2025

By Jim Cox:
Halfway through the 2025 Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship, presented by Grander Marine,
Mercury Marine, and Invincible Boats, the 2021 champions were not even on the leaderboard.
Devotion, a 60′ Viking from Orange Beach, not only trailed the four boats tied atop the leaderboard
with 250 points, but there were eleven boats ahead of them in the standings with only two tournaments
remaining.
“It had been a tough season for us until the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic,” said Captain Jason
Hallmark. “Everything came together for us that weekend and gave us a chance heading into the Blue
Marlin Grand Championship.”
Hallmark and crew leapfrogged all other boats that weekend at Sandestin, to move into the top spot by
finishing in second place in both Catch & Release and the weighed Blue Marlin division. Those two
second-place spots earned Devotion 175 points each, for a total of 350 points. Their weighed Blue
Marlin of 640.4 gave them the tie-breaker lead over two-time defending Gulf Coast Triple Crown
Champions Team Supreme.
“There may be two teams tied for first, but this is anything but a two-team race,” said Team Supreme
Captain Chase Lake before the start of the Blue Marlin Grand Championship. Hallmark agreed.
“There are so many teams that could come from behind us and win it at The Wharf. I think we’re
going to have to either weigh a big fish or win Catch & Release to win the championship.”
Devotion didn’t weigh a fish at The Greatest Show in Sportfishing, but they did beat all of the other 65
teams by releasing six Blue Marlin to claim first place in Catch and Release at The Blue Marlin Grand
Championship, which proved Captain Hallmark was correct. Those 250 first-place points were enough
to clinch their second Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championship in five seasons.
“We had a very slow start to the season, but finished off strong with Jason leading the team,” said an
emotional owner, Josh Tice. “I can’t explain how much it means to have been blessed with Jason
Hallmark in my life four and a half years ago, along with First Mate Tyler Matherne.
“Also, none of this would be possible without my business partner and best friend, Nathan Bearden.
I’m so thankful for the team and family we’ve created on Devotion, including Second Mate, Chaz
Chauvin, Rodney Johnson, Kolby Thornton, and Hunter Green, who all mated with us this year along
with our 60′ Viking that we push to her limits!”
Hallmark becomes the fourth Captain to win multiple Gulf Coast Triple Crown Championships,
joining Robbie Doggett (2015, 2019), Chase Lake (2023, 2024), and Jason Buck (2012, 2013, 2018,
and 2022).