Brown Water Banter

Rob Lipolla and Cody join us in the Brown Water Studio to break down everything about the Southern Kingfish Association — a tournament series that's been running since the late nineties across the entire Southeast coast from Texas to North Carolina. 🎣 Rob has been fishing SKA tournaments for roughly 25 years and shares the history of how the organization grew into a major competitive circuit with divisions broken into regions across the Gulf, South Florida, and the Carolinas 🏆 Cody is heading into his third year fishing the SKA and won the small boat division nationals last year after traveling to the East Coast of Florida — that's when the bug really hit 🐟 The tournament format is a two-day event with one fish per day and an aggregate weight of the two fish determining the winner 📍 Biloxi used to host the national championship every year in November because the king mackerel fishery was so strong — tournaments drew several hundred boats with shotgun starts that rivaled the Billfish Classic 📉 The conversation digs into why the Gulf Coast kingfish population has declined — water temperatures rising, salinity changes from Louisiana rain runoff, the lasting effects of the oil spill, overfishing, and better technology putting more pressure on the resource 🤝 Cody talks about what makes the SKA culture different from other tournament circuits — the camaraderie, the family atmosphere, and a community that keeps anglers coming back 👋 Shoutouts to Bobby Carter, Jack Holmes, and the early figures who helped bring SKA tournaments to the Mississippi Gulf Coast before the Billfish Classic even existed Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Cedar Lake Power Equipment for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Troy Guillotte of Trigger Time TV joins us in the Brown Water Studio for a conversation about firearms, filming, and growing up in Jackson County, Mississippi. 🦌 Troy talks about his Gautier roots and how his dad's influence shaped his love for hunting, fishing, sports, and all things outdoors in South Mississippi 🔫 From magazine junkie to TV host — Troy shares how a fascination with firearms that started at 21 led him to build a career doing what he loves instead of going into insurance or banking 🛠️ The guys bond over building ARs like "a grown man's Lego set" — whiskey, parts, and the never-ending rabbit hole of rails, triggers, barrels, and uppers that can run $5,200 deep 💥 Troy breaks down his go-to firearms — polymer based striker fired nine millimeters from Glock, SIG, HEK, Smith and Wesson, and Walther — and why he says everyone wants a 1911 until you get in a gunfight 📺 Troy opens up about getting to work alongside some of his heroes in the firearms world and chasing a dream that turned into a real career in television 🏠 A conversation rooted in South Mississippi culture — music, food, family, and the kind of rich lifestyle that has nothing to do with money Watch the Full Episode Here ⬇️ https://youtu.be/ZfxP6OhtnR4 Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Cedar Lake Power Equipment for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Tyler Prowant is back in the Brown Water Banter studio — for what might be his fourth appearance dating all the way back to the old dining room table setup. This time he's got a lot to talk about: his ongoing mission to bring a real skate park to Biloxi through the Gulf Coast Skate Park Association, and the launch of his brand new venture, Mythic Skateboards. 🛹 Tyler has visited 143 different skate parks across the country thanks to his Air Force career taking him everywhere from Belgium to Keesler Air Force Base ✈️ How he strategically planted seeds to become an instructor so he could get stationed back on the Mississippi Gulf Coast near his wife's family 🎥 From Shotgun Skateboards to Mythic Skateboards — Tyler's evolution as a skate brand creator and nonprofit advocate 💡 His best advice for young people: "Let time carry the weight" — plan like you're going to be here tomorrow ❤️ The social magic of skateboarding and how filming clips kept him connected to family and friends during deployments — including his late father who was always his biggest fan 🏗️ The continuing push to make a DIY skate park a reality in Biloxi, Mississippi 🎣 Plus — the Brown Water Bash is April 18 at Dewy Dew Bugz in D'Iberville! Veterans fish free, registration is live at brownwaterbanter.com, and you can turn a hard head catfish into a thousand dollars Watch the Full Episode Here ⬇️ https://youtu.be/fszaCA6XOOA Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Cedar Lake Power Equipment for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Griffin and Wyatt from Gulfside Detailing and Armor Co. sit down in the Brown Water Studio to talk about how they built their detailing business from the ground up right here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. 🚗 Griffin traces the journey from H and M detailing to working car washes on Pass Road to building enough leads and funds to buy his first trailer 🎥 Wyatt got hooked watching detailing reels on Instagram, started practicing on personal vehicles at home, and eventually linked up with his longtime buddy Griffin 🛥️ The duo went from cars to boats and got certified through Yacht Armor, which became the catalyst for launching Gulfside Detailing and Armor Co. 💡 Both guys are Biloxi locals who talk openly about failing a couple times before finding their footing as entrepreneurs. 📣 The Brown Water Bash 2026 is coming April 18 at Dewey Dew Bugs in D'Iberville — featuring gaff top, white trout, black drum, and redfish divisions where you can turn a hardhead catfish into a thousand dollars. Registration is open with five anglers already signed up! Watch the Full Episode Here ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/cBYXtnZjV9Y?