Live Updates: SFC Carrier Cup, Presented by HUK

The Halfway point of the 2026 regular season is ready to get started in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s SFC Carrier Cup weekend, and I’ll be joining Robbie Floyd, Peter Miller and Chloe Turner on the set all weekend long. 

Some housekeeping actions before we get into the action:

Lines in pushed back 30 minutes

It was agreed prior to the Captains meeting last night that the lines-in time begin 30 minutes later, so our official competition hours are 8:30AM-3:00PM. The 125 mile range calls for an earlier lines-out than we had at Walker’s Cay, with the ride in and out to take significantly longer.

Time to dive in.

DAY 1: Friday, May 29

4:45 AM: With the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum lit up in red, white and blue, the first of the boats pull away from the dock. They cannot pass a particular sea buoy in Charleston Harbor until 5:00AM. 

Five of the seven boats in the Atlantic Division are all docked at the same marina, with only South Florida Sails and South Carolina Outcast coming from different locations. The hometown Outcast push off from their home dock on Shem Creek shortly after 5:00AM.

8:30 AM: LINES IN! The Carrier Cup is under way. When we get live units turned on, we’ll bring more info. In the meantime, eyes are peeled on the scoring documents for updates.

Some notes to share from media day this week: North Carolina Flare will be fishing with a crew of three to start the tournament. The Dressler family are attending a wedding today, so Capt. Brian Dressler has handed over control of their boat to Worth Farrington, Croft Upchurch and Thurman Humpheys. 

8:50 AM: EAST COAST REMIX ARE ON THE BOARD FIRST. They release a sailfish for 75 points, courtesy of Aimar Hernandez. 

TOO EARLY LEADERBOARD
East Coast Remix - 75 Points
Lights Out Boston
New Jersey Sea Birds
South Carolina Outcast
North Carolina Flare
South Florida Sails
Rhode Island Breakers

9:04 AM: LIGHTS OUT SLIDE INTO SECOND PLACE. Ross Nasin releases a sailfish to bring the Division Leaders even on points, but behind on time.

(STILL) TOO EARLY LEADERBOARD
East Coast Remix - 75 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds
South Carolina Outcast
North Carolina Flare
South Florida Sails
Rhode Island Breakers

10:26 AM: NORTH CAROLINA FLARE ARE IN THIRD PLACE. Thurman Humphreys releases a sailfish to join East Coast Remix and Lights Out Boston in the podium positions. The three amigos are doing their part so far. As I mentioned earlier, North Carolina Flare AC are going to

LEADERBOARD AS OF 10:40 AM
East Coast Remix - 75 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
North Carolina Flare - 75 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds
South Carolina Outcast
South Florida Sails
Rhode Island Breakers

11:15 AM: REMIX RELEASE A BLUE MARLIN! Angler Brent Feder add 450 Points to the leaders. They’re off to the same start as last year…

LEADERBOARD AS OF NOON
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
North Carolina Flare - 75 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds
South Carolina Outcast
South Florida Sails
Rhode Island Breakers

12:07 PM: Rhode Island Breakers get hooked up! But the fish breaks off. They will reset and look to go again.

12:15 PM: BK joins Peter and Robbie on set to talk about tonight’s concert, and the Gulf Coast Cowboys’ new-new battle wagon. They’re selling the new 52’ Spencer and moving up to a 67’ Paul Mann custom. More on this coming in the leadup to their division stop in Gulfport.

12:20 PM: North Carolina Flare hooked up! Looks like a sailfish. They get the release…we’re calling them the three amigos today. North Carolina Flare now in second place jumping Lights Out Boston. Croft Upchurch was the angler of record

LEADERBOARD AS OF 12:25 PM
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds
South Carolina Outcast
South Florida Sails
Rhode Island Breakers

12:57 PM: HERE COMES THE FLOCK! NEW JERSEY SEA BIRDS RELEASE A BLUE MARLIN. Steve Melchiorre is the angler of record and the Sea Birds are now in second place with 450 Points.

1:01 PM: SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS RELEASE A SAILFISH DOUBLE. Paul Spencer and Lee Albarty are anglers for the Sails to bring them to fourth place.

