The 2016 Blue Marlin Grand Championship will be held July 12-17 at The Wharf in Orange Beach.

Billed as “The Greatest Show in Sportfishing,” this tournament is a professionally planned, promoted and produced event including live local TV coverage, worldwide online streaming, Jumbotrons, light shows, captain and crew interviews. Sixty-one teams will participate.

The BMGC has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast.

In 2015, the 37-foot Freeman catamaran named Double J took the tournament’s top prize of $266,907 for landing a 716.6-pound blue marlin.

Double J was 300 miles from The Wharf marina when the fish was caught.

Weigh-in hours are 7-10 p.m., Friday, July 15 and 5-10 p.m., Saturday, July 16.

More than 11,000 spectators turned out for the weigh-in last year.