LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open

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*All times Central (CT)

FINAL RESULTS
Third Coast Renegades Angling Club: 1,000 Points
Louisiana Canyons Angling Club: 450 Points
West Florida Black Flags Angling Club: 450 Points
Alabama Angling Club: 0 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club: 0 Points
Mississippi Blues Angling Club: 0 Points
Texas Lone Stars Angling Club: 0 Points

THURSDAY, MAY 8 

Here we are, Day 1 Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open, presented by XTRATUF. 

Sort of.

The gale warning issued for the Grand Isle, Louisiana area late Wednesday evening has resulted in two different competitive fishing windows for the seven Gulf Division Angling Clubs to compete. Some pushed away on Thursday morning as originally scheduled and will return Saturday, May 10. The angling clubs opting for that are:

Alabama Angling Club
Louisiana Canyons Angling Club
Texas Lone Stars Angling Club

The other four clubs will be setting off for the Gulf after 10AM CT Friday, returning to Hurricane Hole Marina & Resort no later than Sunday (Mother’s Day) May 11. Those choosing to depart Friday include:

Mississippi Blues Angling Club (current Gulf Division Leader)
Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club
Third Coast Renegades Angling Club (currently second in the division)
West Florida Black Flags Angling Club

With that established, here’s how the tournament is shaping up so far:

9:50AM - In true Louisiana fashion, The National Anthem is performed by a trumpeter and singer. A few hours later, the first ever American will be voted as the next Pope, officially taking the name Leo XIV. 

9:55AM - Alabama Angling Club leaves the dock, making their way out for the official 10AM start time. The boat and team representing Alabama Angling Club (one of the two expansion clubs currently taking bids for ownership) are Captain Kevin Aderhold and owner/angler Don Hargroder. Hargroder not only owns the 76’ Whiticar enclosed bridge named: “Badonkadonk,” but he also owns Hurricane Hole Marina & Resort. A longtime competitor in SFC’s “open era” of competition, he returns to tournament form flying the Alabama AC banner. 

10:00AM - Off go Louisiana Canyons Angling Club, led by Captain “Stonewall” Hall Bohlinger, owner/angler Gus Rantz and angler/GM Bobby Holderman. Given the stormy conditions brewing offshore making their way northeastward from coastal Texas, it’s not a surprise to see the first two boats pushing away being the larger double enclosed bridge battlewagons. The Canyons run a 92’ Viking with a 24’,1” beam. Riding in style. 

10:01AM - ♫ “Oh when the Saints go Marching In” ♫ the trumpeter giving the home treatment to all the sportfish boats setting out for three long days of fishing.

12:07PM - Texas Lone Stars are on their way. Pushing away from the dock in a different boat, Captain Spencer Johnson mentioned that the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open will be the last one they need a stand-in boat for on the calendar, with their main sporty back from refit in time for the Gulfport Mississippi Open. 

12:16PM - In their slip waiting for tomorrow, Captain Landon Bell with Third Coast Renegades is monitoring the weather, and the radar is picking up a lot of nasty weather. 

“It doesn’t look good,” Bell said. “I would rather deal with that for one day and have two good fishing days than ride that out for two and have only one day of clear fishing.” 

1:18PM - We caught up with Mississippi Blues in their slip as they are making final preparations. This is the first time the Blues have their full roster in play, including mate Katie Coeckelenbergh-Sawyer, a familiar face to SFC fans from the broadcast last year. She’s back on the competitive side alongside angler Jaselyn Berthelot, mate Toby Berthelot and Captain Jimmy “Cricket” Crochet. 

2:24PM - Docked right next to the Blues are Captain Blake Bridges and the Gulf Coast Cowboys. A fuel bladder is filled and sitting on the starboard side (right) side of their cockpit ready to rock tomorrow. It’s likely that the Cowboys will get a late start tomorrow, waiting on the arrival of their co-owner, Country Music superstar Brian Kelley. 

FRIDAY, MAY 9

9:29AM - FIRST FISH ON THE BOARD! LOUISIANA CANYONS ANGLING CLUB. Ben Miller released a blue marlin, good for 450 points and the first recorded release of the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open, presented by XTRATUF. That’s a big improvement for Captain “Stonewall” Hall Bohlinger and the crew, who didn’t record a release at the season opening East Pass Challenge. The option to go fishing on Thursday meant a lot of rough weather to endure, but has paid off the morning after. 

The entire Gulf is for Louisiana Canyons and Alabama Angling Club until the other five clubs push away from the marina at 10AM. Texas Lone Stars Angling Club opted to fish Thursday-Saturday, but came in late last night with some engine trouble. They remain at the dock riding out the storm.

