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Wynsong Tops the Fleet at Cajun Canyons

The second leg of the 2018 Gulf Coast Triple Crown is now in the books
team wynsong with a blue marlin cajun canyons billfish classic
Wynsong weighed in the largest blue marlin in this year’s event. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic

The Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, presented by H&E Equipment Services, has always been about the fishing, fun and camaraderie among the teams in the upper Gulf of Mexico. Sure, there is some serious cash to be won but unlike most other events in the prestigious Gulf Coast Triple Crown, the Classic is more informal. The teams really have a chance to enjoy themselves.

Case in point: When the tournament kickoff party is catered by the world-famous Acme Oyster House, you know a good time is in store.

The following day the fleet of 46 participating boats departed after receiving the tournament’s traditional blessing of the fleet from Father Gerry Stapleton from St. Patrick’s Cathedral of Port Sulphur, Louisiana. The wide-open waters of the Gulf beckoned, as the fleet spread out from the nearby rigs to the distant Green Canyon in search of productive water.

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The first team to weigh in a blue marlin was Reel Addiction, a 56-foot Viking owned by Rocky Jones. His 111-inch blue marlin weighed 545 pounds for angler Tyler Massey to take the lead. Meanwhile, several other boats were calling in blue marlin releases, including Dennis Pastentine’s Relentless Pursuit with three blues and other boats with two each.

The final day’s weigh-in was highlighted by Wynsong, owned by Will Wilson and captained by Allen Staples. They arrived at Cypress Cove Marina with a 699.3-pound blue marlin that held on as the largest blue marlin of the event. Reel Addiction slid to second and A Work of Art, a 92 Viking owned by Art Favre and skippered by Capt. Ronnie Woodruff, landed in third with a blue marlin weighing 521.3 pounds.

In the tournament’s release division, Relentless Pursuit was first with three blue marlin, followed by Wynsong, also with three blues, and Chasin’ Tail with two. The Bob Potter Memorial Award for top billfish boat went to the team on Wynsong, along with an invitation to compete in the Offshore World Championship in 2019. Done Deal‘s Katie Gonsoulin was the top lady angler and Ryan Cooper was the top junior angler on Triple C.

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reel addiction with a blue marlin cajun canyons billfish classic
Reel Addiction scaled the second-place blue marlin on the event’s first day weigh-in. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
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Art Favre and A Work of Art with their third-place blue marlin. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
team wynsong bop porter award cajun canyons billfish classic
Wynsong also received the Bob Porter Memorial Award as the top billfish boat. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
team relentless pursuit cajun canyons billfish classic
Dennis Pastenstine’s Relentless Pursuit won first place in the release division. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
team wynsong cajun canyons billfish classic
Wynsong took home second-place release honors with three blue marlin releases. They also scaled the event’s largest tuna at 156.4 pounds for angler Pickett Reese. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
team chasin tail at the cajun canyons billfish classic
Chasin’ Tail rounded out the top three in the release division with two blue marlin released by owner John Engquist. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
top female angler katie gonsoulin at cajun canyons billfish classic
Katie Gonsoulin was the top lady angler for the Done Deal team. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
top youth angler at cajun canyons billfish classic
Ryan Cooper brought home a top junior angler award. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
father gerry stapleton blessing team relentless pursuit cajun canyons billfish classic
The annual blessing of the fleet. Courtesy Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic
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