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The 2025 Bermuda Big Game Classic delivered big fish, big numbers, and even bigger payouts as 49 elite teams gathered in Hamilton for the second leg of the Bermuda Triple Crown. With a total purse of more than $1.5 million, the stakes were high—and the fleet rose to the occasion.
From the outset, Bree, a new 88’ Merritt captained by Kyle Laine, proved they were the team to beat. Led by a consistent performance across all three days, Bree released four blue marlin and two white marlin to tally 3,200 points and secure the top spot in the overall and release divisions. Their stellar performance earned the team $301,950 and cemented their position as a series frontrunner heading into the Seahorse finale.
Builder’s Choice, a 64’ Jarrett Bay led by Capt. Brent Gaskill, made headlines on Day Two when angler Eli Blake landed a 650-pound blue marlin—the largest of the tournament. That catch netted the team a jaw-dropping $491,925 across multiple marlin jackpots, including both winner-take-all categories and daily honors.
Juben and Pescaria rounded out the top three in the release division with 2,600 and 2,500 points respectively. Juben’s strong final day earned them $175,803, while Pescaria’s angler Manny Pereira claimed High-Point Angler honors.
In the daily release jackpots, Viking 82 and Star Fish split Day One and Day Two, respectively, each earning $73,383, while Juben claimed the Day Three payout. Not to be overlooked, Debaitable’s Laura Russell took home High-Point Lady Angler, while Camron Walsh’s 48-pound wahoo—also aboard Debaitable—won both daily and winner-take-all honors.
With 93 blue marlin and 16 white marlin caught over three days, the Classic lived up to its name. As the fleet turns its attention to the series finale—the Seahorse Anglers Club Billfish Tournament, set for July 17–21—the Bermuda Triple Crown standings are tight. Pescaria and Fender Bender are tied at the top with 4,200 points apiece, followed closely by Viking 82 (3,800), Wave Paver (3,500), and Builder’s Choice (3,100). With one leg to go, the title is still anyone’s to claim.
The Bermuda Big Game Classic tournament is sponsored by many industry-leading companies including:
Marlin, Bermuda Tourism Authority, Goslings, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Caterpillar, Gregory Poole Marine, Pantropic Power, Foley Inc., Ring Power, PW Marine, Miles Market, The Waterfront Group, Garmin, Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, Butterfield & Vallis, Fishing Tease, Yeti, Costa, Spar Yard Marine Solutions, Dassault Falcon Jet, Release Marine, AFTCO, Blue Water Desalination, Merritt’s Boat & Engine Works, Jarrett Bay Boatworks, Viking Yachts, Spencer Yachts, Willis Custom Yachts, Island Construction Services, ICS Tires, Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison, Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison, Turtlebox Audio, Big Green Egg, Alexseal, OluKai, Airmar, Bear & Burton’s, VanMark Jewelry Designers, Coastal Carolina Cutting Boards, Island Glass, Rego-Sotheby’s International Realty, PENN, Canvas Designers, City of Hamilton, RUBIS Energy Bermuda, IWS ScaleMaster, XTRATUF, Bluefin USA, Alutecnos, Big T Lures, Sportfish Outfitters Marine Supply Co, Sig Sauer, Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery, Ladies Love Pink, Davidrose Studio, Dining Bermuda, and Out Your Front Door.