9:45AM - The Beach Cowboy has arrived! Country music superstar and diamond recording artist Brian Kelley steps on board the boat with his Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club ready to go. He’s had a banner of a week, first being unmasked on the season finale of The Masked Singer on FOX Wednesday night, attending the ACM Awards last night in Frisco, Texas. Now Kelley’s in Grand Isle, Louisiana ready to wrestle Jordon Benefield for time in the fighting chair. 

10:00AM - Rolling out. Mississippi Blues Angling Club make their way out of the Hurricane Hole channel, followed closely afterwards by Captain Danny Watts and West Florida Black Flags. Under the bridge and out the inlet they go, with Gulf Coast Cowboys only a few hundred yards behind. 

10:13AM - Hammer down. Captain Blake Bridges mashes the throttles and the Cowboys are moving, catching up to the others to begin their first day of action.

10:46AM Captain Landon Bell and Third Coast Renegades Angling Club remain at the marina, waiting for the weather to pass before they make their run offshore. The Renegades are also fishing Friday-Sunday. Looks to be the right move at the moment given the lighting activity around the marina. Several strikes have been recorded within a few miles. Checking the radar has not been pleasant for any of us on the ground in Hurricane Hole. 

12:00PM - Renegades are on the move and so are the Lone Stars, all seven clubs are back in action!

2:00PM - Dredges are being brought in, so there’s hope for a scoring fish. Looks like a Marlin struck one of the fish in the teaser, but did not bite a bait.

2:09PM - Mississippi Blues found a spot for bait at one of the oil rigs. Of the seven clubs, the Blues appear to be in the best weather.

2:11PM - HOOKED UP! Alabama Angling Club look to be hooked on a double. Don Hargroder has one, another of the anglers moved to the gunwale. 

2:27PM - The fight is stirring some controversy with the officials. Live on ESPN+, the tournament director will be reviewing the video to see if Alabama Angling ends up with the release. 

2:36PM - Lots of footage of one of the anglers with Alabama Angling Club reeling while the rod is in the gunwale, but we’re hearing it’s a non-scoring fish. Potentially a bluefin tuna. If it were to be a blue marlin…it’s a clear DQ.

3:00PM - Renegades are hooked up! Gregg Trennor is in the fighting chair looking to bring in a blue marlin to score some points. Renegades currently sit in second in the SFC Gulf Division standings.

3:08PM - Doesn't look to be the right species. The circle hook was nearly straightened out, fish didn't come up after it was broken off from the leader. A GoPro camera was dropped in the water, so we will know at some point. 

3:15PM - Looks like Alabama Angling Club’s double is likely to be two bluefin tunas. Still fighting.

3:40PM - Checking in with Jaselyn Berthelot from Mississippi Blues Angling Club. They’re spending most of the day making bait. This is their first day on the water, so expect some moves from The Blues in the morning.

3:42PM - Hooked up! Louisiana Canyons have drag screaming and an angler has made their way to the fighting chair. We’re watching live on ESPN+ for the final 18 minutes to see whether the fish is a blue marlin.

3:48PM - Canyons have a tuna that they broke off. Meanwhile, Alabama Angling Club had one fish break off. Don Hargroder is still fighting the other fish. 

4:27PM - Don Hargroder is still fighting that fish…someone bust out some McCaffrey Protein Bites to keep him fueled up.

6:03PM - The fight is over, and it makes perfect sense as to why that was a 4+ hour battle. The fish ended up being a bluefin tuna with an estimated weight of 600 lbs. Get some rest Don, you’ve earned it. 

6:44PM - Alabama Angling Club is finding the sunset bite! Hooked up to a fish, but unsure of what species.

7:59PM - Another bluefin tuna for Alabama Angling Club. Released, but not a points scoring fish. 

9:36PM - Gulf Coast Cowboys are also into the tunas at the moment, releasing a monster of a bluefin, estimated at 650lbs. 

11:00PM - Texas Lone Stars are calling it on their end. Rough weather and mechanical problems with their boat have led Captain Spencer Johnson to forgo the last day of fishing. There’s a few weather buoys down further to the east, the weather window has been unpredictable. With reports of 136 mph winds offshore near Texas, the safety of the crew takes priority when the boat is not 100%. 

SATURDAY, MAY 10

6:45AM - Mississippi Blues are hooked up! Not sure what it is yet, but the morning bite has officially started. 

