Atlantic Division Power Rankings: April 21, 2025

A little more than 48 hours after the conclusion of the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open, presented by Yachts360, we have our first post-event power rankings of 2025. Starting with the Atlantic Division this week, and the first set of power rankings for the Gulf Division coming next week at the conclusion of the East Pass Challenge, presented by Legendary Marine. 

We learned a lot about the clubs in their first week of action, but our power rankings do not directly reflect the finishing order:

1) South Carolina Outcast Angling Club: The Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open Champs have to top the list. Particularly because their expectations were low coming into this event. Realistically, their expectations were humble since we first met the club at the Miami International Boat Show in February. Their original plan was to avoid the bottom of the pack to keep themselves in striking distance until SFC’s Atlantic Schedule shifts into Marlin territory. With the help of local fishing expert Freddie David, the Palmetto State squad are currently in the drivers’ seat. Appropriate for them given that their team owner is none other than two-time Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon of the NASCAR Cup Series.

The next Atlantic Division stop is over Memorial Day weekend at Walker’s Cay; the legendary sportfishing haven at the northernmost point of the Abacos. South Carolina Outcast Captain Stuart Lackey is the only captain on SFC’s circuit that fished those waters decades ago. That knowledge could be valuable, but the ever shifting topography of the sea floor with each passing storm, and the occasional seismic event, likely makes recent experience more valuable than historical data. Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne and Katrina between 2004 and 2005 forever changed the shape of Walker’s Cay. Nobody knows this more than Carl Allen, the savior of Walker’s Cay who has been breathing new life into this fishing mecca. Through him and his team at Allen Exploration, they have discovered buried treasure all over the Bahamas, taking advantage of the ever-shifting sands stirred up by the summer storm season. 

2) New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club: Similarly to South Carolina Outcast Angling Club, Captain Blaine Birch was looking to weather the storm and keep his Sea Birds squad in striking distance. Their 11-release run on Championship Saturday catapulted the Sea Birds into second place, and now look to use that momentum to keep pace at the top and lock down the second Atlantic Division berth into the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs. 

The Sea Birds may be from New Jersey, but they know the Bahamas well, spending their winters between there and South Florida. Sailfish may not be their forté, but marlin trolling certainly is. From Walker’s Cay, their expectations will continue to climb as the Atlantic Division schedule makes its way up the Eastern Seaboard, with their eyes square on the final three stops: Oak Bluffs, Ocean City, and the division finale in Cape May. 

The regular season ends in their home state, with everything on the line.

3) Lights Out New England Angling Club: A slow start on day one, Lights Out New England made the biggest climb in day two of the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open, only to see New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club have an even stronger surge on Championship Saturday. The tutelage of South Florida sailfish legend Ray Rosher certainly helped, but Captain Tyler Dufresne and GM Rob Carmichael have similar optimism as the top two on this list. 

Wintering in South Florida, they surely know the Bahamian waters and have more confidence with the northern stops. Pocasset, Massachusetts is their home, with Oak Bluffs being their tournament to win. That timing is critical for them, as that event should provide momentum into the home stretch of the regular season. 

4) East Coast Remix Angling Club: Expectations were high for Captain JC Cleare and company given that Remix are the sailfish kings of SFC. Luck was not on their side at the Fort Lauderdale Billfish Open, and that’s really what it came down to.

Just bad luck.

Tracking their progress over the course of the three-day tournament, East Coast Remix Angling Club were in the right places. They were South the first two days where the main activity was. A couple sailfish came off, a yellowfin tuna blitzed their spread, straightening out one of their circle hooks. Heading North on Championship Saturday was again the right call. All the fish up there were between them and the New Jersey Sea Birds. 

In total, 16 fish were caught up north on Championship Saturday. 11 went to New Jersey, five went to Remix. After speaking with Captain Blaine Birch, it sounded like sardines were the hot menu item for the fish in that area. Speaking with JC, the Remix spread consisted of a mix between goggle eyes, sardines and threadfins, with all resulting in hookups. 

That’s the game within the game. 

East Coast Remix may not have met their expectations in their home waters, but they are surely not out of the running after the first stop. Just as out-of-towners saw success in Fort Lauderdale, the same can be true for the South Florida squad on the road. 

5) North Carolina Flare Angling Club: Somewhat of a wild card on the weekend, North Carolina Flare were represented by the local “Miss Britt” squad, with Captain Austin Porter filling in for Ray Rosher, who was employed by Lights Out New England. Given the boat’s limitations to make long runs, their strategy was to stay close enough to the Fort Lauderdale Jetty to be able to return by the 5:30PM deadline. With a top speed of 13-15kts, that limits their range to find fish compared with the rest of the field. “Miss Britt” is well-known in South Florida to consistently put charter customers on fish so it’s nothing against the crew. Competitive tournaments just have different demands, and the technical limitations did them no favors. Rightfully so, their arrival at Pier Sixty-Six was the talk of media day and put every angling club on notice.

From here on out, the main squad for North Carolina Flare are back in the mix, led by Captain Brian Dressler and their 63’ F&S called “Sails Pitch.” They’re excited to get to Walker’s and the heart of the season in the Mid-Atlantic.

6) New York Granders Angling Club: Similar to East Coast Remix, luck was not on the side of the ladies this past weekend. Knowledgeable of the northern boundary, that comfort took them to Palm Beach Thursday and Friday. Between them and Lights Out New England, the journey didn’t prove to be fruitful. A couple of missed fish early hurt their chances, and the majority of the action those first two days proved to be South. On Championship Saturday, the Granders headed South, but the bite was North. 

With one tournament out of the way, the only direction New York can go from here is up.

7) South Florida Sails Angling Club: Is it partially insane to take an angling club that finished in the top three and place them at the bottom?

Possibly, but hear me out.

South Florida Sails, headed by Captain Jim Puller and the 80ft. Viking “Osh-It” had a spectacular day one, with NFL star Leonard Williams leading all anglers. Day two, the Sails were in striking distance of the lead, sitting in second, only two fish behind South Carolina Outcast. The move South proved to be unfortunate, with the majority of the action taking place up North. What was to be had down South was fought over between five of the seven angling clubs, along with the number of weekend warriors and charter boats that make a living in Miami. 

But Insider, South Florida Sails still finished in third. What gives?

If you told me right now that Captain Jim Puller and “Osh-It” were representing the South Florida Sails for the entirety of the season, this club would not be at the bottom of the list. What team may represent the Sails over the rest of the season?

Beats me. That’s why I can’t rank them higher. 

We’ll revisit this list when we arrive at Walker’s Cay in late May. Until then, we will see you later this week in Fort Walton Beach, FL to kick off the Gulf Division season at the East Pass Challenge, presented by Legendary Marine.