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, Taylor and Cox Law Firm, and Cedar Lake Power Equipment for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Another Department of Marine Resources-sponsored episode of Brown Water Banter welcoming back Michael Lee (Hatchery Bureau Director and Manager of the Lyman Hatchery) and Matt Hill (Deputy Director of Marine Fisheries) for a deep dive into what's happening with Mississippi's fish stock enhancement programs. 🐟 Michael Lee breaks down the history of the Lyman Hatchery — built in the 1930s as a freshwater facility stocking everything from crappie to pond fish, now fully converted into a marine hatchery focused on speckled trout and southern flounder stock enhancement 🏗️ The hatchery transitioned from the Gulf Coast Research Lab around 2017, with the DMR building out recirculating systems capable of saltwater spawning and larval aquaculture inside what was once strictly an earthen pond freshwater operation 🎣 The crew tackles a listener question from Rudy Bellius about saltwater fishing license requirements — clarifying that if you have a lifetime sportsman's license, you do NOT need a separate saltwater fishing license (correcting a previous episode's misstep) 🐠 Discussion on why striped bass are showing up on the Mississippi Coast — older fish may be holdovers from Larry Nicholson's striper program with the last releases around 2015, while smaller fish under 25 inches are likely hybrid striped bass released through Ocean Springs High School's aquaculture program 🏫 Michael Lee supplies fish to high school aquaculture programs, working around school year schedules that don't always align with natural spawning cycles — sourcing natural gulf stripers from a blackwater hatchery in Florida 🔬 Matt Hill describes his role keeping the machine running — overseeing the hatchery, artificial reef program, and finfish program while making sure people like Mike have what they need to do the real work 📣 The Brown Water Bash 2026 is coming April 18 at Dewey Dew Bugs in D'Iberville — featuring gaff top, white trout, black drum, and redfish divisions where you can turn a hardhead catfish into a thousand dollars. Registration is open with five anglers already signed up! Watch the Full Episode Here ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/hhwv_NBNlh0?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Three local tackle makers. Three different stories. One thing they all had in common — they got tired of buying gear that didn’t quite do what they wanted it to do, so they started building their own. In this episode, we sit down with Tim Holden of T3 Tackle Outdoors, Justin Melton of Skinny Water Innovations, and Len Shinenberry of Shinenberry Tackle to talk about how each of them turned a love for fishing into something bigger. 🎣 Tim talks about starting T3 Tackle Outdoors with his kids in mind and building jig heads that actually hold up for the way we fish around here, including sheephead jigs and soft plastic jig heads designed for local redfish and inshore fishing. 🧪 Justin breaks down how Skinny Water Innovations came out of being tired of burning through expensive soft plastics, then going down the rabbit hole of molds, plastisol blends, and testing different baits until he found something that worked for Gulf Coast conditions. 🪵 Landon Chenevert of Chenevert Tackle shares how his tackle-making story actually started when he was a kid carving topwater plugs out of driftwood from Bellefontaine Beach before later getting back into it through custom popping corks. 🏪 The conversation also gets into local stores like Foul Play, Islander Outfitters, and Nelson’s supporting local makers and what it feels like to see something you built with your own hands end up on the shelves. 🤝 We also talk about how all three of these guys came together, the role social media played in helping them connect, and why building a stronger local tackle scene matters more than competing over scraps. This was a solid conversation about fishing, family, trial and error, local business, and the kind of grassroots creativity that keeps the Gulf Coast outdoors culture moving forward. Watch the Full Episode Here ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/8NooJTA7vj0?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Martin and Kayla from Soulless Innovations join us in the studio to break down how their Gulfport business grew from building truck parts in a garage into a full-time fabrication shop. Martin talks about getting started in the automotive world by working on his own trucks, while Kayla explains how the business found its niche and what eventually allowed them to go all in on it. ⚙️ How Soulless Innovations grew from garage builds into a full-time business 🚘 The story behind their custom notch tanks for 1961–1972 Ford F-100s 🔥 Why moving the fuel tank from behind the seat solved a real problem for truck owners 🔩 How Martin designed a direct bolt-in replacement using factory holes without extra cutting or drilling ⛽ How their tanks work with newer EFI swaps and why that product became such a major part of the business 🎥 Martin teaching himself welding through YouTube and the trial-and-error that came with it 🎨 How Kayla’s design background fits into the business and helps shape the brand 🎣 Why Soulless Innovations decided to support Brown Water Bash and back the Hard Head division payout This episode is a solid mix of custom truck culture, fabrication, entrepreneurship, and Gulf Coast grit from two people building something real from the ground up. Watch the full episode here ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/HcGOd28D8uo?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

