Live Updates: Texas Billfish Open, presented by No Rivals

It is as hot as we expected in South Texas, if not hotter. On the ground since Tuesday evening, we have noticed that the wing has picked up considerably leading into the weekend, making for what should be a sporty day 1. The wind should lay off Saturday and Sunday to make for a nice time offshore, recreating the conditions that have produced quite an epic billfish bite this past month. 

Quick reminder that this is a 100 nautical mile boundary from the south jetty of Aransas Pass. No oil rigs are in this range, but there are several underwater geological features closer to the boundary, along with a couple of FADs.

Other notes: The boats can fish all day, and there is no specific lines out. The boats just need to be inside the inlet by 4:00 PM CT on Sunday.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14: DAY 1
*All times Central (CT)

11:00 AM: SHOTGUN START! The boats blast out of the inlet. Gulf Coast Cowboys get the holeshot, running out first. The last club out of the SFC field are the Third Coast Renegades. They didn’t look to be in too much of a rush to mix it up in the wake of the larger field competing in the partnering Summer Slam Invitational. 

This is going to be a longer run than expected, with the conditions being rough. 

2:10 PM: ONE OF THE HOME CLUBS STRIKE FIRST. Third Coast Renegades and Drake Beasley release a sailfish

2:28 PM: LOUISIANA CANYONS SLIDE INTO SECOND! Jaselyn Berthelot releases a sailfish. Her eighth sailfish of the season.

3:05 PM: Gulf Coast Cowboys look to be raising a fish! Left teaser is active. 

3:08 PM: They spotted a sailfish, and then had a little blue marlin come under. No bite though. The Cowboys will reset again.

3:55 PM: Renegades find another sailfish! Kevan Billings gets the release for the division and tournament leaders. 

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 4:00 PM

Third Coast Renegades - 150 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Texas Lone Stars
Gulf Coast Cowboys
Mississippi Blues
West Florida Black Flags

5:06 PM: WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS INTO SECOND PLACE! Donnie McMahon releases a white marlin, the first non-sailfish to be released at the Texas Billfish Open, for a cool 100 points, trailing the Renegades by 50 points.

5:48 PM: WE HAVE A NEW LEADER! The West Florida Black Flags take their first tournament lead of the season thanks to a double sailfish release from the hubby/wife duo of Donnie and Rose McMahon. The 150 points added to their white marlin give them a 250 point total. 

5:48 PM: Renegades get another sailfish from Kevan Billings, moving them 25 points behind the Black Flags at 225.

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 6:00 PM
West Florida Black Flags - 250 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 225 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Texas Lone Stars
Gulf Coast Cowboys
Mississippi Blues

6:16 PM: GULF COAST COWBOYS get on the board . Brian Kelley releases a sailfish to get the Cowboys on the board.

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 6:30 PM

West Florida Black Flags - 250 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 225 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 75 Points
Texas Lone Stars
Mississippi Blues

6:35 PM: WE HAVE YET ANOTHER NEW LEADER! OUR FIRST BLUE MARLIN OF THE TOURNAMENT GOES TO THE TEXAS LONE STARS. The defending league champs announce themselves in a big way, with 450 Points from the most prized species in the SFC scoring system. 

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 6:40 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 450 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 250 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 225 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 75 Points
Mississippi Blues

7:25 PM: West Florida Black Flags hit back with another sailfish, this time from Marty Wilson

7:28 PM: I get the feeling the Black Flags and Renegades are next to each other out there. Every time one records a release, the other immediately gets one too. Dax Wright releases a white marlin for the Renegades, leaving them a blue marlin away from the grand slam bonus and an additional 200 points.

7:33 PM: And another sail moves the Renegades ahead of the Black Flags again for second place, now only 50 points behind their in-state rival Texas Lone Stars.

7:49 PM: EVERYBODY IS ON THE BOARD: The Mississippi Blues and Garett Schluter release a white marlin for their first points of the tournament, and knock the Louisiana Canyons down to sixth place.

