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Fleur de Lis Wins the 2026 Florida Panhandle Billfish Series
In a tight contest, Fleur de Lis came out on top to win the 3rd annual Florida Panhandle Billfish Series. The Hatteras 63 GT, based in nearby Orange Beach, Alabama, fished all three events of the Emerald Coast series, developed to highlight the big-game fishing opportunities off Florida’s Panhandle. The competition includes three prestigious tournaments which started with the 55th Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament. The 24th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic at Sandestin was the second leg and the series concluded with the 4th Annual Bay Point Billfish Open in Panama City Beach.
Fleur de Lis released a blue marlin in Pensacola, followed by a slam in the ECBC (blue and white marlin, plus sailfish). The series trophy was secured with another blue, two whites and one sailfish released in the Bay Point Open. Contestants earn extra points for slams (three or more billfish species released during the event) and for competing in all three tournaments.
Fleur de Lis is owned by Jim Painter. Team members included Conner Pellerin, Nate Dennis, Matt Cosci, Payton Berry, Grey Smith, Parker Smith, with Capt. Jacob Provo and mates Landen Tindal, Griffen Slaughter, Nick Knoepflein and Burke Day.
By Captain Dave Lear
Florida Panhandle Billfish Series Set for 2026, Celebrates 2025 Milestones
The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series is about to kick off its third season this summer. The popular series was developed to highlight the big-game fishing opportunities off Florida’s Emerald Coast. The competition includes three prestigious tournaments starting with the 55th Annual Pensacola International Billfish Tournament on June 10-14. The 24th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic follows on June 17-21 and the series wraps up with the 4th Annual Bay Point Billfish Open June 24-28, 2026.
The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series is free to enter and prizes consist of a perpetual custom trophy recognizing the top team and a sizable cash award. The Presenting Sponsor for the 2026 season is A-Game Hydration Beverages. Jim Painter, owner of Fleur de Lis, a Series competitor, is the president for the hydration beverage line.
The 2024 and 2025 FPBS champions and sponsor, All-In/Southern Charm, will be vying for a three-peat for the 2026 season, only competing as Boujee Marlin this time around. The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series adopts the rules format from the individual tournaments. Series points are accrued based on finishes in each of the three contests.
By Captain Dave Lear
Southern Charm/All-In Doubles Down as Florida Panhandle Billfish Series Champion
Southern Charm/All-In, based in Orange Beach, Alabama, has repeated as the 2025 Florida Panhandle Billfish Series Champion. Capt. Landon Bell runs the 62 Viking. This marks the second season for this unique geographical tournament series. Southern Charm/All In also won the inaugural series crown in 2024.
The combined team released three blue marlin in the Pensacola International Billfish Tournament with Gregg Trenor on the rod. In the next leg, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic, Ron Davis landed the winning blue marlin weighing 654.6 pounds and Trenor added to the score with another blue marlin release. During the Bay Point Billfish Open in Panama City Beach, the team released two blues with Davis in the chair and notched another blue and white marlin release by Trenor. The three-event cumulative score was 25 points.
By Captain Dave Lear
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Industry Partners
Tournaments
Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic
Bay Point Billfish Open
