Team Supreme Goes Back to Back
First Repeat Champions Since 2012-2013
Captain Chase Lake Becomes Only Third Captain to Win GCTC Multiple Times

By Jim Cox:

Forty-two or two? Which is the more impressive number this tournament season? Forty-two released Blue Marlin, or now being the proud owners of two Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship trophies?

The 2024 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Champion Team Supreme, a 72' Viking from Destin, Florida, released 42 Blue Marlin this tournament season while capturing the second consecutive Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship. Captain Chase Lake, owners Allen and Lisa Krake, became the first team since Done Deal in 2012-2013 to repeat as Gulf Coast Triple Crown Champions.

"It was an unbelievable year. I am so proud of everyone on this boat," said Captain Lake. Lake becomes just the third Captain to win the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship multiple times, joining Robbie Doggett (2015, 2019) and Jason Buck (2012, 2013, 2018 and 2022) while becoming the first team to ever win the championship without scoring any points for a weighed Blue Marlin.

Even after winning the catch and release divisions in two of the first three tournament events, the Orange Beach Billfish Classic and the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, Team Supreme still trailed the 2022 GCTC Champions, A Work of Art, by 100 points heading into the tournament season's final event, the Blue Marlin Grand Championship.

Team Supreme knew they would need another epic weekend like they had at The Wharf last year when they released six Blue Marlin and weighed a 475.4-pound fish to clinch their first championship.

The number seven once again came up lucky for the defending champs at The Wharf. This year, they released seven Blue Marlin to finish in second place in the catch and release division, collecting 175 GCTC points and moving them into first place to secure their second championship.

"Our crew works so hard," said an emotional and champagne-soaked team owner, Allen Krake. "I'm so happy for them…It's just amazing, and it's an honor to compete against the best fishing teams in the world all season here in the Gulf!"

Chris Bazor of Grander Marine, the Gulf Coast Triple Crown title sponsor, congratulated Team Supreme at the tournament awards ceremony. "What another great year by Chase and his crew. They continue to raise the bar for all of us fishing these tournaments. I'm both proud of and happy for them. Another hard-fought championship, and they will once again be the team to beat next year."

No team has ever won the GCTC Championship back-to-back-to-back. And only one team has a chance to do it in 2025, which might just make the number three even more impressive than both forty-two and two for Team Supreme.