Gulf Coast Cowboys Lead Day 1 of Gulfport Mississippi Open, Presented by Guidesly
Cowboys poised for a big day 2 to extend their lead
The Gulf Division returned to action Friday at the Gulfport Mississippi Open, presented by Guidesly, and the Gulf Coast Cowboys got an early start to the weekend thanks to two thirds of their ownership group. A white marlin release by Lori McDowell, followed by a blue marlin release from Brian Kelley gave the Cowboys a 550-point total after Day 1, as a slow overall bite kept most of the fleet searching for opportunities offshore.
After a month-long break following April's Key West Classic, anticipation was high for the division that has produced every SFC Champion since the league's inception in 2022. The event also featured a new format, allowing teams to depart Thursday afternoon and spend the night offshore preparing for first light action Friday morning.
At 8:30 AM CT, Gulf Coast Cowboys became the first club on the scoreboard when McDowell successfully released a white marlin, worth 100 points. The early release separated the Cowboys from the rest of the fleet, but the biggest moment of the day was still to come.
Just before noon, Kelley came tight on a blue marlin and completed the release at 11:52 AM, adding 450 points and extending the Cowboys' lead to 550 points. For much of the day, the Cowboys' pair of releases were the only billfish on the board.
That changed at 2:45 PM when the Texas Lone Stars hooked a blue marlin. With veteran angler David Blackbird on the rod, the defending Gulf Division champions battled the fish for nearly 30 minutes before securing the release at 3:10 PM.
While the Lone Stars remain only a single billfish behind the Cowboys, they will need additional releases on Day 2 to erase the deficit and challenge for the tournament lead.
Beyond the two scoring boats, opportunities were scarce throughout the fleet. Several clubs reported activity around the rigs, but converting those chances into billfish points proved difficult.
After spending seven months in the yard, the Mississippi Blues departed Gulfport Friday and worked to get into position offshore. Their delay meant valuable fishing time was lost, but with only two teams finding the scoreboard, they remain well within striking distance entering Day 2.
The West Florida Black Flags experienced a break-off during the afternoon, while multiple teams reported mahi catches and non-scoring action. The Cowboys themselves tangled with a shark during the middle portion of the day.
While the Cowboys hold the overnight advantage, only three billfish were released across the fleet during Day 1.
With the Lone Stars within a fish of the lead and proven contenders such as the Third Coast Renegades, Louisiana Canyons, Mississippi Blues, and West Florida Black Flags still hunting for their first scoring opportunities, the stage is set for an exciting second day offshore.
Day 1 Leaderboard
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 550 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 450 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 0 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 0 Points
Mississippi Blues - 0 Points