9:47AM - The Blues are still hooked up, with Jaselyn Berthelot in the fighting chair looking to gain some ground on whatever that fish could be. Everyone on board hoping for a Blue Marlin instead of a bluefin tuna.

12:15PM - The Mississippi Blues are still fighting that fish. Without visual confirmation, angler Jaselyn Berthelot and Captain Jimmy “Cricket” Crochet have to keep hoping that what’s on the other end of the line is a blue marlin. 

12:26PM - West Florida Black Flags are hooked up! Marty Wilson is bringing in something with a bill. They have the leader, but we are looking for confirmation of species at this point.

12:45PM - RAISE THE BLACK! Marty Wilson and the Black Flags secure the Blue Marlin release. It required several attempts to get visual confirmation, but the effort was well worth the wait. 450 Points for them and sole possession of second place so far. 

Something to note: West Florida Black Flags are fishing their second day of three available right now. Since the Louisiana Canyons started Thursday, today is their last fishing day. Another quick release will give the Black Flags the outright lead given timing.

1:20PM - Jaselyn Berthelot of Mississippi is on hour 6 of fighting this fish, in what surely has to be the longest fight of her angling career.

2:15PM - Nearly 7 and a half hours later, Jaselyn and the Blues are still fighting a mystery monster of a fish.

2:19PM - Black Flags were on a shark. Any billfish species would have been for the lead.

2:21PM - Jaselyn Berthelot wins the fight. Unfortunately for the Mississippi Blues, the fish was an enormous bluefin tuna. The total fight time is 7 hours, 32 minutes, 35 seconds. Officially the longest fight of Jaselyn’s career and her first ever bluefin tuna.

2:27PM - I'm not crying, you're crying! An emotional Jaselyn Berthelot pours out thanks to everyone back at home supporting, including her mom for Mother's Day tomorrow. 

2:55PM - Beach Cowboy spotted! Brian Kelley is on ESPN+ with studio hosts Peter Miller & Robbie Floyd. Live interview from the cockpit of the Gulf Coast Cowboys boat. In the meantime, the squad is looking for their first blue marlin. The Cowboys are fishing their second day of three. Time may be running out on the broadcast, but there’s another day to get after it tomorrow.

5:32PM - WE HAVE A NEW LEADER! Third Coast Renegades Angling Club land a double, with Gregg Trenor landing both fish. 900 Points for the Renegades and sole possession of first place. Louisiana Canyons are DONE fishing and cannot improve, so the highest they can finish is second at the end of tomorrow’s action.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, MAY 11

9:06AM - All quiet offshore, but the leading Third Coast Renegades are antsy for more fish. They don’t believe a 1-fish lead will be enough to hold on. After speaking with Captain Landon Bell this morning, we learned the Renegades actually went 2/4 yesterday, with one fish lost earlier in the day. That means there was a third fish hooked with them in the evening! 

There will be a Championship Sunday preview article coming soon with the full story.

11:15AM - RENEGADES HAVE IT MADE! Gregg Trenor releases their third fish, a WHITE Marlin, to extend their lead. This is the first white marlin released in the 2025 SFC season. Whites are worth 100 points, so their total increases to an even 1,000 points. 

We caught up with Jaselyn Berthelot of Mississippi Blues Angling Club this morning. She’s feeling good after that epic 7.5 hour fight with an enormous bluefin tuna. Her first bluefin of her career. 

“A little soreness, but nothing I’m not used to,” she said. “[The] crew is working hard to find the right species. It’s never over until it’s over so [we’re] using every minute wisely.” 

1:31PM - West Florida Black Flags are making the trip back to Grand Isle. Unless they spot something on the surface on the way back, their fishing is done. Should the results stay as they are, Captain Danny Watts and crew will take third place. 

2:00PM - The action is with the Third Coast Renegades today. Though not a points-scoring fish, they release another whale of a bluefin tuna. Their first bluefin encounter of the tournament was a 46-minute fight.

3:10PM - Third Coast Renegades are making their run back to Hurricane Hole Marina & Resort. It looks to be all but decided at this point! They expect to be back by 5:30PM, 30-minutes ahead of the deadline.

3:16PM - Gulf Coast Cowboys are on their way back in. Another tough outing for them. This time without the usage of their gyros and a few bluefin tuna bites. Regardless of the outcome, the vibes on the boat looked immaculate from footage shared by co-owner and Country Music superstar Brian Kelley.

6:00PM - WINNERS! THIRD COAST RENEGADES ANGLING CLUB! Captain Landon Bell and top angler Gregg Trenor take the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open Crown.