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The 2025 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, hosted out of Cypress Cove Marina & Lodge and presented by the Louisiana Office of Tourism, celebrated its 21st running from May 28 to June 1 in Venice, Louisiana. The event combined renowned Cajun hospitality with spirited competition, drawing 25 teams for three days of fishing in the Gulf waters. The fleet tallied 51 blue marlin and seven white marlin releases, as they competed for the total payout of $571,850.
It was Team Supreme who stole the spotlight, setting a tournament record with eight blue marlin releases. Capt. Chase Lake, along with mates Seth Brennan and Gam Hunter, guided the team to Top Boat and First Place Release honors, collecting $102,350 in winnings and the Stephen B. Thomas Memorial Trophy.
On the weighed-fish leaderboard, Rising Sons made headlines with the tournament’s heaviest marlin, a 618.5-pound blue landed by angler Jaselyn Berthelot. The catch, which came on the final day, earned Top Blue Marlin and $111,350 in prize money.
Team Nikki Bella, led by Capt. Louis Porto, claimed second place in the blue marlin weight category with a 596.4-pound fish caught by Marc Padgett on Day One. That catch earned them $79,635. Meanwhile, Southern Charm All In secured third with a 501.6-pound blue for angler Gregg Trenor, netting the team $124,235 by sweeping the blue marlin jackpots.
Consistency paid off for It Just Takes Time, which released eight blue marlin to take second place honors in the release division – four of which came on the final day. Junior angler Leah Pratt led the charge for the team, releasing six blues and making tournament history by earning Top Angler, Top Lady Angler, and Top Junior Angler—all in a single event. The team earned $61,410.
Breathe Easy, captained by Patrick Ivie, took home third place in the release division and also won the top tuna honors with a 57.5-pound yellowfin, earning $36,980.
