Gulf Division Power Rankings: June 17, 2025

Another tournament in the books, another set of power rankings! SFC Insider re-stacks the deck after the Gulfport Mississippi Open.

1) Third Coast Renegades Angling Club
I had the division leaders ranked second from the bottom last week because a substitute team had not been shared with me until the rankings already came out. Wheels down in Gulfport, I learned Captain Adam McGugin and his team on “Home Made,” a boat based in Orange Beach, Alabama would be representing the Renegades. They’re an established operation in an area known to produce some of the best crews in the Gulf. 

Looks like the Renegades took that ranking personally. 

Lesson learned: do not doubt the Renegades' ability to compete, no matter how late a roster is secured. Until this club has a bad placement, their spot at the top of the power rankings is about as secure as their spot on the top of the season points leaderboard.

2) Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club
While the Gulf Coast Cowboys are fourth in the points, they land second in the power rankings this week because of a very important intangible: momentum.

Believe it or not, but there is something to be said about securing points and being in contention for a win to boost a club’s confidence. Captain Blake Bridges is highly regarded as one of the top skippers in the Gulf, and has proven it over and over again with his resume of tournament wins and series championships (including one from SFC’s open era before angling clubs). 

This second place finish, along with getting co-owner and country music superstar Brian Kelley on his first blue marlin, look likely to bring a tidal wave of momentum the Cowboys' way in this three-tournament sprint to the finish.

3) Louisiana Canyons Angling Club
Two main figures in this club play out like sportfishing’s version of “Perfect Strangers.” Similarly to SFC’s broadcast hosts Robbie Floyd and Peter Miller, Owner/Angler Gus Rantz and Captain Hall Bohlinger make an odd couple. 

Rantz is a larger than life personality, matching his larger than life stature. Fun-loving yet competitive, it’s fun to see somebody break the mold in competitive billfishing by outfitting his boat in his own unique way. Upgrading to a 92’ Viking Enclosed Bridge this season, it’s the largest boat in SFC, with the Atlantic Division’s New York Granders Angling Club coming in second with an 80’ Viking Convertible. Purchased through brokerage, the boat has had a few hiccups with refits taking place in the off-weeks between tournaments. Known for having parties on the bow during their return to the marina on Championship Saturday, a bow rail needed to be installed in the weeks between the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open and the Gulfport Mississippi Open.

Among the hardcore blood-and-guts fishing crowd, chaise lounges and other bow-based creature comforts are frowned upon for not looking “serious” enough. 

Gus Rantz doesn’t care about what other people think about his boat. They’re sitting in second in the Gulf Division points standings, with the final berth into the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. The funny part is, the Canyons’ results reflect more of Hall Bohlinger’s personality than Rantz’s.

Rantz bestowed the nickname for “Stonewall” Hall Bohlinger at SFC Media Day back in February for his captain's stoic and unbothered persona. A man of few words and as even-keeled as they come, the Louisiana Canyons have mostly flown under the radar this season. 

Struggling to find the billfish in the division-opening tournament, the East Pass Challenge, the Canyons finished tied with last place points. At the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open, effectively their home event, the Canyons came away with second place after holding an early lead. With a fourth place finish in the Gulfport Mississippi Open, the points earned are good enough to find themselves second overall. 

While the Third Coast Renegades have been flashy and dominant, with one second place finish and two tournament wins, the Louisiana Canyons have been consistent and moving in relative silence. That’s gotta be good enough to crack a smirk on ol’ Captain Stonewall’s face.

4) Mississippi Blues Angling Club
Similarly to the Cowboys, the Mississippi Blues find themselves lower in the power rankings than their season points total due to momentum trending in the wrong direction. 

It’s been a rough go for the Blues since winning the season-opening East Pass Challenge, now going back-to-back SFC tournaments without securing a billfish. It’s not all doom and gloom though for the Blues; they are only 100 points behind Louisiana Canyons for second place. Given the league’s points structure, those clubs will be trading places with each finish until we conclude the regular season in Orange Beach, Alabama. 

5) Texas Lone Stars Angling Club
Something the Mississippi Blues experienced last year during the 2024 Gulf season with their boat “Rising Son’s”: a boat’s return to form from a refit can do wonders for your results. That’s exactly what Captain Spencer Johnson and the Texas Lone Stars capitalized on during last week’s Gulfport Mississippi Open.

This tournament was their first of the season with their own boat. “Freebird,” a 65’ Paul Mann custom returned from a multi-month refit, and immediately put the club on fish. The Lone Stars took the early lead on Thursday with a sailfish release, eventually settling for third place overall. 

After a rough start on other boats, the Lone Stars are trending upward.

6) West Florida Black Flags Angling Club
Leaving Gulfport without a billfish release has been a tough pill to swallow for the Black Flags, particularly when the squad had two blue marlin hooked and lost. Securing both fish would have put the Black Flags in third place, and would have earned them sole possession of fourth place in the points standings. Every fish makes a difference, and even if the tournament win was out of reach, any points scored in a tournament is better than none to keep playoff hopes alive. Look no further than the Louisiana Canyons Angling Club for an example of how you have to be in it to win it. 

7) Alabama Angling Club
Speaking of being in it to win it, this club, which is currently for sale by the league, is on the verge of finding a formidable ownership group. Should a deal be reached and approved by the competition committee, Alabama Angling Club could throw a monkey wrench in the entire points race for the second half of the season. 

What could be brewing? Something big. Hold onto your hats, things might get weird before the end of this inaugural angling club season.