Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Some of the top big-game fishing crews in the country will compete in four Gulf Coast tournaments this summer as part of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship Series. The circuit runs from spring into midsummer, with stops in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Teams earn points at each event, and the overall champion is crowned at the end of the series. A custom six-foot marlin trophy goes to the team that finishes on top.

The series kicks off May 12–17 with the Orange Beach Billfish Classic at The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach, Alabama. The Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic takes place in early June in Biloxi. The Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic runs June 17–21 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort near Destin, Florida. The Blue Marlin Grand Championship concludes the series July 14–19, returning to The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach.

The Orange Beach Billfish Classic, now entering its 30th year, holds a special distinction that no other Gulf Coast Billfish Tournament can match. It is the only event of its kind owned and run by those who actually fish in it. Started in 1996 by tournament fisherman Johnny Dorland and his family, the event has donated over $1 million to The Billfish Foundation and other conservation groups since it began.

The tournament primarily targets blue marlin, though tuna, Wahoo, and dolphin are also included in optional cash categories. Teams from around the Gulf Coast travel to compete, attracting some of the most competitive anglers in the circuit. Organizers state it is one of the largest donors to The Billfish Foundation worldwide.

From Orange Beach, the series moves to Biloxi, Mississippi, for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The event takes place at Point Cadet Marina and is widely regarded as the top sport fishing tournament in the southern United States. Known for offering the largest purse in the region, it has earned a reputation for combining offshore competition with nearby entertainment options.

Teams of six to eight anglers compete for large cash prizes while targeting blue marlin and other prized species in the Gulf. The tournament's multi-million-dollar purse has made it one of the most talked-about stops on the circuit. The event attracts crews from across the Gulf region each year.

The third leg takes the series to the Florida Panhandle for the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, held at Baytowne Marina at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The 24th annual event offers more than $2 million in cash awards, and Marlin Magazine has ranked it among the top 10 big-money tournaments in the world. Weigh-ins are open to the public and draw large crowds to the marina each night.

The series concludes with the Blue Marlin Grand Championship in Orange Beach, often called "The Greatest Show in Sportfishing." The event takes place from July 14–19 at The Wharf Marina, with weigh-ins scheduled for July 16–18. It acts as the series finale, where the overall Gulf Coast Triple Crown champion is crowned. Early registration is now open, with discounts available until the end of May.