DONE DEAL REPEATS AS 2013 GULF TRIPLE CROWN
CHAMPION
Not yet ready to turn down the heat, the Done Deal boys from Louisiana fought their way through all five 2013 qualifying events and once again found themselves back at the winner’s table, snatching up the coveted GCTC trophy for a second consecutive year in 2013. What could be better than a beautiful six-foot custom stainless steel marlin sculpture by renowned marine artist Frank Ledbetter? How about 2012/2013 bookends?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 15, 2013 Orange Beach, Alabama:
Done Deal has done it again. Coming off one of the most successful campaigns in big-game fishing, the 56-foot Viking based in Houma, Louisiana, was declared the 2013 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Champion yesterday at the conclusion of the last qualifying event.
Owner Jon Gonsoulin, Capt. Jason Buck, mates Lance Hightower and Travis Dorland and anglers Trevor Lott, Billy Cemac, Mike LaSalle and David Lebouf caught a 445.2-pound blue marlin and a 76.6-pound yellowfin tuna during the just-concluded Blue Marlin Grand Championship. Even though those fish did not earn the team any qualifying points, participation in that tournament along with the other four qualifiers gave it enough bonus points to earn the top standing. Breathe Reel Deep, You Never Know!, Reel Fire, CE and Pipe Dream were also final contenders for the title.
The GCTCC was created to recognize the top sportfishing team on the highly-competitive Gulf of Mexico blue marlin circuit. The original concept was the brainchild of Sonny Middleton of Middleton Marine, a long-time advocate of sport fishing and boating in the Gulf. Under the format points are accrued for first through third place finishes in the blue marlin divisions, catch-and-release divisions, as well as first-place finishes in the tuna, wahoo and dolphin categories. In addition to the Blue Marlin Grand Championship, other participating events include the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Memorial Day Tournament, the Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic, the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic and the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic.
Along with bragging rights for another year, Done Dea/wins a beautiful six-foot custom stainless steel marlin sculpture by renowned marine artist Frank Ledbetter. The team will also be styling in custom-embroidered Columbia fishing shirts.
“I tip my hat to Team Breathe Reel Deep,” Gonsoulin said at the awards presentation. “They were neck and neck with us all year. They had a great run.
“This really means a lot to me and my team,” he added, “And we’ll definitely be back again next year to defend our title against this very top-notch competition.”
