Hundreds of deep-sea anglers and their armada of million-dollar boats are at Point Cadet Marina this week for the annual Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Tournament taking place through Sunday.
Teams begin arriving this morning to compete for millions in cash and prizes in six divisions: Catch and Release, Blue Marlin, Tuna, Wahoo, Dolphinfish and Lure Bonus.
The tournament begins on Thursday with a boat parade from Point Cadet Marina at 11 a.m., and activities are scheduled throughout the week for the anglers.
“This event has a huge economy impact to the city,” Biloxi Port Division Manager Larry Sablich said. “There is so much for them to do in the community that is in walking distance from the marina.”
Scales will be open on Friday from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the marina with an awards ceremony on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. at the Golden Nugget.
Visit the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic website
Photos: See image of a past boat parade
Video: See the tournament boats from the air
R U Ready for hurricane season?
Hurricane season is days old, and the City of Biloxi wants to know if you are prepared. To help residents plan, the city is hosting its annual R U Ready event on Friday.
The free, informative event takes place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, 115 First St., with a wealth of useful information from emergency managers, state agencies and local businesses.
Booths will be set up outside the front of the museum and throughout the first floor, offering information on shelter locations, evacuation routes, flood insurance, transportation, pet safety, marine safety, fire safety, hurricane prep kits, electrical safety and more.
The Biloxi Fire Department will have its 27-foot Fire Prevention and Safety Trailer on site. Guests will be able to tour the trailer and experience a simulated hurricane, thunder and flooding event and a kitchen fire. Also, 3rd Rock Solar Company will have its solar power and generator trailer open for tours.
Presentations will take place from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the first floor meeting rooms. Guests will be able to listen and ask questions. Here is the lineup of speakers.
10 a.m. – Marine Traffic during a Hurricane, Patrick Levine, Captain, Department of Marine Resources
10:05 a.m – Hurricane Hunters and Preparedness, Colonel Robert Stanton, 403rd Wing Vice Commander, Keesler Air Force Base
10:15 a.m. – Historic Water Height Observation Data, Dr. Hal Needham, Ph.D., Founder and President of Marine Weather and Climate
10:30 a.m – 2018 Hurricane Season; Hurricane Threat; Watches and Warnings; Personal Preparedness; Evacuations; Sheltering; 2019 Season Forecasts, Rupert Lacy, Director, and Matt Stratton, Deputy Director Harrison County Emergency Management Agency
10:50 a.m. – Generator and Power Line Safety, Archie Reeves, Mississippi Power
11 a.m. – Pet Preparedness, Casey Harrison, Humane Society of South Mississippi
11:05 a.m. – Storm Debris Removal, Bobby Carson, Engineer, City of Biloxi
11:10 a.m. – Transportation to a Shelter, Kevin Coggin, Executive Director, Coast Transit Authority
11:20 a.m. – Red Cross Preparedness, John McFarland, Executive Director, American Red Cross
The Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum is also hosting its new exhibit “Camille at 50” with the Camille Conversations Lunch and Learn event beginning at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $10 a person and includes lunch from Burger Burger. The exhibit is open daily at the museum through Nov. 30.
See the R U Ready flyer
See the R U Ready video from last year
Visit the Maritime & Seafood Museum website
News & notes: Council, Route 32, Popp’s Ferry Bridge
Council: Members of the Biloxi City Council face a host of issues on Tuesday evening at Biloxi City Hall, with a public hearing at 5 o’clock regarding a request for a neighborhood zoning change and a 6 o’clock regularly scheduled meeting. To see the agendas, click here.
Route 32: The last day for the Coast Transit Authority’s Route 32 to run will be Saturday, June 15. The CTA will be terminating the route, which serves the Popp’s Ferry Road corridor, because of low ridership. To see the CTA media notice, click here.
Popp’s Ferry Bridge: The Popp’s Ferry Bridge will be closed to marine traffic from June 16 to 22 so city contractors can install an underwater power cable. To see more about the project, click here.
