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The chase for the Gulf Coast Triple Crown, presented by Grander Marine, Invincible Boats, and Mercury Marine, begins and ends at The Wharf in Orange Beach. Just like the lead built by 'A Work of Art' starting back in May.

The 92' Viking from Orange Beach finished third in the weighed Blue Marlin division of the Orange Beach Billfish Classic while adding a second-place finish in the Catch and Release division. Captain Jason Buck and crew scored 275-points in the season-opening event, giving them a 25-point over several competitors after the first sanctioned tournament. It was a lead they would never relinquish, en route to the championship, leading wire-to-wire over the four events.

"I've always admired the teams that have won the Triple Crown in the past," said owner Art Favre. "It's an accomplishment that rewards teams for their season-long consistency. Every team that has been crowned the champion has been recognized by their peers as being the best of the best for that year. And we were fortunate enough to have a great season this year, and I am so proud of our team for winning this championship!"

The only event Favre's team didn't score points was the second tournament in Biloxi, but they still held their 25-point advantage at the halfway mark of the season.

The third tournament was the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin, Florida. A Work of Art caught the heaviest Blue Marlin to win the tournament at 638.7-pounds and built what proved to be an insurmountable lead of 275 points heading to the season finale at The Wharf.

A Work of Art's season-long dominance continued at what is known as 'The Greatest Show in Sportfishing.' Weighing in, a 557.4-pound Blue Marlin secured a second-place finish at The Blue Marlin Grand Championship and a run-away victory of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown.

Captain Buck, who led Done Deal to three Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championships in 2012, 2013, and 2018 is now the first-ever four-time Triple Crown Champion. "This a team achievement. Everyone plays such an important role, starting with Art. He's a hands-on owner. He does things for us like taking the night watch so the rest of us can get some sleep and be focused when we need to be. He had some great guys already working on the boat when I arrived, and I brought in a few of my guys, and we all work really well together. This is a great honor for all of us."

Chris Bazor of Grander Marine not only sponsors the Gulf Coast Triple Crown but also competes in the events, so he knows what an accomplishment it is to win. "I truly feel the teams that tournament fish in the Gulf are some of the best in the world," he said. "So when you win the Triple Crown, I think it showcases you on the world fishing stage because the teams down here, like A Work of Art, are respected worldwide."

It Just Takes Time, a 72' Viking from Orange Beach, finished in second place with C-Ya the 74' Spencer, also from Orange Beach, finishing third in the final 2022 Gulf Coast Triple Crown standings

The Wharf; Orange Beach, Alabama:

It wasn't a 'wire-to-wire win, but the team that led the Gulf Coast Triple Crown standings after week one ended up being in that same spot eight tournaments later. Team Devotion, a 61' Viking from Orange Beach, took the lead after winning the Catch and Release division at the Louisiana Billfish Classic back in May and held off fierce competition to claim the 2021 championship.

This year's chase for Gulf's top honor featured four different lead changes over the nine sanctioned tournament series. After falling out of the top spot, Captain Jason Hallmark and mates Ben Arnold and Tyler Matherne added to their point total with a second-place finish at the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic's weighed Blue Marlin division. Their 472-pound fish put them back in contention at third place with two tournaments remaining.

A few weeks later, a second-place finish at the Pensacola Big Game Fishing Club's International Tournament vaulted them into first place heading into the series finale, the Blue Marlin Grand Championship. Ten teams all had a shot at winning the Gulf Coast Triple Crown, entering 'The Greatest Show in Sportfishing' at The Wharf in Orange Beach. But after the tournament, the standings didn't change, and Hallmark joined an exclusive group of captains to become a Gulf Coast Triple Crown Champion. "To have my name alongside those other great captains who have won it in the past...some of the best captains and fishermen in the world...that's an unbelievable honor for me and our team," said the victorious captain.

Big game fishing is, of course, a team sport, and Hallmark credits team owner Josh Tice for allowing him to assemble the championship team on Devotion. "Josh enabled me to put together an outstanding crew which is what gave us a chance to win. There is so much talent fishing on other teams in our part of the Gulf, if your crew isn't great, you have no shot at winning," said Hallmark. "My style is to always make our plan together as a team and get input from my guys. The Blue Marlin we caught at the ECBC was because Ben felt really strongly about where we should fish that weekend. I was thinking of going somewhere else, but we decided to go with Ben's idea, and it ended up being the right choice which eventually led us to win the Triple Crown," said Hallmark. "I know everyone says it's a team effort, but with us, it really is, and I feel very, very fortunate to be a part of this team."

