Insider: North Carolina Flare AC Close to Re-Signing Sails Pitch for 2026 Season
The deal bringing Capt. Brian Dressler and co. could be official before the end of the week
Sources close to the Atlantic Division have told SFC Insider Rudy Tomarchio that North Carolina Flare Angling Club are nearing a deal to re-sign Captain Brian Dressler and Sails Pitch as the club’s anchor team for the new season.
Dressler owns and operates Sails Pitch, a 63-foot F&S custom sportfishing boat that has become synonymous with the club's identity.
During the 2025 SFC season, North Carolina Flare AC regularly posted competitive finishes and demonstrated promise across a schedule that tested versatility across the Eastern Seaboard. Their season highlight came at the HUK Charleston Billfish Cup, where they finished second behind East Coast Remix Angling Club.
The new deal is rumored to include additional manpower for the crew, which operated on a slimmer roster compared to Atlantic Division Champions Lights Out Boston and runner-up New Jersey Sea Birds. As the club looks to climb the standings and challenge for one of the two Atlantic berths in the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, retaining Dressler and expanding his crew with more mates could prove pivotal.
Once official, this announcement would finalize the returning angling club rosters for the 2026 season. We will learn more about the expansion club rosters for Rhode Island Breakers AC and South Florida Sails at preseason media days beginning in mid-March.
Stay tuned for confirmed announcements as clubs finalize their teams and begin preparations for the 2026 championship season.