Live Updates: KEY WEST CLASSIC, PRESENTED BY SALTY DOGS

Welcome to the first stop of the year, where we have all 13 angling clubs here at the Key West Classic, presented by Salty Dawgs. 

Before the fishing starts, we have to tie some loose ends up from the past few days:

Lights Out Boston, the defending Atlantic Division Champions have a steering issue. I mentioned this in my Power Rankings that went out Friday morning. Working to catch up with Rob Carmichael at some point to get an update. They were first out from the dock (as usual) so whether the issue is fixed or not, they’re not going to let that stop them from going for the win.

Gulf Coast Cowboys had a generator issue. They missed the 8:00AM ET shotgun start but the issue is fixed. The squad is boarding their boat and will be heading out. A part had to be shipped down from Pompano Beach this morning.

2:50 PM: After that quick lunchtime flurry, the action has gone to a standstill. Garrett Frazier of Third Coast Renegades caught up with Peter & Robbie live and said “my stomach is in knots,” referring to the nerves of having the Gulf Division lead, but seeing his friends Jaselyn and Toby Berthelot nipping at their heels.

 

South Florida Sails fished the day before with a livewell that was being fed by a diverted water line that’s used to cool their seakeeper gyro. Not ideal to say the least, but the pump has been replaced and they are back to full strength. 

Onto the action! The Key West Classic, presented by Salty Dawgs is a 3-day tournament that’s really 2 tournaments in one. The Atlantic Division competes among themselves, and the Gulf Division does the same. We will crown two winners this weekend

DAY 1: APRIL 17, 2026
*ALL TIMES EASTERN (ET)

8:00 AM: Shotgun start! 12 of the 13 boats are off and running. Gulf Coast Cowboys remain at the dock getting their mechanical issues fixed. 

8:22 AM: SAILS STRIKE FIRST: Alex Stanley releases the first fish of the 2026 season. Appropriately enough, it’s a sailfish. The South Florida Sails have the early lead less than 30 minutes after the shotgun start

9:22 AM: STEERING BE DAMNED: Is probably what Rob Carmichael said after Ross Nasin released Lights Out Boston’s first fish of the season. They are currently sitting in second place behind South Florida Sails due to the time of release being the tiebreaker.

9:25 AM: First fish from the Gulf division goes to Garrett Frazier and Third Coast Renegades! The 2025 Gulf Champions and Zane Grey Championship Playoff runners-up are also off to a hot start in 2026.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 75 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS
EAST COAST REMIX 
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
GULF COAST COWBOYS
LOUISIANA CANYONS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS

9:49 AM: Renegades are taking all the sailfish so far for the Gulf side! Garrett Frazier releases sailfish no. 2 for them. 

 10:28 AM: Louisiana Canyons jump into second place in the Gulf after Jaselyn Berthelot released her first sailfish of the tournament. 

At mid day, here’s where things stand:

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 75 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS
EAST COAST REMIX
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 150 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
GULF COAST COWBOYS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS

12:46 PM: Lunchtime for the sailfish! We're back and Third Coast Renegades release their third fish. All three are courtesy of Garrett Frazier.

12:48 PM: Jersey boys are on the board! Welcome to 2026 New Jersey Sea Birds and retired Super Bowl Champion Trey Burton, who is an official member of the roster for this year. Now there's another reason to tell Trey "Go Birds" other than the Philly Special.

1:31 PM: Raise the Black Flag Jack Lauter! The 15-year old junior angler released the first first of his SFC career. It’s a sailfish and they are on the board.

2:05 PM: Paul Spencer, welcome to the SFC! He releases his first sailfish for South Florida Sails, who extend their Atlantic Division lead.

2:17 PM: Louisiana Canyons are back at it! They return to being one fish behind their friend Garrett Frazier and the Third Coast Renegades. They teamed up in Cabo back in October for Bisbee’s Black & Blue, where they took second place, but also took home the most prize money.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 150 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 75 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 225 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
GULF COAST COWBOYS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES

3:04PM: East Coast Remix are on the board! Aimar Hernandez released a sail to get the crew going. They’re not that far back, so things could get interesting if they get hot.

3:13 PM: There goes that man again! Garrett Frazier and The Third Coast Renegades climb to 300 points with his fourth sailfish of the weekend.

