This week's giant blue marlin catch has set the tone for the Annual Bermuda Big Game Classic which begins tomorrow.

Martin Estis, aboard picked up a $300,000 World Cup prize after landing the 1,189-lb monster on Sunday and he will compete again in the fourth instalment of the Classic along with 35 boats from around the world which are descending on the Island for the three-day event.

A similar amount in total prize money will be on offer to the overseas and local anglers who are competing in boats ranging in length from 30 to 80 feet.

And tournament director Dan Jacobs believes the big catch was good for the tournament.

"It think it was perfect timing for us," said Jacobs, who founded the tournament in 2001.

"Having a fish of that size caught in Bermuda is great for our tournament and great for Bermuda ? it has attracted a lot of press coverage around the world.

"We were very pleased to see that and we will be pleased if it happens again later this week."

The anglers, from as far afield as Hong Kong, Canada, Thailand, Spain, England and the US, will compete tomorrow, Friday and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a range of prizes in the modified release tournament.

Anglers must take digital photos of all their catches to be eligible for points although blue marlins over 500-lbs can be brought in. But with 500 points in the team award available for releasing a marlin, no fish under 600-lbs are expected to be brought in to the Barrs Bay Park weight station.

Eligible fish for the tournament are blue marlin, white marlin, spearfish, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin.