June 12, 2020; Biloxi, Mississippi:
By Capt. Dave Lear
The first day of summer is still more than a week away. That doesn’t mean the temperatures aren’t hot. Big game fishing, at least in the central Gulf of Mexico, is downright sizzling, too.
Tournament staff were constantly answering cell phones or responding to texts as the action got started Thursday afternoon. With good pockets of cobalt blue water and plenty of bait, the 57 boats fishing were having knock-down after knock-down on lines in the spread. The release scoreboard was spinning up points faster than a slot machine in the Golden Nugget Casino.
As the weigh scales approached closing Friday night, Breathe Easy was in first place with 1,800 points. Right on their heels were Relentless Pursuit, High Cotton and Fleur de Lis, with identical scores. Ties are broken by whoever records their fish first. Cold Motion had 1,200 points and other boats were on the board with single marlin releases. With the spotty relays and the distance from port, there could easily be more with multiple releases.
Release points are confirmed by video verification when the boats return to Biloxi. Blue marlin releases count for 600 points each, while white marlin, sailfish and spearfish are 250 points apiece. Un-identified billfish also are 250. With dozens of boats entered in the optional catch and release categories, the final outcome—and payout—could come down to recorded minutes on the GPS.
Two boats did return to the Point Cadet Marina with eligible blue marlin Friday night. Lisa Jo, a 53 Scarborough based in Orange Beach, Alabama, was first to the scales. Once the fish was hauled out of the cockpit and to the hoist, the weight was announced—527.3 pounds for angler Joey Geil. Capt. Logan Lovett is the skipper for the sleek custom sport-fisher.
“We raised that fish on a teaser and pitched a belly strip bait back to it,” Lovett says. “It was caught on a Shimano 50 reel and the fight lasted about two hours and 15 minutes.” Geil and Lovett have been fishing together for about 10 years. Lisa Jo’s entry was caught about 90 miles due south of Biloxi.
“It was four to fives [wave height] out there, a little sporty,” Lovett adds. “The bait wasn’t over the top but it was there. Conditions overall were good.” Lovett said there were a handful of boats also fishing the area but it wasn’t overly crowded. After taking on fuel, Lisa Jo planned to head back offshore in the general direction but not quite as far in hopes of finding more fish.
Nick Pratt has only owned his 72 Viking, It Just Takes Time, for a little over a year. But the Alabama angler has made a quick impression on the Gulf circuit. The team won the 2019 Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic and Pratt notched another marlin on his rod when he and his crew boated a 112-inch fish on Friday. Pratt and his crew were fishing east of the river. The marlin ate a live bait and was boated after 80 minutes. It tipped the scales at 570.2 pounds. It Just Takes Time and Lisa Jo are both invested in the blue marlin weight optional entries.
Seas are expected to continue to lay down on Saturday, the final day of fishing in the 2020 Classic. Will that diminish the bite or turn the fish on even more? Temperatures will be a factor and if it stays as sizzling as the start, it’s going to be quite the scorcher.
The weigh station at the Point Cadet Marina opens at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Boats in line before 8 p.m. will be allowed to weigh their catch. The public is invited to watch as the final drama unfolds.