3:53PM: Trey Burton! Sea Birds score their second sailfish, which will bring them even with South Florida Sails, jumping Lights Out Boston for second place.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 150 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 150 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 75 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES -300 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
GULF COAST COWBOYS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES

3:53PM: South Florida Sails pulling further ahead thanks to another release by Alex Stanley! He has two of their three sailfish releases so far, bringing the club’s overall point total to 225.

4:13 PM: Gulf Coast Cowboys get on the board after a late start! Co-owner and country music superstar Brian Kelley releases the Cowboys’ first fish of the season. It’s a sailfish worth 75 points.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 150 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX -75 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 300 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES

4:59PM: West Florida Black Flags are hooked up and notified the rules committee right in time! We’ll see if we can get a species ID.

Barracuda. No Points.

Day 1 Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 150 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX -75 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 300 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES

 

DAY 2
APRIL 18, 2026

8:18 AM: East Coast Remix release the first fish of the day. Chandler MIles is the angler of record, and now Remix are looking to make a run for the Atlantic Division Leaders. With that release, they jump Lights Out Boston for third place and are only behind New Jersey Sea Birds in second and South Florida Sails in first

8:43 AM: I’ll likely be saying this all year: THERE GOES THAT MAN AGAIN! Garret Frazier from Third Coast Renegades with sailfish number five of the Key West Classic, extending their overall lead and the Gulf Division lead.

He put out a quick morning vlog for @tcrenegades on instagram and mentioned that the will be sticking with their original plan. The Renegades are flying kites and have helium balloons ready to keep them in the air, due to the winds dying down.

Leadarboard
Atlantic Division
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 150 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX -150 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 300 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES

10:08 AM: Mississippi Blues are on the board for 2026! Julien Dubois-Edmond with a sailfish release to put them on the board officially in fifth. There is a difference between points for placement and points for finishing a tournament without a single release. By rule, all clubs finishing a tournament do not register a release will earn last place (7th) points. 

10:15 AM: Capt. JC Cleare told me this morning that today was GO TIME and henmeant it. Ryan Alexander releases a sailfish to jump the New Jersey Sea Birds for second in the Atlantic Division!

10:25 AM: NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND! New Jersey Sea Birds and Trey Burton release a sailfish to stay neck-and-neck with Remix and both try to track down South Florida Sails. 

10:46 AM: Add Lights Out Boston to that conversation! Alex Plick releases a sailfish for the defending Atlantic Champions to stay in the Atlantic hunt.

11:03 AM: WE HAVE A NEW ATLANTIC LEADER! Jarrett Birch is off the work calls and now reeling in fish. Their fourth sailfish of the tournament is good the the divisional lead, passing South Florida Sails and East Coast Remix. 

Atlantic Division
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 225 POINTS
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 75 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 0 POINTS

1:06 PM: The Champs are on the board! Texas Lone Stars release their first fish of 2026. Raul Perez releases a sailfish. Remember, they switched their strategy today, so they are trolling with dead bait and artificial lures. The sailfish is good, but they are looking for bigger points with a Blue Marlin.

1:49 PM & 1:51 PM: LIGHTS OUT CONVERT A DOUBLE! Jackie Hayes and Alex Plick release sailfish to bring Lights Out back in this race for the Atlantic Division

2:15 PM: East Coast Remix are on them too! Chandler Miles has another sailfish to his record.

2:31 PM: WE HAVE A NEW ATLANTIC DIVISION LEADER! And it’s a very familiar club: Lights Out Boston. Kyle Paparelli releases the sailfish that puts them into first place, and even on points with the Gulf Division leading Third Coast Renegades. There are no bonuses for being the top overall finisher, but it is bragging rights to carry over until the next time there is cross-divisional competition: The Zane Grey Championship Playoffs.

2:41 PM: Welcome to the party South Carolina Outcast! Steven Lackey lands their first fish of the season and gets them on the board

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 300 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 75 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 75 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 75 POINTS

3:37 PM: Have yourself a fish, Captain! Stuart Lackey of the South Carolina Outcast releases their third fish in less than an hour. He’s working in the pit with his crew since they are on a chartered center console. Usually he’s up at the helm putting them on the fish himself.