In this episode we talk with Patrol Captain Mike Strickland and Biologists Eric Giolio from the Department of Marine Resources to clear up some of the biggest questions Mississippi boaters and anglers have about what’s legal, what’s not, and what people get wrong once they hit the water. The conversation covers boating safety, no-wake zones, fishing licenses, and how DMR’s role ties into both conservation and enforcement. 🎣 What Mississippi anglers need to know about licenses, trout, redfish, and offshore regulations 🚤 Why boating and water safety take priority during the busiest times of the year ⚓ How no-wake zones, anchored boats, and common on-the-water mistakes can get people in trouble 🐟 Why red snapper rules confuse so many people and how state versus federal seasons affect what you can legally bring in 📊 How Mississippi is working to improve fisheries data through programs like MS Creel and better track what anglers are actually catching This episode is packed with useful information for anyone fishing or boating on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and helps explain the rules in a way that actually makes sense. https://youtube.com/live/Wl-1uxQ9cpA?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

On this episode of Brown Water Banter, we sit down with Donnie Handler and Josh Heppel from the Gulf Coast Raiders to talk about what they are building on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. What starts as a football conversation turns into something much bigger — a discussion about leadership, discipline, respect, and creating real opportunities for players who need a shot both on and off the field. The episode also dives into how the team evolved from its earlier days into the Raiders brand and what it takes to keep a developmental football program moving forward. 🏈 The story behind the Gulf Coast Raiders and how the team was built 💪 Why this program is about more than wins and losses 🇺🇸 How football helped shape purpose, structure, and giving back 📍 What the Raiders want to represent on the Mississippi Gulf Coast 🔥 The culture, identity, and standards they are trying to set for developmental football 🛡️ Why respect, family, and community are at the center of the Raiders brand This episode gives you a real look at the people behind the organization, the purpose driving the program, and why the Raiders are trying to build something that lasts. If you care about Gulf Coast football, local community, and stories about building something from the ground up, this is a good one. Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Beau and Chelsea from BayouBos Outdoors join us in the Brown Water studio to tell the story of how they packed up their life in Missouri, left behind a high-powered job, and moved their family to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to chase something bigger than a paycheck — time, freedom, and life on the water. In this episode, we dive into: 🎣 Why they chose Bay St. Louis over Florida 🌊 How a random Facebook post during an ice storm exploded into a real business 🚚 The leap of faith that brought them south just three weeks ago 🛶 Their plan to make kayak and paddleboard rentals affordable and family-friendly 🏆 The BayouBos Fishing Bounty tournament happening April 11 at The Blind Tiger Beau talks about growing up fishing the Lake of the Ozarks, chasing 100-pound catfish, and realizing saltwater offered a whole new addiction. Chelsea shares what it’s like moving states for the first time, downsizing, and betting on a dream so their kids can grow up outside instead of in front of a screen. We also break down how their fishing tournament unexpectedly blew up after one Facebook post during the Gulf Coast ice storm — turning a small local idea into a major community event This is what happens when you stop waiting for “someday” and just go. If you’re into Gulf Coast life, small business grit, family moves, fishing tournaments, or just betting on yourself — this one’s for you. Listen now and come see BayouBos in action.

