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The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic (MGCBC) once again brought big-fish drama and Gulf Coast energy to Biloxi, as 60 teams competed from June 6-9 in one of the region’s signature tournaments. With a total payout topping $1.45 million and a strong mix of weighed fish, release action and gamefish categories, the 2026 edition delivered another memorable event.
Weather resulted in the tournament offering participants two different windows to fish, either Saturday – Monday (June 6-8), or Sunday – Tuesday (June 7-9). Seventeen boats opted for the first window, while 43 decided to fish Sunday-Tuesday. “I know it sounds cliché but we try to keep everyone happy,” said MGCBC Event Coordinator Robbie Carter. “We were getting reports offshore that the weather had calmed down on Saturday, but some of the guys were still concerned about making the run. So we made the call to give teams two options. It was a game time call but seemed to work out for the best.”
The good news is that the fish didn’t seem bothered at all by the conditions.
At the scales, the tournament belonged to Fleur de Lis. Angler Matt Cosci landed a 117.5-inch blue marlin weighing 631.2 pounds on June 8 to claim the top blue marlin of the event. Fishing aboard the 63-foot Hatteras with Capt. Rusty Smith, Fleur de Lis turned its late-tournament opportunity into a $225,949 payday.
Miss Virginia also made a major run at the title, weighing a 110-inch blue marlin caught by angler Billy Stimpson on June 7. The fish tipped the scales at 509.1 pounds, good for second place in the blue marlin division. Capt. Justin Gallagher and the Miss Virginia team ultimately topped the tournament payout list, earning $292,180.24 across entered categories.
The release division added plenty of leaderboard movement of its own. Team Boujee Marlin, fishing aboard All In, a 62-foot Viking captained by Hunter Smith, claimed first place in billfish release with 4,200 points and earned $123,303. Nikki Bella, a 90-foot Jarrett Bay led by Capt. Scooter Porto, finished second with 3,500 points and $109,983. It Just Takes Time, an 80-foot Spencer captained by Myles Colley, matched that 3,500-point total to finish third and earned $110,962.
The gamefish divisions brought additional dockside excitement. Devotion, a 60-foot Viking captained by Jason Hallmark, weighed the tournament’s heaviest tuna with Josh Tice’s 177.5-pound fish, caught on June 8, and earned $43,642. Adding to the drama, Capt. Hallmark and Devotion made it to the scales with only three minutes to spare after having to “MacGyver” a busted high-pressure fuel line on the run in.
Second Wind, a 72-foot F&S with Capt. Marlin Brown, took the wahoo division with Mitch Jurisich’s 47.1-pounder, while Cold Motion topped dolphin with Helen DeLaney’s 53.9-pound fish.
Across the fleet, the tournament recorded 106 total catches, including 69 blue marlin, seven white marlin, two sailfish, 19 tuna, four wahoo and five dolphin. From big blues and tuna at the scales to a competitive release race, the 2026 MGCBC showcased the depth of the Gulf fleet and the kind of high-stakes offshore fishing that has made Biloxi a key stop on the summer billfish calendar for decades.
