, it quickly became the largest professionally run fishing tournament. In recent years, the event has attracted more than seven hundred participants.

The tournament takes place in areas of Carrabelle, St. Marks and Port Saint Joe. Anglers include masters, recreational fisherman and juniors who try to reel in a number of fish ranging in size and type. This year's masters winner gets a minimum $5,000 top prize, $1,000 goes to the recreational division winner, and the juniors, ages 13 and under, get a trophy and a prize package.

Lines were cast into the water around 5:30 this morning. Weigh-ins begin at around 3 pm and should end right around 7:30 pm.

Coming up tonight on Eyewitness News, we will have more on the history of the event as well as talk to some of the organizers.