2021 was the first year of fishing together for Tice and Hallmark, and the owner credits his captain not only for his fishing ability but also for who he brings on the boat. "That is one of Jason's greatest strengths, is to be able to put together an excellent crew. I think he's the best captain in the Gulf, and a big part of that is the team he can assemble. That has always been a trademark of his, being able to attract top talent to the boat he is running."

The Wharf; Orange Beach, Alabama:

After a three-hour battle Pearl, a 48 Viking based in Orange Beach, Alabama, weighed a 642.2-pound marlin to earn the top honors in the 2020 Blue Marlin Grand Championship. The first-place finish catapulted the team to this year's Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship title. The boat is owned by Andy Yarborough and was run by Capt. Bo Keough for the BMGC.

This marks the first time the Triple Crown title has been determined by a win at the Blue Marlin Grand Championship. That win, together with participation points, helped Pearl accumulate the 600 Triple Crown points overall needed to take the trophy. Grander Marine, Invincible Boats and Mercury Outboards are the Presenting Sponsors of the 2020 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship.

With its victory, Pearl is taking home the exquisite Frank Ledbetter custom marlin sculpture, a five-foot tall stainless steel trophy. Permanent plaques will be displayed at the Signature Perpetual Trophy on display at The Wharf Outfitter Store, as well as on the iconic Wharf Marlin Tower. The team also earned bragging rights among the elite teams competing on the Gulf of Mexico big-game fishing circuit.

Pearl started the season with the first-place weighed blue marlin in the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, a 603.2-pound entry. The team also earned participation points in the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic and the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic. The other team members for the BMGC win included Edgar McKee and mates Hunter Green and Kolby Thorton.

"It was a very special moment for Pearl to win the Triple Crown Championship," Yarborough explains. "I would like to extend sincere thanks, gratitude and love to all the people who've helped make this possible for our team this season."

The Wharf; Orange Beach, Alabama:

In another close finish, Relentless Pursuit, a 95 Jim Smith based in Venice, Louisiana, was named the 2019 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Champion. This season marks the second time the boat has earned top honors, following a 2015 championship run. Relentless Pursuitis owned by Dennis Pastentine, with Capt. Robbie Doggett the boat's long-time skipper. In addition to bragging rights for another season, the team takes home a custom Frank Ledbetter metal marlin sculpture and $31,625 in cash including optional entry categories.

The Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship is composed of the top five big-game tournaments in the region. The Blue Marlin Grand Championship is historically the last leg, but with Tropical Storm Barry moving west across the prime offshore waters, the tournament was cancelled for safety reasons. Done Deal, a three-time Triple Crown Champion, was tied with Relentless Pursuit before fishing started. Ties are determined by the largest marlin landed, which gave Relentless Pursuit the winning combination.

"During the Orange Beach Billfish Classic we left the dock at noon and ran four hours to reach 130 miles offshore," Doggett explained. "Within 45 minutes we were already hooked up by the time other boats got there. The fight lasted an hour and 45 minutes. We slowly eased back in and weighed the fish the next morning." That winning 658.2-pound blue marlin was caught on a trolled ballyhoo skirted with a pink Islander lure.

"We call it Stinky Pinky once the ballyhoo is added," Doggett says with a laugh. "We strictly troll to cover more water and have an arsenal of 60 lures in various shades of blue, silver, purple, green and yellow. We run two rods each off the outriggers and two flat lines. We don't have the patience to live bait, but we've been pretty successful with our style of fishing."

In addition to the OBBC win, Relentless Pursuit won the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic with three blue marlin releases (no billfish were weighed) and earned series bonus participation points. Done Deal also finished with 625 points from second place release awards in the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic and the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, plus bonus points. Katie Gonsoulin was the angler on Done Deal's big fish, a 535.5-pound blue, good for a second-place finish in the CCBC. Jason Buck is the boat's captain and Jon Gonsoulin is the owner.

Fleur de Lis, a 72 Viking run by Capt. Scooter Porto and owned by Jeff Landry, was the third-place team in the 2019 GCTC standings with 500 points. The boat weighed the heaviest blue (602.7 pounds, angler Hunter Myers) in the CCBC, along with bonus points. Fleur de Lis is based in Grand Isle, Louisiana.

"This was a total team effort," Doggett says of the 2019 Championship run. "This season was all about our former team mate, Dale Artigue, who passed away just before the holidays. His spirit was always with us in the cockpit. There are so many talented and hard-working crews fishing the Gulf that it makes competing against guys of this caliber such an incredible experience."

Marking its ninth season, the 2019 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship was presented by Invincible Boats and Grander Marine. The five legs include the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic and the Blue Marlin Grand Championship.

