OFF-SEASON MOVES: Live Updates From Across The League

With the start of 2026, Sport Fishing Championship is collectively turning the page on the competitive year. It was a year where we saw many historic firsts: 

- The first year of professional Angling Clubs
- Crowning the first champions of SFC’s Angling Club era of competition, congrats again to Capt. Spencer Johnson and Texas Lone Stars for capping of an incredible late-season comeback to qualify for and take victory at the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs in Cabo
- Major records for total billfish releases (Lights Out Boston) total tournament releases (OBBC)
- Individual Angler honors for most releases in a single tournament and over a total season 

Some of us rang in the new year in Cabo San Lucas, like Lights Out Boston. They are currently in transit to Quepos, Costa Rica and Los Sueños Marina for a few more fun weeks of fishing before making the transit on its own bottom across the Panama Canal. Others got away from fishing altogether, spending time with friends, family and football teams (professional and college). 

But now, a week after the ball dropped in Times Square, it’s time to get back to work. 

What a week it is so far! The Third Coast Renegades continue to drip out their roster, and we are getting news of some other seismic changes hitting the SFC competitive landscape. While there will be individual announcements made, statements generated, this article will also have all of the updates compiled in one place, and will continue to be updated throughout free agency. 

What is Free Agency?

I’m glad you asked! In professional sports, the “clubs” or organizations are one entity that sign the competitors to contacts, spanning anywhere from one season to deals that last over several years. In SFC, it’s no different. If you recall from last season’s “SFC Explained” series, we briefly touched on Angling Club structures. Some are owned and operated by the same organization. Think of clubs like Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club, where co-owners Dino and Lori McDowell compete on their boat Lifeline alongside club co-owner Brian Kelley. Or East Coast Remix Angling Club, where co-owner Kenny Hernandez competes with his 62’ Viking, Remix Main Stage. Also, the expansion Rhode Island Breakers Angling Club, where owner Paul Squarcia also has his own boat, a 66’ Blackwell named El Bendido. 

Other agreements have club owners contract with specific fishing teams to compete in SFC under their banner. Some of the best examples of these include the SFC Champion Texas Lone Stars, with club owner Scottie Scheffler’s group contracting Freebird owner David Blackbird and crew, spearheaded by Captain Spencer Johnson to represent them. 

Another example, where we have already seen the first shoe fall, involves the Gulf Division Champion Third Coast Renegades Angling Club. As we have previously reported, the team of Southern Charm/All-In will not represent the Renegades in 2026. Instead, one of the club’s four co-owners will use his sportfishing outfit. Garrett Fazier & Magnifico will fly the Renegades banner this season in the Gulf. Their boat, a 60’ Spencer, is already on its way back into the country from Cabo San Lucas via a transport ship.

Who is confirmed for 2026?

Let’s start with who is confirmed so far for 2026 by club officials. These are the TEAMS, but there may be some roster changes within those teams that are yet to come…

Atlantic Division:
- Lights Out Boston Angling Club (Lights Out)
- New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club (Taylor Jean)
- East Coast Remix Angling Club (Remix)
- Rhode Island Breakers Angling Club (El Bendido)
- North Carolina Flare (Sails Pitch)

Gulf Division:
- Texas Lone Stars Angling Club (Freebird)
- Third Coast Renegades Angling Club (Magnifico)
- Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club (Lifeline)

As SFC Insider begins to hear from the respective angling clubs regarding roster moves, every detail will be outlined below:

Monday, Jan. 12th, 2026
*All Times Eastern

6:00PM: MISSISSIPPI BLUES AND RISING SON’S MUTUALLY PART WAYS

Blues’ president and GM Preston Lyon has confirmed to us that both the angling club and the team have mutually agreed to go their separate ways. The Blues are rumored to be in talks with other fishing teams with SFC experience to replace Rising Son’s. Meanwhile, multiple sources are confirming that Rising Son’s is negotiating with other Gulf Division angling clubs to potentially become their new operator in 2026. 

