THE CAJUN CANYONS
BILLFISH CLASSIC

The 2026 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic once again demonstrated why Venice, Louisiana, remains one of the Gulf's premier offshore fishing destinations. Hosted at Cypress Cove Marina & Lodge, the tournament welcomed 22 elite teams for three days of world-class competition while awarding nearly $600,000 in prize money across multiple divisions. Serving as the second leg of the Louisiana Champions Cup, the tournament attracted many of the Gulf Coast's top offshore teams as they continued their pursuit of championship points and season-long honors. Anglers were greeted with productive offshore conditions as they targeted blue marlin, white marlin, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and dolphin in the fertile waters surrounding the Mississippi River Delta. Throughout the tournament, the fleet produced an impressive catch of 19 blue marlin, 2 white marlin, 16 yellowfin tuna, 3 wahoo, and 1 dolphin, showcasing the remarkable diversity and abundance of Louisiana's world-renowned offshore fishery.

​

The billfish release division once again proved to be the tournament's centerpiece as teams battled throughout the event for valuable release points and Grand Champion honors. Metal Masher delivered an outstanding performance to capture the Top Release Team title with 2,700 points, while Nikki Bella finished second with 2,000 points. Relentless Pursuit rounded out the top three with 1,500 points, demonstrating the consistency, teamwork, and skill required to locate, hook, and successfully release blue marlin during tournament competition. The impressive release totals reflected both the strength of the Gulf's billfish fishery and the tournament's continued commitment to conservation.

​

That dominance carried over to the overall standings as Metal Masher earned the title of 2026 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic Grand Champion. Along with claiming the Top Release Team award, Metal Masher finished as the tournament's Top Money Winner, taking home $118,000 in prize earnings. Relentless Pursuit followed with $80,500, while Nikki Bella claimed $70,800 to round out the top three money winners. Metal Masher's remarkable performance across the tournament's premier divisions cemented its place as the event's overall champion and one of the most dominant teams of the 2026 Gulf Coast tournament season.

​

The yellowfin tuna division further showcased Venice's reputation as one of North America's finest tuna fisheries. Relentless Pursuit dominated the leaderboard as angler Chip Stienbing landed the tournament's largest yellowfin tuna, weighing 96.5 pounds, to claim first place. Lady D, with angler Jason Bush, secured second place after weighing an impressive 84.0-pound yellowfin, while Relentless Pursuit returned to the scales once again as Sawyer York claimed third with an 80.6-pound yellowfin, giving the team two of the tournament's top three tuna catches.

​

The dolphin division featured a single qualifying fish, but it was an impressive one. Currie Cooper, fishing aboard CE, landed a 29.8-pound dolphin (mahi-mahi) to earn Top Dolphin honors, adding yet another memorable catch to an already outstanding tournament. From exciting blue marlin releases to heavyweight yellowfin tuna, the 2026 Cajun Canyons Billfish Classic once again delivered an exceptional showcase of offshore sportfishing while reinforcing Venice's reputation as one of the world's premier destinations for anglers pursuing Gulf gamefish. As the second stop of the Louisiana Champions Cup, the event built momentum toward the championship race while celebrating the outstanding fishery, sportsmanship, and conservation efforts that define competitive offshore fishing along the Gulf Coast.