By Capt. Dave Lear
June 8, 2018; Biloxi, Mississippi:
The 22nd annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic got started with a bang as Team Supreme christened the scales with a 739.1-pound blue marlin not long after they opened at 3 p.m. Angler Alex Krake cranked on the fish for 11 hours after it died. Krake was still tired and sore after the fish was weighed.
“That is my biggest blue,” he explained. “I caught another one that took second place in last year’s Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, but this one was way bigger. We were skeptical at first about the size. About 3 a.m. my legs were going out and my arm was locking up. I thought I was going to puke and then pass out. But it was all worth it, we got her.” The fish measured 121 inches, well beyond the 107-inch minimum. Measurements are taken from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
“We were out near the Independence Hub in green water and it was calm with acres of tuna all around us,” added Capt. Chase Lake. “But you don’t have to say that,” he laughed. “We caught that fish on a small live tuna on 100-pound-test line and it jumped like crazy. It was awesome.” Team Supreme, a 76 Viking based in Destin, Florida, is in across the board on all the blue marlin optional categories. The crew was heading back out to continue fishing after weighing the first-day leader. Boats can only weigh one marlin per day, but aggregate weight counts toward the overall team standings.
First-time competitor Pearl, a Viking from Orange Beach, Alabama, made a strong first impression on the gathered crowd when another hefty marlin was hoisted aloft. Edgar McKee of Gulf Shores only needed three hours to conquer his trophy. It weighed 611.5 pounds and measured 116 inches.
“We were a little to the west,” McKee said. “There was a lot of bait out there. We made bait two times with no problem and this fish ate a live blackfin tuna. It was a good time. The entire crew worked really hard and catching this fish was a group effort.”
There are 117 teams competing in this year’s event, with $2.6 million in potential prize money is on the line. One other boat, Skin Deep boated a blue marlin but elected to stay offshore due to distance from Biloxi. In addition to blue marlin, boats are angling for tuna, wahoo, dolphin and swordfish. The first three must weigh at least 20 pounds to qualify, while the minimum length requirement for swordfish is 60 inches. Smaller billfish also count in the Release Division.
Eighty-seven boats also entered the optional record tuna division for a chance to break the existing Mississippi record of 205.8 pounds. The first registered angler who weighs a record-breaker will win an extra $500,000.
Hosted by the Golden Nugget Casino and Hotel, the Classic continues through Saturday evening. Scales open at 3 p.m. and will remain open until all the fish are weighed. They are located at the Point Cadet Marina behind the casino and are free and open to the public. Tournament sponsors will be showcasing their products or services. Tournament clothing and other gear will also be for sale.