1:21 PM: SOUTH CAROLINA OUTCAST WELCOME TO THE PARTY. Stratton Lackey releases a sailfish for the hometown squad.

LEADERBOARD AS OF 1:30 PM
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds - 450 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Florida Sails - 150 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 75 Points
Rhode Island Breakers

2:02 PM: WE HAVE A NEW LEADER! That’s another blue marlin for the New Jersey Sea Birds. Jay Brower gets  the release for The Flock who are now in first place.

LEADERBOARD AS OF 2:05 PM
New Jersey Sea Birds - 900 Points
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Florida Sails - 150 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 75 Points
Rhode Island Breakers

2:30 PM: Rhode Island Breakers are hooked up! Looks like they’re doubled up. The first fish broke off, but it looked to be a mahi. Second one coming to the boat is a tuna. No points there.

2:48 PM: Outcast with another sail! Trey Kemmerlin’s release is good for another 75 points.

LEADERBOARD AS OF 2:55 PM
New Jersey Sea Birds - 900 Points
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Florida Sails - 150 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 150 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
Rhode Island Breakers

3:00 PM: LINES OUT! We end Day 1 with the Sea Bird leading the way, and East Coast Remix close in second. So far it’s a two-horse race. More action tomorrow.

DAY 2: SATURDAY MAY 30

7:55 AM: SEA BIRDS HAVE GYRO ISSUES. The leaders are without their gyro, and that means it’s going to be rougher out there than normal. It could be any number of things that affect the system. Just last night, I was interviewing JC Cleare and the second place East Coast Remix squad, and they were in the middle of swapping out water pumps that feeds their gyro to keep it running at an optimal temperature. The pump swap worked out for them, but they had the ability to diagnose that problem last night after competition. The Flock aren’t as fortunate. Happening on their way out to compete today, they have to focus on fishing and will try to troubleshoot it later after lines out. 

8:30 AM: LINES IN. Day 2 is underway.

8:58 AM: SOUTH FLORIDA SAILS JUMP INTO SECOND PLACE! Brantley Gwin releases a blue marlin, and those 450 points added to their two sailfish from yesterday help them jump East Coast Remix. They’re 75 points ahead of Remix, and 300 points behind The New Jersey Sea Birds. 

LEADERBOARD AS OF 9:30 AM
New Jersey Sea Birds - 900 Points
South Florida Sails - 600 Points
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 150 Points
Lights Out Boston - 75 Points
Rhode Island Breakers - 0 Points

9:44 AM: SEA BIRDS RELEASE ANOTHER BLUE! Dave McKendrick gets the release for The Flock. Their total goes to 1,350 Points and gives them some more separation from South Florida Sails.

LEADERBOARD AS OF 10:00 AM
New Jersey Sea Birds – 1,350 Points
East Coast Remix – 525 Points
North Carolina Flare – 150 Points
South Florida Sails – 150 Points
South Carolina Outcast – 150 Points
Lights Out Boston – 75 Points
Rhode Island Breakers – 0 Points

10:11 AM: Lights Out get back in it with a Sailfish. That’s their second fish of the tournament courtesy of Ross Nasin.

10:27 AM: Lights Out are in the sails! Another double for them with Casey Carmichael and Kyle Paparelli team up to jump into fourth place and look to find more fish.

10:45 AM: Another sail! Rob West cashes in for Lights Out who are slowly but surely coming up on third place. That’s a 300 point swing this morning for Lights Out. Here they come…

LEADERBOARD AS OF 10:50 AM
New Jersey Sea Birds - 1,350 Points
South Florida Sails - 600 Points
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
Lights Out Boston - 375 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 150 Points
Rhode Island Breakers - 0 Points

10:55 AM: SEA BIRDS ARE HOOKED ON ANOTHER BLUE MARLIN! Steve Melchiorre is the angler and we'll keep track to see if they get the release.

11:05 AM: THEY DO! SEA BIRDS ARE RUNNING UP THE SCORE. AT THE MOMENT.

LEADERBOARD AS OF 11:10 AM
New Jersey Sea Birds - 1,800 Points
South Florida Sails - 600 Points
East Coast Remix - 525 Points
Lights Out Boston - 375 Points
North Carolina Flare - 150 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 150 Points
Rhode Island Breakers - 0 Points