Attention turns to billfish

Typical scene from the Saturday night weigh-ins of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic: A happy angler with a giant blue marlin. The 21st MGCBC is June 5-11 at Biloxi. The weigh-ins at Point Cadet Harbor June 9-10 are free to the public.

The eyes of the big game sport fishing world will be on Biloxi June 5-11 as the 21st Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic returns to the Golden Nugget Casino and the neighboring Point Cadet Marine.

Over a million dollars in official and unofficial purses will be awarded in blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, dolphin (mahi mahi), and, new this year, swordfish divisions.

For the hundreds of fishermen competing, the week-long event features nightly dock parties, captains banquet and a golf outing. The public is invited to the free weigh-ins, with live entertainment scheduled on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Boats may begin fishing at noon on Thursday and continue fishing until the scales close at 8 p.m. on Saturday. All boats, including those with catch-and-release videos only, must be inside the designated markers at the scales before 8 p.m. on Saturday. Boats may not be trailered during the event and must return to the scales by water.

One day or part thereof of offshore fishing by one-third of the boats entered constitutes a complete tournament. In the event of inclement weather, the tournament will be completed on the first day that the tournament director and tournament committee declare fishable.

For more information, visit the tournament’s website at mgcbc.com.

About Bobby Cleveland 1340 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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