Sea Striker Victorious in Bermuda Triple Crown

Bermuda-based Paradise One snatches the largest marlin jackpots on final day
A sport-fishing team celebrates at the Bermuda Triple Crown awards ceremony.
The North Carolina-based Sea Striker team, big winners in the 2022 Bermuda Triple Crown Championship Courtesy Out Your Front Door.

Consistency is often the key to victory, especially in a highly competitive three-tournament series such as the Bermuda Triple Crown. After journeying to these storied billfish grounds for many seasons from their home port in Morehead City, North Carolina, Sea Striker owner Adrian Holler and his team once again experienced the thrill of victory, this time as a series winner of the Triple Crown, one of the most coveted honors in sport fishing. 

Holler, fishing with Capt. Pete Zook and mate Morris McGahey, will forever remember their 2022 season. The team started strong by releasing three blues and a white marlin during the Billfish Blast, placing second in the tournament. Their consistency continued, adding three blue marlin releases during the Bermuda Big Game Classic, moving them into the lead with 3,100 points heading into the third and final leg. 

The weather throughout the series was Chamber of Commerce perfect, and the fishing continued to be outstanding during the Sea Horse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament. Sea Striker added a finishing flourish to an epic season, releasing six blues and one white marlin to earn first-place team honors in the Sea Horse tournament. Their tally of 6,200 points from twelve blues and two white marlin releases for their anglers—including Rom Whitaker, Christian Bedsworth, Dave Pfeiffer, Curtis Struyk, Robbie Terry and Jim Sears—secured their victory in the 2022 Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship, picking up $203,000 for their accomplishments over the series of tournaments. The team won championship rings from VanMark Jewelry Designers, the Bodo Muche champion’s bronze trophy, Garmin Quatix 6 watches, AFTCO champions apparel, Bacardi spirits, the Release Marine custom trophy, Steve Goione BTC limited edition prints, King Sailfish Mounts trophies, Costa sunglasses, Yeti cooler, OluKai shoes, Penn reel, Yeti tumblers, Meater thermometer kit, Coastal Carolina cutting board and Big T custom lures. 

Team Auspicious, an 80-foot Viking out of West Palm Beach, Florida, with owner Joe Rahman, Capt. Edward “Cookie” Murray at the helm and mate Carl Copeland, finished second in the Triple Crown with 5,400 points from ten blues and four white marlin releases, earning second place in the optional series jackpot worth $28,350.  The total winnings for team Auspicious in the Triple Crown was $65,970.

Team Plane Simple, a 77-foot Spencer based in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with Capt. Chris Weeks and mate Derek Sherz, finished third in the series with 4,600 points from nine blues and one white marlin releases. Plane Simple also participated in the optional series jackpot, winning $18,900. Their total winnings tallied $91,380. 

A total of 43 teams fished at least one leg of the 2022 Bermuda Triple Crown, competing for more than $1.1 million in cash, catching 263 billfish including 190 blue marlin, 70 white marlin and three spearfish over the nine days of fishing. Six qualifying marlin over the 500-pound minimum were boated, including a 529 on Triple Play, a 534 on Pescador, a 610 on Overproof, a 610 on Game Changer, a 682 on Lunatico and a 713 on Paradise One, the largest of the series.  Two quality tuna were weighed including a 139-pound yellowfin on Reel Lax and a 158-pounder on Reel Quick. Congratulations to Team Sea Striker, this year’s 2022 Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Series Champions! For more information on the series, head to Bermuda Triple Crown. The event also recognizes and thanks its sponsors, including Bermuda Tourism.

Free Email Newsletters

Sign up for free Marlin Group emails to receive expert big-game content along with key tournament updates and to get advanced notice of new expeditions as they’re introduced.