3:39 PM: Raul Perez gets his second fish for the Lone Stars. It took a while to verify due to the fish appearing early, but the IGFTO officials give the thumbs up for the extra 75 points to take third place in the Gulf Division.

4:10 PM & 4:20 PM: Mark Dressler doing it himself for two separate sailfish back-to-back to bring North Carolina Flare on the board! Those two releases help Flare jump the Rhode Island Breakers for sixth place currently.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 300 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 225 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 150 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 75 POINTS

4:59 PM: WE HAVE ANOTHER OVERTIME HOOKUP! Jaselyn Berthelot and Louisiana Canyons are on a sailfish at the buzzer to Citizen Lines Out. 

5:04 PM: CASHED IN! Jaselyn converts to give the Canyons some separation from the third place Lone Stars. We will go to Championship Sunday with both divisions still being anyone’s game. 

Day 2 Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 300 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 225 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 225 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 75 POINTS

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY
April 19, 2026

8:35 AM: From sixth to fourth! John Crockard brings the Mississippi Blues up with a sailfish release.

10:30 AM: I’m hearing the New Jersey Sea Birds have lost steering. That now marks the top two boats in the Atlantic Division, Lights Out Boston and The Flock, arch rivals all through 2025, are both without steering.

11:33 AM: It is a sloooow bite out there…but we are checking in with Captain Blaine Birch and crew on their boat’s condition.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 300 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 225 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 225 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS

12:15 PM: LOUISIANA CANYONS CLOSING IN! With that sailfish release, Jaselyn Berthelot and the Canyons are closing in on Gulf division leaders Third Coast Renegades AC. 

12:29 PM: OUTCAST SURGING! Steven Lackey releases another sailfish to bring South Carolina Outcast to third place. They jump the Sea Birds as well. The Lowcountry Legends started today in fifth place in the Atlantic Standings and have jumped all the way up to second, even on points with East Coast Remix. Remix have the tiebreaker.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 450 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 375 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 300 POINTS 
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 225 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 300 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 75 POINTS

3:19 PM: WHITE MARLIN? Gulf Coast Cowboys report a release from Jordon Benefield as another billfish species! We’re looking to verify with the IGFTO official in-studio. That would be 100 points if confirmed.

3:25 PM: UNDER REVIEW! Justin Lamonica, GM of the Texas Lone Stars calls in the first live protest of 2026.

3:50 PM: We have our first successful challenge! Replay confirms a sailfish, so the Cowboys get 75 Points instead of 100. 

4:15 PM: SEA BIRDS ARE BACK! Their first fish of the day was released by Jarrett Birch, to bring them even on points with South Carolina Outcast, but still behind in the tiebreak?

4:28 PM: Speaking of first fish of the day, South Florida Sails find their first fish since Friday, with Lee Albarty releasing a sailfish.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 450 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 375 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 375 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 300 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 300 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 150 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS

4:45 PM: Mississippi Blues JUMP INTO THIRD! They spotted a freejumper and John Crockard hooks it and gets the release in a quick fight. They jump the defending champion Texas Lone Stars.

Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 450 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 375 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 375 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 300 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 300 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 150 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS

4:58 PM: OUTCAST INTO SECOND IN THE ATLANTIC! Steven Lackey comes through with fish near the buzzer to jump East Coast Remix, pushing them down to third place. 

5:00 PM: NOBODY HOOKED UP? LINES OUT! Congratulations to the unofficial winners of the Key West Classic: from the Atlantic, it’s Lights Out Boston. From the Gulf, it’s Third Coast Renegades.

Final Leaderboard
Atlantic Division
LIGHTS OUT BOSTON - 450 POINTS
SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST - 450 POINTS
EAST COAST REMIX - 375 POINTS
NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS - 375 POINTS
SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS - 300 POINTS
NORTH CAROLINA FLARE - 150 POINTS
RHODE ISLAND BREAKERS - 75 POINTS

Gulf Division
THIRD COAST RENEGADES - 375 POINTS
LOUISIANA CANYONS - 300 POINTS
MISSISSIPPI BLUES: 225 POINTS
TEXAS LONE STARS - 150 POINTS
GULF COAST COWBOYS - 150 POINTS
WEST FLORIDA BLACK FLAGS - 75 POINTS