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.
The Southern Charm/All-In team member names will be added again to the Series perpetual trophy. The team also earned a $10,000 check for the series championship. Captain Landon Bell was named the Florida Man Captain’s Award recipient, taking home a commemorative belt buckle and 52 cases of Miller Lite. The Series awards ceremony will be held after Labor Day at the Pensacola Center for Billfish Conservation and Education (date to be determined).
“We love this Series,” says Capt. Bell. “It gives us something to strive for and another fun reason to be out there. The competition is always fierce. It’s tough, because these are some of the best teams in the Gulf so we are very blessed to come out on top.”
Team Supreme was runner-up in the 2025 Series after finishing third last year. Led by Capt. Chase Lake, Team Supreme scored 17 points. They needed a first-place finish in the blue marlin weight division at Bay Point to overtake Southern Charm/All In but came up just a bill short. Lake said they had a blue behind the boat in the tournament’s waning hours but couldn’t get her to bite.
Other top teams in contention for this year’s trophy included Hydra Sea, Never Settle, Yellow Steel, A Work of Art, Devotion and Triple Tail. A total of 153 teams contended for the Series crown between the three events.
The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series was created to showcase the world-class big-game potential of Florida’s Emerald Coast. The competition includes three prestigious events: the Pensacola International Billfish Tournament, the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic in Miramar Beach and the Bay Point Billfish Open in Panama City Beach.
B&T Marine is the 2025 Series Presenting Sponsor. Nathan Bearden and Josh Tice co-own B&T Marine and GOA Stabilizers and compete on the circuit with the Devotion Sportfishing Team. B&T Marine is a full service boat yard in Orange Beach, Alabama, and the regional SeaKeeper service facility. https://btmarineoba.com/
Competing teams are required to follow the rules for each applicable tournament. Series points were earned based on participation and standings for each event. The scoring format awarded graduated points on weighed blue marlin and game fish, along with billfish releases. Boats catching a Grand Slam (blue and white marlin plus sailfish) scored bonus points.
The Florida Panhandle Billfish Series was created to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship and integrity among the participating teams. It is free to enter.
“The Series format has been a big hit. Teams are eagerly vying for the Championship and we are accomplishing our goals of showcasing the Panhandle and the top-notch crews fishing the region. Our weather for all three events was great and the competition was stiff. There will certainly be a challenge to the Southern Charm/All In’s fledgling dynasty next season,” says FPBS Executive Director Bert Merritt.
To learn more about the specific rules, sponsorship opportunities or to sign up for the 2026 Florida Panhandle Billfish Series, please visit: www.fishfpbs.com