BILOXI, Miss. – Get while the getting’s good – now that’s an appropriate phrase for teams fishing the Walmart FLW Kingfish Tour Championship this weekend in Biloxi, Miss.
Teams launched into warm and relatively calm weather on day one, but the good running and fishing conditions will soon vanish in dramatic fashion as a serious cold front pushes into the deep South. Clouds had blanketed the Northern Gulf by late morning – a precursor for the rainy and potentially stormy conditions that will arrive as the frontal boundary reaches the Biloxi area sometime this afternoon or evening.
Once the front clears, the backside will slam Saturday with plunging temperatures and winds as high as 20 mph. With the threat of limited running ability and decreased fishing time on day two, most will probably play it safe to make sure they weigh a decent fish on day one. If a team secures something in the 35-pound range, they’ll go hog-hunting for those Northern Gulf monsters that weigh 50 or better.
Typically, kingfish anglers running out of Biloxi head southwest to the Mississippi River Delta, cut through Baptiste Collete Pass on the east side and exit through Red or Tiger Pass to fish the famous West Delta – home to resident populations of jumbo kingfish. It’s a long run, but the investment often pays big dividends – the toothy kind that swim really fast.
“There may be a few teams fishing locally,” said tournament director Dan Grimes, “but I think the majority of boats will be heading to the West Delta.”
No doubt, there are competitive kingfish – even potential winners – to be caught around drilling rigs and over reefs or wrecks south of Alabama and Mississippi. However, the fertile waters between the Mississippi River and Southern Louisiana hotspots such as Houma, Grand Isle and Fourchon hold more drilling structures in greater depths than much of what lies to the east.
“Right now the water is still a little warmer than normal inshore so the anglers are going to be looking for cooler water,” Grimes said. “Some are fishing as deep as 200 feet. The West Delta has deeper water and bigger fish, so that’s why most of the boats will be fishing over there.”
Many will take that course today, but Saturday’s rough weather may force some tough decisions. Modern kingfish boats have no trouble reaching the West Delta, even in somewhat sporty conditions. The problem tomorrow may be the risk of weather cutting into fishing, and more importantly, return times. More than once, tournament anglers with competitive fish in their bags have missed weigh-ins because rough seas and/or related mechanical issues have prevented their on-time arrival.
Wherever teams fish, most will slow troll live baitfish on wire stinger rigs designed to snare kingfish during their slashing attack style and repel those wicked choppers. Top baits are blue runners (aka “hardtails”), bluefish and mullet. Many will also troll dead ribbonfish. With long, slender bodies, these shiny baits present highly visible targets that typically intimidate smaller kingfish and appeal mostly to the large smoker kings that tournament competitors seek.
The day one weigh-ins will likely see plenty of fish in the 30’s with a good run 40’s and possibly a couple in the 50-pound range. Considering Saturday’s forecasted conditions, teams weighing fish of 45 pounds or better will have a good shot at fishing in Sunday’s finale.
Logistics
Teams will take off from City Marina next to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi at 7 each morning. Weigh in is at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Hard Rock. Sunday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 3615 Sangani Blvd. in D’Iberville, Miss., beginning at 4:00 p.m. The takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The full field will compete Friday and Saturday and the top five teams advance to Sunday’s finale. The winning team will be determined based upon the heaviest kingfish from Friday or Saturday plus the heaviest kingfish from Sunday. Teams will fish for a top award of up to $75,000 cash.
Friday’s conditions
Sunrise: 6:21 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 68 degrees
Expected high temperature: 74 degrees
Water temperature: 72 degrees
Wind: SSW at 10 mph
Humidity: 85 percent
Day’s outlook: cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms