Three Angling Clubs are back at the marina in Grand Isle, with Louisiana Canyons Angling Club clinging to second place. The Canyons, along with Alabama Angling Club and Texas Lone Stars Angling Club all chose to fish the Thursday-Saturday window, braving inclement weather to compete in the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open, presented by XTRATUF.
On Friday, their second fishing day, Captain “Stonewall” Hall Bohlinger and the Canyons landed a blue marlin to start the morning, giving them the early lead.
“There are still a lot of good boats out there, so one usually isn’t gonna do it,” Bohlinger said. “The first tournament was slow so there still may be a chance but we’ll see. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
The Canyons’ luck to stay in the lead ran out yesterday. On their way back to the dock, Third Coast Renegades Angling Club landed two blue marlin releases to grab sole possession of first place. Opting to fish Friday-Sunday, the Renegades have a full fishing day to go and build on their 900 point total.
Speaking to the leaders this morning, there was a potential to build a bigger lead that was missed yesterday.
“Wish we didn’t lose those two blues yesterday,” said Captain Landon Bell with Third Coast Renegades Angling Club. “[We’re] gonna grind until it’s over.”
Apparently one of the fish was lost earlier in the day, meaning their evening double could have been a triple.
The other three clubs still out in the Gulf looking to chase the Renegades are:
Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club
Mississippi Blues Angling Club
West Florida Black Flags Angling Club
West Florida Black Flags, led by Captain Danny Watts currently sit in third place with a single blue marlin release. They have been marking fish, but are looking for a breakthrough on this final day of action.
Mississippi Blues Angling Club, the current Gulf Division leaders are looking for their first blue marlin of the tournament, but made headlines yesterday with a non-scoring species. A giant bluefin tuna was tagged and released by angler Jaselyn Berthelot after a fight that lasted 7 hours, 32 minutes, 35 seconds.
“I’m actually feeling pretty good; a little soreness but nothing I’m not used to,” Mississippi Blues Angler Jaselyn Berthelot said. “It’s never over until it’s over so we’re using every minute wisely.”
With a few hours left on Championship Sunday, every minute will count to either cut into the lead, or for Third Coast Renegades to extend it.
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Lone Stars cash in the grand slam bonus, but two afternoon blue marlin have the Gulf Coast Cowboys on top heading into Championship Sunday
Renegades eye Gulf title, Lone Stars looking to rally tomorrow in ZGCP hunt.
Every fish matters this weekend in the hunt to the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs
Playoff scenarios and outlook for the regular season finale
Dino McDowell released the last fish of the tournament, which ultimately became a walk-off blue marlin.
