June 4, 2014; Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Greek mythology and big-game fishing are not often synonymous. But an unusual incident at the start of this year’s Classic certainly lends credence to a modern connection. According to the legend the phoenix, a long-lived and colorful bird, dies by raging fire only to be resurrected [...]
By Capt. Dave Lear Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The final countdown is on for the 2014 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, which officially begins Tuesday, June 3. The Dock Party/Seafood Jambalaya at 6 p.m. at the Point Cadet Marina is sponsored by F.E.B. Distributing, Coors Light, Gorenflo’s, Louisiana Fish Fry Products and Gosling’s Black Seal [...]
May 2, 2014 By Capt. Dave Lear There’s no shortage of excitement during tournament week at the Classic. With more than one million dollars in prize money at stake and some of the best fishing teams in the world showcasing their talents, it truly is a spectacle to behold. For starters more than a billion [...]
April 14, 2014 By Capt. Dave Lear It takes skill, timing, coordination and being in the right spot at the right time to seriously compete in a major billfish tournament. Having a little bit of luck on your side certainly doesn’t hurt either. All those factors came into play for Team Breathe Reel Deep last year, as [...]
2013 1st Place Blue Marlin | Photo by Alaric Lambert June 11, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Mother Nature can be formidable at times, but even she couldn’t put a damper on the 2013 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. A total of 52 boats competed in spite of the lingering effects [...]
June 10, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear For most people, a pipe dream is a daydream or fantasy that can’t be achieved. For Corbin Bass and his team aboard Pipe Dream, a 60-foot Spencer based in Port Mansfield, Texas, yesterday’s dream became a reality, however. It only took about 35 minutes for the mate/designated [...]
June 8, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear The 145th annual Belmont Stakes thoroughbred horse race ran earlier Saturday in New York with Palace Malice an upset winner by 3 1/4 lengths. But in Biloxi, Mississippi all eyes were trained on the transom of Mollie a little after 7 p.m. local time as the 66-foot G&S [...]
June 7, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Even though none of the 52 boats entered opted to return to the weigh scales Friday evening, the plaza behind the Golden Nugget was buzzing nonetheless. An enthusiastic crowd danced, screamed and clapped along with Rockin’ Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters, a legendary Nawlins band, as [...]
June 7, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear Bolstered by great expectations, 52 gleaming sportfishers motored away from the Point Cadet Marina this morning as the 2013 Classic got underway. Some will head south, others west. All will be searching for a giant blue marlin and other gamefish worth $1.1 million in prize money. [...]
June 5, 2013, Biloxi, Mississippi: By Capt. Dave Lear All the guests are here, only nobody apparently told Andrea she wasn’t invited. The 2013 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic got underway Wednesday evening as planned with the captains’ meeting and kick-off festivities at the host Golden Nugget Casino. But lurking far offshore was the newly-formed [...]