Live Updates: Gulfport Mississippi Open, Presented by Guidesly

Welcome back to the Gulf: The Division that has produced every SFC champion since the league’s inception is back in action for the first time since April’s Key West Classic that simultaneously kicked off both divisions. We’re in the metro area of Gulfport and Biloxi for the Gulfport Mississippi Open, presented by Guidesly.

The Third Coast Renegades look to retain their early divisional points lead in the hunt for October’s Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. The top two clubs from each division qualify to compete for the league title.

Here’s a quick update on the divisional standings after a long time off:

Third Coast Renegades AC - 3,500 Points
Louisiana Canyons AC - 3,000 Points
Mississippi Blues AC - 2,800 Points
Texas Lone Stars AC - 2,600 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys AC - 2,400 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 2,200 Points

We’re getting started earlier with updates due to the new rule for this tournament, which allows the clubs to leave at noon on Thursday, with a lines in time of midnight on Friday. This change empowers the clubs to make the long run out to the rigs and catch bait at night to be ready to catch and release fish at first light, similar to what we saw typically in the morning of day two and three. 

THURSDAY, JUNE 11: START DAY
*All times Central (CT)

8:30 AM: We caught up with Louisiana Canyons first, before they went to fuel up. The cockpit & transom of their 58’ Viking sits very low in the water once they’re fully loaded on fuel, including their bladders. 

“The Marlin goes for a swim when we’re fully loaded,” said Jaselyn Berthelot, 2025 SFC Angler of The Year and star angler of Louisiana Canyons AC.

They went and got fuel shortly after our interview as the final item on their checklist prior to running out. 

9:00 AM: Captain Blake Bridges shared that the one big advantage for the Gulf Coast Cowboys with their new 67’ Paul Mann custom: speed. He covered 1,000 miles in three days picking up the boat in North Carolina. They’re ready to put the additional range to the test.

10:45 AM: Garrett Frazier of Third Coast Renegades shared a lot with us, with their 60’ Spencer fully loaded with a full fuel bladder in their cockpit. Approximately 250 gallons, according to Frazier, sitting on the port side of their cockpit, causing their boat to list slightly to port. Sounds like the Renegades are going to start the tournament by live baiting and going to the rigs. We also got our first reference of sargassum, aka seaweed. They saw a lot of it during a tournament out of Biloxi last week, calling the sheer amount of it out in the Gulf “diabolical.” 

12:00 PM: ROLL OUT! Three boats make their way out to the Biloxi sea buoy at the earliest possible time to leave: Louisiana Canyons, Third Coast Renegades, and Texas Lone Stars. We’ll see where they end up in the morning.

1:00 PM: Gulf Coast Cowboys are fueling up to leave.

2:01 PM: Off go the West Florida Black Flags.

But….where are the Mississippi Blues? If you read my Power Rankings from Tuesday, you already know the boat that won this tournament last year are still in the yard. Engine repower is still being sorted, along with re-fitting the boat with everything it needs to go out on the water. They aren’t leaving today. We hope they make it out tomorrow. Each day they don’t make it out is less time for them to fish, hurting their chances of a strong showing.

10:00 PM: Caught up with Toby Berthelot from Louisiana Canyons. He told me they were 200 miles offshore around the time the broadcast crew finished their multi-tasking: Watching the Stanley Cup Finals, World Cup match between South Korea and the Czech Republic, and Love Island. All while prepping for broadcast the next day.

FRIDAY, JUNE 12: DAY 1

8:30 AM: GULF COAST COWBOYS STRIKE FIRST! Lori McDowell releases a white marlin to start the Gulfport Mississippi Open with 100 points and the early lead. I would expect the first white marlin to go to the Texas Lone Stars

Early Day 1 Leaderboard:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 100 Points
Texas Lone Stars
Third Coast Renegades
Louisiana Canyons
West Florida Black Flags
Mississippi Blues

9:30 AM: The Blues are on their way! They are filling with fuel before heading out to the sea buoy. They made the run early this morning from Orange Beach to the Gulfport/Biloxi area after getting the boat fully put together, and clearing an evening sea trial.

Good news for them is there is only one fish on the board. They will be hopeful that the bite remains slow until they can get out to the rigs.

