By Capt. Dave Lear
June 5, 2019; Biloxi, Mississippi:
Mother Nature doesn’t pull any punches. So after a spring that has seen countless tornados, record floods and scorching temperatures across much of the country, a sucker punch is not really a surprise. But it sure is low blow, regardless.
With early commitments topping out at 115 boats, an earlier tropical disturbance and subsequent stormy weather across the central Gulf of Mexico caused more than three-quarters of the expected fleet to back out of the 2019 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The captains’ meeting and registration was held Wednesday. Tournament Director Bobby Carter was obviously disappointed with the unexpected developments.
“Blame it on the weather,” Carter said. “In 23 years weather has only affected the outcome of this tournament three times, including this year. We respect the team’s decisions and hoped more would have opted to fish. But in the end they are the ones that have to decide.”
Weather apps and web sites were bombarded with constant page views as teams struggled with whether to fish or not, and the debate continued into early Thursday morning. Squalls and higher seas are forecast throughout the day so tournament officials made the decision to move the start back a day. Boats can now depart the Point Cadet Marina at 6 am Friday and start fishing immediately and continue through Sunday.Everyone must be inside the markers by 5 pm Sunday.
Registration has been extended as well. Boats that planned to lay can now get back in and optional entries will be accepted from 1 to 5 pm Thursday, at the tournament registration inside the Golden Nugget. No deletions or cancellations will be allowed, however.
The final field will still be rewarded with six-figure payouts. Cash prizes are awarded for the base entry in each category, plus teams can bet additional money in optional divisions. Historically, the MGCBC has been one of the top money tournaments in world. In 2018, 117 boats competed for $2.3 million in overall prize money.
Eligible species include blue marlin, billfish catch and release, tuna, wahoo and dolphin. Blue marlin must measure at least 110 inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the tail to be eligible to weigh. Smaller blues, white marlin and sailfish qualify for release points.
The MGCBC has always been a popular stop on the Gulf big-game circuit. In its 22-year history, seven state records have been broken. One of those also set the benchmark for Gulf blue marlin when Barry Carr and the team aboard Sea Wolff weighed a 1,054.6-pound blue (138 inches) in 2002.
The scales, located behind the host Golden Nugget Biloxi, will open Friday at 3 pm and close at 9 pm. All boats must be back in by 5 pm Sunday night. The weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Sponsors will have displays set up throughout the area.
So despite the forecast, the 2019 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic will go on as planned. Big fish will be weighed. Trophies and sizable checks will be awarded. And many will wonder what might have been, had Mother Nature not thrown that nasty left hook without warning.
