Prior to 1992's arrival of dockside gaming to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the only anglers gambling with billfish catches off Biloxi were the locals. In the last five years or so, all that has changed, and the rest of the world is starting to take notice.
With the flavor of gambling added to this sleepy southern town, anglers from across the United States and other parts of the world have cast their luck into one of the world's best-kept secrets for blue marlin, white marlin, wahoo, dolphin and huge yellowfin tuna.
Just off the coast of Biloxi lies the mouth of the Mississippi River, whose nutrient-filled waters mix with the warm, blue waters of the Gulf, sustaining a habitat that produces some of the nation's top yellowfin and wahoo action during the fall and winter months. But if billfish action is what you are looking for, head for Biloxi during the heat of summer.
Tournament Puts Focus on Fishing
In 1997, the Isle of Capri Casino Crowne Plaza Resort, the first casino in Biloxi, pulled the trigger on the first big-time billfish tournament in the area, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic was launched as a huge success.
With 60 boats participating, the event was won with a 631.8-pound blue, caught by Shannon Faulkner of Winder, Georgia. But the biggest billfish taken in the tournament was a 917-pound blue caught by David Pippin of New Orleans. The fish would likely have been a grander, but the boat's props hit the fish during the battle, causing the marlin to lose blood and weight. Unfortunately, the prop mutilation prompted tournament organizers to immediately disqualify the fish when it arrived at the marina.
But many other big fish came to the scales during that first tourney, including a 71-pound wahoo, a 50-pound dolphin and a 186-pound yellowfin tuna. With big fish like these making their appearance known, it was a sure thing that the tournament's second year would be even bigger - and it was. Almost 300 anglers participated in the Gulf Coast Classic last year, making it one of the top tournaments in the Southeast in just two years' time.
The 1999 Billfish Classic takes place June 9-13, and to show how much this event has grown in both size and prestige, this year's event will be part of the World Billfish Series and a qualifier for the IGFA Rolex Invitational Tournament of Champions. The entry fee is $5,000 per boat, with the winner of the blue marlin division taking home a check worth $100,000.
For those who can't make it to the Classic, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Big Game Fishing Club offers both spring and summer tournaments. In fact, the area's central location and eager tournament crowd has spurred the IGFA to sanction the club's summer tournament as part of the Rolex Tour as well.
Rigs Equal Fish
What makes the area so attractive to fish and anglers alike? The abundance of oil rigs, both stationary and floaters. Scattered along the edge of the Continental Shelf, the rigs offer a prime blue-water habitat for game fish and an excellent spot from which to start your day's fishing. Schools of blackfin tuna and bonito make regular feeding forays through the rigs with blue and white marlin following close behind.
Depending on the amount of rain in the northern part of the United States, blue water can begin as close in as the 7-mile rigs out of South Pass, Louisiana, which is located near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Although these rigs are generally too shallow for blues, they have been known to hold whites and the occasional sailfish.
Deeper water, 400-foot plus, is just a few miles past the 7-mile rigs. It is here that some of the best blue marlin action can be found.
The only downside in the northern Gulf of Mexico is the lack of sailfish. The sails have started to make a comeback, but at one point they were very near extinction due to the foreign longliners working in the northern Gulf of Mexico in the 1970s. There were reports from captains that some of these longlines stretched over 30 miles, taking a toll on both marlin and sailfish populations.
One aspect of blue-water fishing in the area may put a big dent in your fuel bill: Long runs to prime hot spots are the norm here, and most boats have to make 40- to 80-mile runs to reach the more productive rigs and offshore structures. During tournaments, many boats run east toward the Alabama coast to fish the bottom structures known as the Nipple, the Double Nipple and the Steps.
Dino Chouest, owner of the Freedom and winner of the 1998 Billfish Classic, enjoys fishing out of Biloxi because he can fish the same spots he usually frequents out of his native Louisiana. "It depends on weather, but you can usually run 60 miles or less and find a good rip in blue water. If the loop current comes back where it should be, you can fish anywhere from 40 to 80 miles out and find really good fishing. The most consistent action comes where the muddy water of the Mississippi meets the blue water," says Chouest. He also likes the modern facilities and shoreside amenities that the casinos offer. "The city of Biloxi is a real fun place to fish out of ... great accommodations and good people."
Just to show how far some boats will go in search of blue water, the Freedom fished an area called Green Canyon off the coast of Louisiana to win the 1998 Classic - about a 240-mile run each way out of Biloxi. "The water was all messed up last year, and we just couldn't find any blue water inside. So we took a gamble and made the long run, and it paid off for us," says Chouest.
For those anglers not looking to drag baits around oil platforms, the Mississippi River outflow offers plenty of debris, current and nutrients to help form nice rip lines. Excellent wahoo and dolphin action can be found on these rips, and of course blue marlin usually lurk somewhere nearby as well. Also, mako sharks and swordfish frequent these blue-water feeding stations that can shift up to 20 miles in the course of a day.
A Different Kind of Action
Biloxi's hot fishing action is matched only by its ever-growing gaming scene, which ranks right behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The Gulfport Biloxi Regional Airport Authority offers daily flights from all portions of the United States, and casino shuttles are available to many areas.
It's a one-stop, do-everything destination. You can try your luck on fishing during the day and on the slots or tables in the evening. Bobby Carter, an executive host for the Isle of Capri and tournament director for the Classic, says that the interest in Biloxi grows at a daily rate.
"We have some excellent fishing in our area, and more and more people are finding out that Biloxi is more than a resort area," says Carter. "Biloxi is just now hitting the scene as a hot destination to fish. Before the casinos came, people went to Florida and Louisiana to fish. Now, since we sit right in the middle and we offer everything from gaming to fishing, they are coming to Biloxi. You can do it all right here."