In this episode of Brown Water Banter, Jared Seymour and Joey Cates sit down with Chelsea Prince and RoxAnn Wicker from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area to pull back the curtain on one of the most overlooked—but impactful—programs on the Coast 🌊 What starts as a conversation about heritage quickly turns into a deep dive on Gulf Coast history, culture, music, architecture, food, nature-based tourism, and the people quietly preserving it all for future generations. Chelsea and RoxAnn break down what the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area actually does inside the Department of Marine Resources, how Mississippi ended up with THREE National Heritage Areas, and why our stretch of coastline has played a nationally significant role in American history. Along the way, they share stories about: 🏛️ Preserving Gulf Coast culture and history across all six coastal counties 📖 The Embrace magazine and how it documents untold Coast stories 🎸 Elvis Presley’s time on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (including rarely known local connections) 🗺️ Heritage sites, passports, and self-guided cultural tours 🚣 Nature-based tourism, Blueways, and the Outpost Program 💰 2026 Heritage Community Grants ranging from $5,000–$75,000 🧠 How locals can contribute stories, photos, and ideas—no writing experience required This episode is a reminder that Mississippi’s story is bigger, deeper, and more interesting than most people realize—and it’s happening right in our backyard. If you care about the Coast, its people, and the history that shaped it, this one’s a must-listen. 🎧 Follow the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area online to stay up to date 📍 Visit heritage sites, grab an Embrace magazine, and explore the Coast with new eyes 📬 Got a story to tell? They want to hear it Brown Water Banter is all about celebrating the Gulf Coast—and this episode is Coast pride, start to finish. Watch the full episode here ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/live/vPk9fGTz7-o?si=bYW1vWQc_n5t0ozY Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

This week in the Brown Water studio, we sit down with Chris Lamey of Canine Coaching with Chris, a Mississippi Gulf Coast native and former Air Force K9 handler who spent years training and deploying military working dogs alongside elite units overseas. 🐕 From bomb detection and bite work to real-world combat deployments 🇺🇸 What it’s really like working with war dogs in Afghanistan 💣 The difference between patrol dogs, explosive detection dogs, and tier-one K9 units 🧠 Why Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds dominate military work 🏡 What everyday dog owners get wrong about training, behavior, and breed selection 🎯 How elite military K9 experience translates into smarter training for everyday dogs This conversation goes deep into the bond between handler and dog, the realities of military K9 life, and why not every “cool” dog breed makes a good pet. If you’re a dog owner, thinking about training, or just fascinated by how military working dogs operate at the highest level — this one’s a must-listen. 🎧 Hit play and enjoy another real conversation from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Watch the full episode here ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/vv5uFmlCALU?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

On this episode of Brown Water Banter, we sit down with Terry Guilbeau—a Gulf Coast kayak fisherman whose story goes way deeper than most folks realize. Terry didn’t just wake up one day paddling from shore to barrier islands. His journey took him from Louisiana to Texas, Miami, and eventually right here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Along the way, he built a career as an architect that led to an unexpected chapter—designing Margaritaville destinations around the world and working directly with Jimmy Buffett himself. 🍹 Designing Margaritaville from the ground up ✈️ Living life on airplanes, boats, and blue water 🛶 How offshore boats led to long-distance kayak fishing 🌴 Kayaking Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, and eventually Horn Island 🏝️ Why Mississippi’s barrier islands stopped him in his tracks 🔥 The mindset, preparation, and respect it takes to paddle miles offshore This is a deep, laid-back conversation about chasing freedom, building a life around the water, and why sometimes the most “Brown Water” places turn out to be pure paradise. If you’ve ever wondered what pushes someone to load a kayak and point it toward the horizon—this episode is for you. Watch the full episode now ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/n6B7lnJrSCk?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

🎣🎨 Ocean Springs artist June Lipps joins the Brown Water Banter crew for the first episode of the year to talk about a craft that perfectly blends Gulf Coast fishing and fine art. June dives into the ancient Japanese art of Gyotaku 🐟 — a fish-printing technique fishermen once used to document their catch long before cameras existed. From growing up fishing Davis Bayou and the barrier islands 🌊, to studying aquaculture and marine science 🧪, to turning real Gulf-caught fish into hand-painted artwork, her story is rooted in water, tradition, and creativity. We break down the full Gyotaku process 🖌️ — prepping the fish, capturing scale detail, hand-painting each piece, and dealing with challenges like barotrauma, rigor mortis, and why some species are way harder to paint than others. June also explains how this art preserves the memory of a catch without sacrificing the meal 🍽️. This episode is a true mix of fishing culture ⚓, coastal art 🖼️, and Gulf Coast heritage. If you love fishing, conservation, or one-of-a-kind coastal art, this one’s for you. Watch the full episode now ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/7HulCh7AVXg?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

This episode is a once-in-a-lifetime conversation with Fred Haise — Apollo 13 astronaut and Biloxi, Mississippi native. Fred joins Brown Water Banter to talk about growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast during the Great Depression, fishing and crabbing off the seawall, working as a newspaper boy in Biloxi, and how a kid from a small seafood town ended up in the space program. We dive deep into Fred’s journey from journalism to the military, becoming a test pilot, and eventually being selected by NASA. Fred walks us through the intense training process for Apollo missions, what it was like preparing for spaceflight, and how incremental testing and preparation shaped NASA’s approach to risk. This episode isn’t just about space — it’s about discipline, curiosity, service, and how life on the Gulf Coast helped shape one of the men who survived one of the most famous missions in human history. An incredible story from a true American legend. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/uC-ophFMbFU?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

