Businesses at The Wharf preparing for the 2024 Blue Marlin Grand Championship

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WALA) - Big money will be on the line later this week for the 2024 Blue Marlin Grand Championship.

It all starts Thursday at noon with the shotgun start. Then dozens of boats will be on their way.

But it won’t just be big money for the fishermen. But also, for the businesses.

“We have so many people that come to this. And they’ll come early. They’ll set their chairs up. And they’ll be waiting to see those big fish that will be caught. So, it really makes a huge impact on all of the businesses out here,” Sharon McCraney said.

And for these businesses, it’s a battle in its own right to get all of this done.

“We try to put out as much merchandise as possible. It gets a little bit crazy because you’ll have lines of people trying to check everybody out. So it gets hard to get to the back to the stock room to try and find something,” McCraney said.

And if you plan on making the trip to The Wharf, they have some tips.

“Come early. Parking is a problem, so you want to come early to get a close spot. And bring that umbrella just in case,” McCraney said.

The grand championship will conclude Sunday morning with the annual awards breakfast.

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