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 8:00 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 450 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 325 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 75 Points

8:05 PM: LONE STARS RELEASE ANOTHER BLUE! Bryan Richter gets another in his home waters and the league champs are up to 900 points.

8:18 PM: WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS GRAND SLAM! WE HAVE ANOTHER LEAD CHANGE! Donnie McMahon releases a blue marlin, triggering the first Gulf Division Grand Slam bonus of the season. The additional 200 points make that fish 650 points, and jump the Lone Stars for first by 75 points.

DAY 1 LEADERBOARD AT 8:30 PM
West Florida Black Flags - 975 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 75 Points

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15: DAY 2 

8:00 AM: FIRE UP THE CHOO-CHOO TRAIN! Dino McDowell raises a sailfish to bring the Cowboys up into fourth place. 

8:23 AM: WE HAVE A LEAD CHANGE! The Texas Lone Stars jump back in front of the Black Flags with a sailfish triple. Sutton Schoonover (8:20) Raul Perez (8:22) and Bryan Richter (8:23) combine for the release and go ahead by 2 sailfish worth of points (150).

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 9:00 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 1125 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 975 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 150 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 75 Points

8:49 AM: Canyons hop up one spot to jump the Mississippi Blues with Jaselyn Berthelot releasing her second sailfish of the tournament.

9:34 AM: Lone Stars extend their lead with another sailfish courtesy of Raul Perez.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 9:35 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 1200 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 975 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 150 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 150 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points

11:01 AM: ANOTHER BLUE FOR THE LONE STARS! Bryan Richter is putting on a show here in home waters and the defending league champs are on a roll. They also remain a white marlin away from the grand slam bonus.

11:11 AM: Make a wish! Brian Kelley releases another sailfish for the Cowboys.

11:11 AM: At the same time, Jaselyn Berthelot gets a white marlin for the Canyons, to jump the Cowboys for fourth.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 11:11 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 1650 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 975 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 225 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points

11:25 AM:  LONE STARS GET THEIR GRAND SLAM! Roberto Velazquez releases a white marlin. Normally worth 100 points, the bonus boosts that to a 300 point fish.
11:28 AM: Gulf Coast Cowboys score a sailfish with Lori McDowell to bring their score to 300 to swap positions on the leaderboard again with the Louisiana Canyons.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 11:30 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 1950 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 975 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 300 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points

12:00 PM: A fish has been DQ’d. The Sailfish released yesterday by the West Florida Black Flags at 5:45 PM has been ruled improper. That drops their total to 900 and keeps them in second place.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 12:00 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 1950 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 300 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points

12:57 PM: Texas Lone Stars add another white marlin to eclipse the 2,000 point mark. That’s the first fish of the tournament and season for Logan Radford.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 1:00 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,050 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 400 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 300 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 100 Points

1:09 PM: Adam Davidson and the Mississippi Blues get a sailfish and are now a blue marlin away from a grand slam of their own.

1:14 PM: BK and the Gulf Coast Cowboys get a sailfish as we go to break on YouTube. They are now 100 points behind the Renegades in third.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 1:15 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,050 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 475 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 375 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 175 Points

1:56 PM: Renegades are starting to find some fish again! Kevan Billings adds another sailfish to their total.

3:02 PM: Welcome to the party Garrett Frazier! The Renegades co-owner and boat owner puts up his first billfish of the tournament, bringing their third place total to 625 and still needing a blue for the grand slam bonus. 

3:23 PM: While talking to his friend Ashley Harris of Farley Boat Works on-air, her childhood friend Bryan Richter hooks up with a white marlin and gets the release a few minutes later. A triple grand slam for the boat with their third white marlin.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 3:30 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,150 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 625 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 375 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 175 Points

3:40 PM: Marty Wilson gets hooked up and is fighting a fish. We’re not sure what it is. Some angles look like this could be a little blue marlin.

4:03 PM: There goes those Lone Stars again! Bryan Richter and Raul Perez combine for another 150 points.