🦪 Mississippi’s oyster industry nearly disappeared — and most people don’t realize how close it came. In this clip, Jason Rider, Shellfish Bureau Director, and Eric Broussard, Deputy Director Office of Marine Fisheries with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, explain how oyster harvest numbers dropped from hundreds of thousands of sacks to just a fraction of that, and why last season marked an important turning point for recovery. 🌊 What caused the long decline in Mississippi oysters 📉 The massive difference between historic and recent harvest numbers ⚖️ How DMR decides when it’s safe to reopen oyster season 🌱 Why oyster reefs matter for the entire Gulf Coast ecosystem This is a behind-the-scenes look at the science, management, and long-term planning it takes to bring Mississippi oysters back the right way. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/2QJxp6lBKZg?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Comedian David Jolly joins Brown Water Banter live in Biloxi for a wild conversation about comedy, sobriety, and betting on yourself. David breaks down his grind from Orlando open mics to the East Coast comedy circuit, landing in Austin, and becoming part of the Kill Tony and Comedy Mothership scene. We get into quitting whiskey to take comedy seriously, the freedom of speech comeback in stand-up, and how his viral DeAndre Holms sketches took off online. This episode goes everywhere — from bombing for chicken wings to performing on some of the biggest comedy stages in the country. If you like raw conversations, unfiltered comedy, and stories about chasing the shot when it finally shows up, this one’s for you. 🎙️ Listen now and enjoy the ride. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://www.youtube.com/live/PyOaGfUBZGE Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

In this episode of Brown Water Banter, we’re joined in studio by Joel Davis, Nicole Nezat, and Biloxi City Councilman Wayne Gray to break down the inaugural Christmas on the Avenue event and what it means for Downtown Biloxi. Representative Scott Delano also joins us. We cover how the idea came together, the city coordination behind the scenes, and why this event is a major step toward bringing more foot traffic, tourism, and holiday energy to Howard Avenue. 🎄 Event Highlights 🎶 Live music and multiple entertainment stages 💡 Grand Lighting of Howard Avenue with 150 sponsored Christmas trees ❄️ Snow falling in Downtown Biloxi 🎅 Santa Claus Parade 🍻 Santa Crawl with participating local businesses 🏠 Live Christmas trees donated to families in need after the event 📅 December 18–20 📍 Howard Avenue, Downtown Biloxi This episode dives into the vision, the logistics, and the long-term goal of turning Christmas on the Avenue into a signature Gulf Coast holiday tradition. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/6pepJ-upSF4?feature=share Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

In this episode of Brown Water Banter, we sit down with the men behind the Inaugural Fishing for Toys Tournament, a Gulf Coast charity event that was born out of a men’s Bible study called Fishers of Men. What started as a small group of men gathering to study scripture and support one another grew into something much bigger — an outreach focused on serving families and kids in need during the Christmas season. Through Fishers of Men, the group recognized a need in the community and partnered with Pascagoula Police Department to help provide toys, meals, and hope to local families. We talk about how the Bible study began, how it evolved into an outreach ministry, and how the Fishing for Toys tournament became a natural extension of their mission to serve others. The conversation also dives into community policing, mentorship, faith, and the powerful impact that men stepping up together can have on families and neighborhoods. This episode is a reminder that real change often starts small — with men willing to check their egos at the door, show up consistently, and put faith into action. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://youtube.com/live/SPF78fVZh6M Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter

Derek from Marsh Town Mafia Charters joins us to break down the world of nighttime flounder gigging on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He talks about growing up on the water, what pushed him to finally get his captain’s license, and how he built a gigging-only charter business. We cover how a gigging trip actually works, what the lights reveal in the marsh, the species you see after dark, and why conditions like tide and wind make each night different. Derek also shares stories from clients, lessons learned, and what keeps him fired up to run trips after long shifts at the fire department. Watch the full episode now on YouTube ⬇️ https://youtu.be/LrCcJU7wm_Q Also big thanks to Southern Magnolia Smiles, Forever Young Men's and Women Health, and Taylor and Cox Law Firm, for the support! Want to be a part of the pelican gang? Check out our merch Here. Download our free app: Apple: Here Android: Here All our links: https://linktr.ee/brownwaterbanter