For 2019 GCTC Director Scott Burt commissioned a commemorative trophy that will be on permanent display at The Wharf Marina's Outfitter's Store. Created by marine metal artist Frank Ledbetter, the perpetual trophy will sit atop a rotating base and will feature all previous Triple Crown Champions. Relentless Pursuit will now have to decide where to display its second GCTC Championship blue marlin.

"It was a tough season with all the weather issues, but Capt. Robbie, Dennis and Team Relentless Pursuit once again lived up to the boat's name and came out on top," Burt said. "Congratulations to them and well done to all the competing boats. We look forward to another exciting finish as the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2020."

JULY 17, 2018

Done Deal Wins the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship For A Record Third Time

The third time is yet another charming and gleaming trophy for Jon and his daughter Katie, Captain Jason Buck and Done Deal team. With the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship lead heading into the Blue Marlin Grand Championship last week, the Houma, Louisiana crew earned its third title overall after a dominant performance. Done Deal was named Top Release Team with four blues and one white marlin to its credit. It also took the second-place Tournament Award after landing a 640.8-pound blue. Petite Katie Gonsoulin whipped that fish after an eight-hour battle in the chair.

Since its creation, Done Deal is the only team to repeat as Triple Crown Champions. The team accomplished the feat in back to back seasons in 2012 and 2013. The third crown in 2018 sets a new incredible standard for competitive marlin fishing in the Gulf.

"We've been fishing hard since 2013 to win the Crown again," Jon Gonsoulin said. "Adding Katie to the team as our designated angler has made it more special. There are a lot of great crews in the Gulf. But there's only one Jason Buck."

The late Sonny Middleton came up with the concept of the Triple Crown and Director Scott Burt helped develop and nurture it over the last seven-plus years.

"Sonny always thought the Triple Crown was a way to bring all the teams together," Buck explained. "Sonny was the godfather of sport-fishing in the Gulf. So I hope we're making him proud by claiming our third championship."

The Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship consists of five sanctioned events in the central Gulf of Mexico and is sponsored by American Marine Brokerage. The affiliated tournaments include the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic and the Blue Marlin Grand Championship.

The Triple Crown is scored on a hybrid system that includes both weight and release points for the top three finishes in the blue marlin divisions only. Bonus points are also accrued for series participation, weighed marlin lengths and tournament marlin records. The winning team receives The Championship Trophy, a five-foot tall, one of a kind masterpiece handcrafted by metal artist Frank Ledbetter. In addition, the Triple Crown Champion earns $12,500 and bragging rights among the Gulf's top big-game competitors.

Done Deal wrapped up the season with 921 points. That tally included first place and a tournament record blue in the Orange Beach Billfish Classic, second place catch and release in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, second place in the Blue Marlin Grand Championship and bonus participation points.

Reel Addiction, a 56 Viking owned by Rocky Jones of Pensacola and run by Capt. Scooter Porto, finished second in the standings with 700 points. Reel Addiction had the second place fish in the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, first place in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic and earned bonus points for competing in all five events.

Rounding out third place was Wynsong, a 66 Viking based in Destin and run by Capt. Allen Staples. The team earned 610 points based on bonus points and a first-place win and second-place release honors in the Cajun Canyon tournament.

"Congratulations to Jon, Katie, Jason and the entire Done Deal team for another stellar season. The competition was intense, but you truly demonstrated your skill level and commitment to winning," said GCTC Director Scott Burt. "Done Deal has established a dynasty in Gulf sport-fishing that is going to be really hard to top."

Patron Wins the 2011 Gulf Coast Triple Crown

July 10, 2011: What an exciting finish! After three events two boats are tied for first, with both Patron and Pipe Dream boasting 398 points. The tie goes to the largest Blue Marlin weighed, and Patron's 702.5 pound Blue Marlin weighed at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic edged out the 665 pound fish weighed by Pipe Dream at the Bay Point Invitational.

Boat	Total Points	Award
PATRON	398	First Place Blue Marlin, Biloxi
PIPE DREAM	398	First Place Blue Marlin, Bay Point
REEL ADDICTION	397	First Place C/R, Biloxi, Second Place Tuna, Bay Point
TEAM GALATI	328	First Place C/R, Destin
TESTING THE WATER	327	Third Place Blue Marlin, Biloxi, Third Place Dolphin, Bay Point
MOLLIE	327	First Place Dolphin, Third Place C/R Bay Point
TITANIUM 5.0	317	Third Place C/R, Destin, Third Place Wahoo, Bay Point
SHARE E	278	First Place Tuna, Bay Point
REEL WORTHLESS	268	Second Place Tuna, Biloxi
YOU NEVER KNOW!	268	Second Place Tuna, Destin