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June 14, 2021; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear In resounding fashion, It Just Takes Time, led by owner/angler Nick Pratt and Captain Chris Hood, took top honors and the biggest payout in the 2021 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The 72 Viking, based in Orange Beach, Alabama, boated a blue marlin weighing 793 pounds [...]

June 12, 2021; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Some scenarios defy scripting. As if on cue from a director, the 25th annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic featured a parade of fish to the scales, intriguing back stories, nail-biting lead changes and a couple of climaxes that set new benchmarks. It was, quite literally, [...]

June 11, 2021; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Sixteen-year-old Scotty Cooper made the most of his opportunities. In the past the junior angler has lost out to other family members, but Friday morning he scampered into the fighting chair first and promptly fought and released a blue marlin. A short while later he repeated [...]

June 10, 2021, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear As 101 gleaming sportfishers and center consoles churn deeper into the central Gulf of Mexico, game plans and last-minute adjustments are taking shape. The boats competing in the 25th annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic are looking for hefty game fish, a potential record swordfish and [...]

June 9, 2021; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Twenty-five years is a significant milestone. A lot can happen during those years. And if you look specifically at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, that’s certainly the case. The event, staged at the Point Cadet Marina in Biloxi, has endured storms, an oil spill and [...]