Tournament News - December 12, 2012
Published by comefishLa.com, Inc.

Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic Joins Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship

Orange Beach, AL: The prestigious Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship will expand its roster of participating events in 2013 to include Louisiana’s most popular bluewater tournament: the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, slated for May 28-June 2, 2013. The event will join the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Memorial Day Tournament, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin and the Blue Marlin Grand Championship tournaments that comprise the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship.

Sonny Middleton, one of the most notable figures in Gulf Coast sportfishing circles, first floated the concept of uniting the most popular tournaments in the region nearly a decade ago. Teams would compete for points based on their finish in each event with the winner being presented an annual trophy. In 2011 the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship became a reality. It was a concept that was immediately embraced by tournament anglers across the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, several teams signed up to participate in Triple Crown Championship tournaments solely based on the fact that they wanted to have a shot to win the trophy and be named “The Best of the Best” on the Gulf Coast for the year. Now in its third season in 2013, the Triple Crown Championship presents the winning team a six-foot trophy of a leaping blue marlin by marine artist Frank Ledbetter at the final event of the season, the Blue Marlin Grand Championship at the Wharf. In 2012, the Triple Crown trophy was presented to Jon Gonsoulin (of LeBeouf Brothers Towing, a founding sponsor of the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic) and his team on the Done Deal, based out of Houma, Louisiana.

Scott Burt, the coordinator of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown, is also excited about the coming season as well as the addition of the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic. “It’s a great tournament in Louisiana—[tournament director] Steve Thomas has done a terrific job in attracting teams of the highest caliber to participate in his event so we are very happy to have him on board with us.”

Participating teams in the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship are awarded points based on the top three finishes in each event, with a bonus added for those competing in all five tournaments during the circuit. Points are awarded for not just the largest blue marlin but also for the catch and release and gamefish divisions. There is no additional entry fee or paperwork necessary to compete in the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship.

The 2013 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship will kick off with the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Memorial Day Tournament in Orange Beach, Alabama May 24-27, 2013. For more information, please visit www.gulfcoasttriplecrown.com.

Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship Events

• Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Memorial Day Tournament, Orange Beach, AL: May 24 – 27, 2013

• Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, Venice, LA: May 28 - June 2, 2013

• Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic, Isle of Capri, Biloxi, MS: June 2 – 9, 2013

• Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, Destin, FL: June 19 – 23, 2013

• Blue Marlin Grand Championship, Orange Beach, AL: July 9 – 14, 2013

Tight lines,

Steve Thomas
Tournament Director
Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic

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