By Capt. Dave Lear June 11, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: Blame it on a wet spring, the absentee Loop Current or the usual scapegoat El Nino. Whatever the case, many long-time Gulf anglers agree the start of the 2017 big-game season has been slow to develop. All that changed, however, as fishing in the MGCBC ended [...]
By Capt. Dave Lear June 9, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: The first round of fights are over. The outcome on many more is yet to be decided. The weigh scales at the Point Cadet Marina were christened Friday night as four noteworthy billfish were weighed. The first two broke the existing Mississippi record for swordfish—75 pounds—only [...]
By Capt. Dave Lear June 9, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: Offshore, the action is underway with several swordfish and at least two blue marlin boated amongst the 120 teams competing in the 2017 MGCBC. Scales open at 3 p.m. on Friday and stay open until 8. They re-open again at the same time on Saturday and [...]
By Capt. Dave Lear June 8, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: As the 120 boats in this year’s Classic plot a course deep into the iridescent blue depths of the Gulf, a certain expression bears repeating: The more things change, the more they remain the same. Adding the swordfish division this year and the chance for a [...]
By Capt. Dave Lear June 7, 2017, Biloxi, Mississippi: Stacks of hundred dollar bills are still being carefully counted as the bets add to the growing pot. Yet even as registration for the 2017 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic draws to a close, this much is apparent—come Thursday morning 120 boats will blast off in [...]
April 11, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear The countdown has begun. With less than two months before the start of the 2017 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic the hook files are out, fresh line is going on reels and the gaffs are ready. If advance dock buzz is a barometer, this year’s event [...]
January 25, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, one of the premier big-game fishing tournaments in the world, today announced the decision to increase the minimum length requirement for blue marlin to 107 inches for its June event. Eligible fish must measure at least 107 inches from the tip of the lower [...]
January 06, 2017; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear In the sport of fencing, En Garde is the French warning for participants to be on their guard and ready for action. But for the contestants suiting up for the 2017 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic June 5-11, this notice also represents the tip of the [...]
June 1, 2016; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear When the tournament fleet returns to the weigh scales next Friday and Saturday, contestants and spectators alike probably won’t notice the little pop-up tent located behind some sponsor booths. Yet next to the seawall, a team of fisheries biologists will be busy conducting important research, led [...]
May 2, 2016; Biloxi, Mississippi: The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic is just over a month away, but one registered contestant has already won big. A Work of Art, a 92-foot Viking owned by Art Favre of Orange Beach, Alabama, was the Golden Opportunity winner in a drawing held May 1 at the host facility, [...]