4:10 PM: Black Flags get another blue! Marty Wilson racks up 450 points and gain more separation from Garrett Frazier  and the Renegades.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 4:15 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,300 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 625 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 375 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 175 Points

4:24 PM: We are off the air but still in the action! Stay tuned for updates until the sun goes down.

5:56 PM: After a couple-hour lull…the Renegades open up the evening bite with a sailfish released by Dylan Frazier. The Gulf Division leaders remain in third place and bring their total to 700 points. A blue marlin would trigger the grand slam bonus and need the surge to threaten the West Florida Black Flags in second. 

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 6:00 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,300 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 700 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 375 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 175 Points

6:15 PM: Renegades release a white marlin. Drake Beasley brings the Renegades another 100 points closer to second place.

6:36 PM: We’re getting some action now from clubs other than the Renegades. Below them in fourth are the Gulf Coast Cowboys, and Brian Kelley releases a white marlin to add towards their total, giving them 475 points.

6:38 PM: But the Renegades have caught three of the last four fish. The latest being another sailfish for Garrett Frazier.

DAY 2 LEADERBOARD AT 6:45 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,300 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 875 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 475 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 250 Points
Mississippi Blues - 175 Points

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

7:31 AM: Gulf Coast Cowboys get the party started on Championship Sunday with a sailfish released by Jordon Benefield.

8:10 AM: And the leaders continue to pile on the points! Texas Lone Stars release a sailfish double from Sutton Schoonover and Bryan Richter.

8:12 AM: Louisiana Canyons join the early sailfish bite with Jaselyn Berthelot releasing a fish for 75 points. 

8:23 AM: Yet another sail for the Lone Stars and Sutton Schoonover, more than doubling the second place Black Flags. 

8:32 AM: Mississippi Blues are now finding sails. John Crockard gets a release for 75 more points.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD AT 8:45AM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,525 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 875 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 550 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 325 Points
Mississippi Blues - 250 Points

9:16 AM: Raul Perez releases a sailfish for the Texas Lone Stars to run up the score to 2,600 points for the leaders.

9:28 AM: MISSISSIPPI BLUES RELEASE A BLUE MARLIN! Craig Jackson gets the fish, triggering the grand slam bonus and an extra 200 points for the Blues to jump into fourth place and within striking distance of the Renegades. 

Half the field is still a blue marlin away from the grand slam: the Cowboys, Renegades and Canyons. 

10:23 AM: Speaking of the Gulf Coast Cowboys, they find a sailfish with Lori McDowell to add 75 points to their total. 

10:26 AM: Add on another sailfish for Raul Perez for the Texas Lone Stars. They are out to a huge lead, with every sail just helping extend the gap. They are safe from any future grand slam bonus as well, so unless somebody finds a school of juvenile blue marlin, it’s unlikely that they can be caught today.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD AT 10:30 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,675 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,050 Points
Mississippi Blues - 900 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 625 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 325 Points

10:39 AM: Garrett Frazier finds a sailfish and now the Renegades are only

10:52 AM: Canyons convert a sailfish double, with Joe Nixt in the chair getting the first one and Jaselyn Berthelot fighting standup for the second.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD AT 11:00 AM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,675 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,125 Points
Mississippi Blues - 900 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 625 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 475 Points

12:21 PM: After a lunch break, it looks like the Renegades are back on the sailfish. Dax Wright releases one to bring the Renegades closer to the Black Flags. 

12:40 PM: Garrett Frazier adds a sailfish as well for the Renegades.

1:12 PM: CANYONS GRAND SLAM! Jaselyn Berthelot gets a blue marlin which is a HUGE fish for them. It triggers the 200 point bonus and they jump to fourth from the bottom. It not only causes leaderboard chaos in the midfield, but also plays a big factor in the playoff race should this finishing order hold up.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD AT 1:45 PM
Texas Lone Stars - 2,675 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 1,350 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 1,275 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 1,125 Points
Mississippi Blues - 900 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 625 Points