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

12:00PM: RUMORS: West Florida Black Flags AC Potential Roster Moves

SFC Insider is learning that West Florida Black Flags Angling Club is speaking with multiple fishing teams from the Gulf to represent them for 2026, including their 2025 squad Miss Maysen, represented by Captain Danny Watts and Angler Marty Wilson. We’re laying out all of the players here and will continue to report new details as they materialize. 

Per sources, it appears to be between Miss Maysen, who represented the Black Flags in 2025, two-time SFC Champion Captain Justin Drummond and Quantified making a long-awaited return, or a rebuilt Southern Charm/All-In squad led by 2025 SFC Angler of The Year Gregg Trenor. 

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

12:00PM: A signing seems to be imminent. I'm hearing news should be coming official any time before the end of the week. Could it be for West Florida Black Flags, Louisiana Canyons, or another Angling Club?

Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

2:30PM: LOUISIANA CANYONS SIGN RISING SONS:
Only a few days after the bombshell announcement that Mississippi Blues Angling Club and Rising Son’s, the fishing team led by 2025 SFC Female Angler of the Year Jaselyn Berthelot mutually parted ways, the Louisiana-based operation has already found a new home.

Home in this case really is home: Louisiana Canyons Angling Club. Rising Son’s known for its LSU ties, with Jaselyn being a relatively recent Tiger alumna, now represent their home state, with the fleur des lis logo emblazoned on their jerseys. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. 

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026:

3:15PM ET: Mississippi Blues signing expected soon: Blues AC president & GM Preston Lyon has mentioned that a signing should be coming within the week, with both parties mentioned to have agreed to terms. 

5:00PM ET: South Carolina Outcast expected to re-sign Renegade for 2026: We are hearing through club  officials with South Carolina Outcast that they are set to re-sign Renegade, the Mt. Pleasant-based sportfishing team headed by Captain Stuart Lackey, with angler/mates Steven Lackey, Trey Kemmerlin and Trent Bonifay. 

South Carolina Outcast won the Atlantic division season opener, the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open, presented by Yachts 360 and finished the 2025 SFC Season fourth in the divisional standings. 

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026:

12:00PM ET: Sources: SFC Champion Texas Lone Stars AC Close to Re-Signing Freebird for 2026 Season: SFC Insider is learning from league sources that the defending champion Texas Lone Stars Angling Club are nearing an agreement to re-sign Freebird, the Port Aransas-based sportfishing team led by Captain Spencer Johnon, boat owner and angler David Blackbird. The deal is rumored to return the full roster which includes mates Roberto Velazquez, Raul Perez and anglers Mark Blackbird, Bryan Richter and Sutton Schoonover. 

Friday, Jan. 23, 2026:

1:00PM ET: Sources: New Jersey Sea Birds AC Close to Multi-Year Deal with Taylor Jean Sportfishing: Per SFC Insider Rudy Tomarchio, New Jersey Sea Birds AC and Taylor Jean Sportfishing are nearing terms on a multi-year deal which will see the Atlantic Division runners-up return to SFC competition. The Sea Birds finished third at the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs in Cabo San Lucas. Winners of the prestigious Walker’s Cay Open, the Sea Birds also finished second four times and never finished lower than fourth place in any SFC tournament last season.

Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026:

5:00PM ET: Breaking: Mississippi Blues AC Sign Home Made for 2026: They're back... The winners of the Gulfport Mississippi Open from last year now dawn the colors of the Mississippi Blues. Last season, they appeared in one event for Third Coast Renegades Angling Club, and were one of two squads that led the club to victory in their dominant 2025 Gulf campaign. 

Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026:

5:30PM ET: Breaking: Texas Lone Stars AC re-sign Freebird for 2026: Freebird, the 65’ Paul Mann Custom Sportfishing boat owned by David Blackbird and led by Captain Spencer Johnson, will return with its full championship roster intact. That group includes mates Roberto Velazquez and Raul Perez, along with anglers Mark Blackbird, Bryan Richter, and Sutton Schoonover.