LIVE UPDATES: Gulfport Mississippi Open

Welcome to Gulfport Mississippi for round three of SFC’s Gulf Division schedule, the Gulfport Mississippi Open, presented by Avior Wealth Management.

Six angling clubs are competing this weekend with Alabama Angling Club being the missing party. Alabama AC will automatically earn seventh place points, similar to South Florida Sails Angling Club last week in Charleston. 

We have four of the six boats competing here in the Gulfport Municipal Marina, the four being the homestanding Mississippi Blues, West Florida Black Flags, Texas Lone Stars and Third Coast Renegades. 

Blues’ Captain Jimmy “Cricket” Crochet is a Mississippi native, so it would be a dream to win this tournament in his backyard in front of friends and family. Also calling this area home are Captain Danny Watts and Marty Wilson of the West Florida Black Flags. His artwork and foundation stickers “One Gulf, one Goal” are plastered all over the bars and businesses in town. 

The division-leading Third Coast Renegades are represented by a different team this week, with Captain Landon Bell, Gregg Trenor and company having prior commitments. Captain Adam McGugin and his boat “Home Made” are filling in, looking to keep the Renegades at the top of the standings and a berth into the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs.

Two boats are leaving from Orange Beach Alabama, due to extended mechanical issues. Those two being Gulf Coast Cowboys, and Louisiana Canyons. 

LIVE SCORING

DAY 1: June 12

7:45AM - The boats are beginning to leave the marina, making their way to the buoy at the end of the harbor for the start.

8:30AM - SHOTGUN START. Away they go, with Gulf Coast Cowboys taking off from Orange Beach, Alabama. A further way to go for them, but needed to make repairs in time.

10:06AM - Louisiana Canyons are the last ones to leave, and they’re coming from Orange Beach, Alabama. It will be a long run to get out to the grounds, but they will be doing it in comfort in a 92’ Viking.

1:09PM - We are live on the air with our broadcast team, and we’re looking to see if Texas Lone Stars are hooked up on something. Captain Spencer Johnson mentioned they like to dredge fish instead of using live bait, and it would allow them to get on the fish faster than their competition. That would be a way to get on the fish faster than grabbing tuna and make bait. 

They just reeled in a mah-mahi.

1:22PM - LONE STARS HOOKED UP! Sailfish confirmed jumping out of the water, quick backdown, leader touch and release. Quick lead for Texas with 75 points. 

1:55PM - Early action all with Texas. The Lone Stars are making a turn and look to be raising another fish.

Texas Lone Stars - 75 Points
Mississippi Blues - 0 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 0 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 0 Points
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 0 Points
Alabama Angling Club - DNP

2:13PM - Mississippi Blues aren’t slow to a bite, they’re just making a long run. Their boat was sitting low in the water this morning with approximately 600 gallons of fuel in the cockpit courtesy of two fuel bladders. The Blues have been known for making long runs overnight, and this time they’re making a long run to begin the tournament.

2:25PM - LONE STARS HOOKED UP AGAIN, but there’s a gaff out so they’re likely to have a meatfish on. 

2:28PM - Mahi-mahi confirmed, gaffed and into the fishbox, right back under way.

2:33PM - Gulf Coast Cowboys are catching bait, bringing in some small tunas for blue marlin.

2:36PM - Mississippi Blues also grabbing some tunas, with some nice shots of them going in the tuba tubes. Even a bird sighting on the Gulf Coast Cowboys boat….

3:32PM - Chef Marty in the salon of the West Florida Black Flag’s boat and he’s prepping some skewers. We spoke to Marty about all his duties on the boat.

3:48PM - Lone Stars on another fish, but it looks to be lacking a bill. Appears to be a skipjack tuna.

4:00PM - Off the air on ESPN+ with Lone Stars still in the lead, but the fishing does not stop here! We’ll be sharing updates throughout the day, night and into tomorrow morning before we’re back live on SFC+ & ESPN+ for day two of the Gulfport Mississippi Open.

4:11PM - So…remember when I said the fishing doesn’t stop when we go off the air? Yeah, Third Coast Renegades hooked into a white marlin and released it. Funny enough, the only two white marlin released in the 2025 SFC season have both been done by the Renegades, but they’re two different Renegades teams. First one with Captain Landon Bell at the Hurricane Hole Louisiana Open, and this time thanks to Captain Adam McGugin.

That’s a lead change! 100 points for the Renegades and they’re in the lead.

7:30PM - HERE COME THE GULF COAST COWBOYS! A sunset blue marlin released by Lori McDowell gives the cowboys the lead with 450 points.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13, DAY 2:

8:11AM - I called Gulf Coast Cowboys GM Jordon Benefield to check-in with the leaders for an SFC Insider post later today. He told me co-owner and country music superstar Brian Kelley was next in the chair, then had to hang up with me because they've spotted a fish.

8:32AM - CONGRATULATIONS BRIAN KELLEY! The Beach Cowboy's first blue marlin is released in a quick fight, extending his Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club's lead to 900 points.

9:05AM - “Fired up!” is Brian Kelley’s response to his first blue marlin. The award-winning recording artist and “Masked Singer” has caught everything from Bass to Sailfish, but he adds a high-scoring blue marlin to his list at the best time. 

Here’s a leaderboard update this morning:

Gulf Coast Cowboys - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 100 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 75 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 0 Points
Louisiana Canyons - 0 Points
Mississippi Blues - 0 Points
Alabama Angling Club - 0 Points

12:10PM - Action has gotten quiet, but the Cowboys are blasting Brian Kelley’s music with an 800-point lead. Meanwhile, the competition are making bait and making moves, looking for action and possibly looking for the Cowboys.

1:00PM - SFC+ coverage is live for day 2!

1:09PM - Lone Stars jump up to second! A white marlin released brings their point total to 175 points, putting them ahead of Third Coast Renegades Angling Club.

2:00PM - We’re off SFC+ and onto today’s two of ESPN+ coverage.

3:40PM - Prepping for another afternoon bite, fingers crossed it’s not off-air like yesterday’s Third Coast Renegades bite.

3:48PM  - Live with the Texas Lone Stars, they look to be marking fish and looking to hook something. We’ll see if anything comes up that will help them cut into the Cowboys’ lead.

3:54PM - Renegades have found an abandoned raft and are fishing off of it. They checked for anyone on board beforehand, and are checking to see if any fish are underneath it. Plenty of game fish can be found on floaters and structures.

4:00PM - We’re off air on ESPN+ but the action continues. Check back around 7:30 for another likely sunset bite.

4:55PM - Afternoon BLUE MARLIN! Third Coast Renegades jump back into second place with Adam Davidson releasing the fish for another 450 points. Their total is now 550, bringing them within striking distance of the leaders. Another blue marlin will give them the lead. 

5:15PM - Evening bite is on! Louisiana Canyons Angling Club is on the board with a white marlin, released by owner and angler Gus Rantz. 

It was quiet the rest of the night, with angling clubs making bait and getting rest leading into…

CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY, JUNE 14

8:44AM - Texas Lone Stars out the gate with the white marlin! Raul Perez releases his second white marlin, the club’s second white as well. They remain in third place but increase their points total to 275.

Here's a look at the leaderboard this morning to start Championship Saturday:
Gulf Coast Cowboys - 900 Points
Third Coast Renegades - 550 Points
Texas Lone Stars - 275 Points
Louisiana Canyons -100 Points
West Florida Black Flags - 0 Points
Mississippi Blues - 0 Points
Alabama Angling Club - SCRATCH

Caught up with several of the clubs this morning. Looks like we're in for a tense Championship Saturday.