11:52 AM: HOW ‘BOUT DEM COWBOYS? Brian Kelley releases a Blue Marlin to give the leaders a much bigger margin. Their total goes up to 550 points. That fish was a biiiig one.

Day 1 as of Noon:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 550 Points
Texas Lone Stars
Third Coast Renegades
Louisiana Canyons
West Florida Black Flags
Mississippi Blues

2:00 PM: Slow bite since those first two fish. We’re seeing some action, but it’s either mahi or break offs. We saw Mississippi Blues in some meatfish, Black Flags had something break off. The Gulf Coast Cowboys hooked into a shark. Now it looks like multiple boats are making runs to new locations. We’re seeing the Texas Lone Stars and Cowboys both moving fast.

2:45 PM: TEXAS LONE STARS ARE HOOKED ON A BLUE! David Blackbird is feeling and we’re watching a feisty blue marlin leaping in the distance. They’re looking to bring this fish in for 450 points and sole possession of second place.

3:10 PM: LONE STARS GET THE RELEASE! Nearly 30 minutes into the fight, David Blackbird gets the release and the defending champs are in second place, only a fish behind the Gulf Coast Cowboys. A white marlin brings them even on points, but behind on time. A sailfish still keeps them behind on points. Another blue marlin would give Capt. Spencer Johnson & co. the outright lead.

3:32 PM: FEEDING ANOTHER: Gulf Coast Cowboys are looking to hook up on another fish, tossing a live bait back into the water.

3:40 PM: Nothing comes up. Cowboys will reset and try again.

4:00 PM: We’re heading off the air, but the fishing continues in the Gulf! It won’t surprise me one bit if another fish or two comes up closer to sunset.

Day 1 Leaderboard:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 550 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 450 Points
Third Coast Renegades
Louisiana Canyons
West Florida Black Flags
Mississippi Blues

SATURDAY, JUNE 13: DAY 2

6:32 AM: COWBOYS ARE ON IT AGAIN! Jordan Benefield releases that sunrise blue marlin that we have gotten used to seeing in these Gulf Division tournaments. That latest fish puts the leaders at 1,000 points. 

There’s a lot of day left, and we’re on the edge of our seats to see how it plays out.

EARLY DAY 2 LEADERBOARD:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 1,000 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 450 Points
Third Coast Renegades
Louisiana Canyons
West Florida Black Flags
Mississippi Blues

8:22 AM: LONE STARS COME RIGHT BACK! Another blue marlin release for David Blackbird put the defending champs 100 points away from the leaders again. 

8:50 AM: MISSISSIPPI BLUES, welcome to the party! From the dry dock to the blue marlin, Adam Davidson releases one for 450 points and sole possession of third place.

9:27 AM: The train is howling! Cowboys co-owner Dino McDowell releases a blue marlin of his own, and the rotation of anglers resets with everyone scoring fish! That blue being extra insurance to preserve their lead. 

9:45 AM: THIRD COAST RENEGADES slide into fourth place with a blue marlin release from Garrett Frazier. Every fish counts for the Gulf Division leaders going into this event.

10:05 AM: Another one? ANOTHER ONE! Brian Kelley gets his second blue marlin release of the tournament, the Cowboys’ fourth blue and fifth overall billfish to keep running up the score.

10:59 AM: RENEGADES MOVING UP! Garrett Frazier releases his second blue marlin to jump into third place, hopping the Mississippi Blues and even with their fellow Texans, the Lone Stars on points.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD at 11:50 AM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 1,900  Points
Texas Lone Stars - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 900 Points
Mississippi Blues - 450 Points
Louisiana Canyons
West Florida Black Flags

12:57 PM: WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS release a white marlin to get on the board with 100 points. Marty Wilson is the angler of record.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD at 1:10 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 1,900  Points
Texas Lone Stars - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 900 Points
Mississippi Blues - 450 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points

3:22 PM: The Florida Georgia Line theme for their reunion was “LFG” and we’re hearing a lot of that again from the Gulf Coast Cowboys now that Brian Kelley has released yet another blue marlin! Their point total is now 2,350 Points and that’s a commanding lead the way things are looking right now.

3:33 PM: Mississippi Blues get another blue marlin as well! Adam Davidson releases his second of the tournament. It puts them into a three-way tie on points, but keeps them squarely in fourth place on time.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD at 3:45 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,350  Points
Texas Lone Stars - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 900 Points
Mississippi Blues - 900 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points

6:38 PM: MISSISSIPPI BLUES JUMP INTO SECOND! Adam Davidson gets a white marlin for 100 points, breaking the three-way 900 point tie.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD at 6:56 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,350  Points
Mississippi Blues - 1,000 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 900 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points

8:07 PM: The Texas Lone Stars find a sailfish with Chad Schimitus credited with the release. 75 points more keep the defending league champions in third, but only 15 points behind the Mississippi Blues. More importantly, it also puts Capt. Spencer Johnson & crew in a prime position for an additional 200 points with the new Grand Slam bonus. The extra 200 points being extremely helpful for them to try and gain some separation for second place.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD at 8:20 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,350  Points
Mississippi Blues - 1,000 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 975 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 900 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points

SUNDAY, JUNE 14: CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY

8:24 AM: LONE STARS BACK INTO SECOND! Bryan Richter releases a sailfish for the defending champs to sneak back ahead of Mississippi Blues for the runner-up spot. 

“Don’t count us out,” Jaselyn Berthelot said this morning. They missed on a fish, but seeing them mark and work shows they are in the right place now.

9:08 AM: Third Coast Renegades are back in the mix, even on points with the Mississippi Blues after a white marlin release from Dylan Frazier. It’s a slim gap so far between half of the field all fighting for second place.

9:15 AM: LOUISIANA CANYONS SCORE. They’re trying to make a big push on Championship Sunday and the rally starts with Jaselyn Berthelot releasing a white marlin to get on the leaderboard with 100 points.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD at 9:39 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,350  Points
Texas Lone Stars - 1,050 Points
Mississippi Blues - 1,000 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,000 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 100 Points

12:27 PM: MISSISSIPPI BLUES ARE HOOKED ON A BLUE MARLIN. Adam Davidson is in the chair and winding. They’re gaining on this fish and closing back in on second place should they secure the release.

12:44 PM: BLUES ARE BACK IN SECOND PLACE! Another blue marlin for Adam Davidson springs them 400 points clear of the Texas Lone Stars.

1:05 PM: Texas Lone Stars look to be trying to get a fish hooked here. Lots of action in the cockpit.

2:09 PM: RUNNING UP THE SCORE! Gulf Coast Cowboys release yet another blue marlin. Jordon Benefield in the chair for the Cowboys this time. Their total rises to 2,800 points with their sixth blue marlin, more than doubling up the second place boat.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD at 2:25 PM:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,800  Points
Mississippi Blues - 1,450 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 1,125 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,000 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 100 Points

2:55 PM: Checking in with Jaselyn Berthelot and the Louisiana Canyons, they’re reporting a cutlass bearing issue. If you recall, we heard the same problem exist with the Rhode Island Breakers in Charleston.

3:42 PM: Third Coast Renegades are running home, as are the West Florida Black Flags and the Gulf Coast Cowboys. The Cowboys look to be high in the saddle about 15 minutes away from a win.

4:00 PM: LINES OUT! GULF COAST COWBOYS TAKE THE GULFPORT MISSISSIPPI OPEN! Mississippi Blues hold on for second after overcoming building their boat over the weekend to release three blue marlin and a white marlin. Hats off to Capt. Adam McGugin, Adam Davidson, Garrett Schluter and John Crockard for getting it done.

UNOFFICIAL FINAL LEADERBOARD
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 2,800  Points
Mississippi Blues - 1,450 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 1,125 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,000 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 100 Points

The only factor that can affect the final leaderboard would be someone not making it back by 8:00 PM CT. Should a boat not be back by the deadline, they are disqualified.

Here’s a look at the season standings should the results hold up:

GULF STANDINGS THROUGH 2 OF 6 TOURNAMENTS
Third Coast Renegades - 6,100 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 5,900 Points
Mississippi Blues - 5,800 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 5,400 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 5,200 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 4,600 Points