INSIDE THE CATCH, POWERED BY VERIZON

Seas were calm and the stage was set. With perfect sunny Ft. Lauderdale weather, a field of seven teams matched with 14 NFL players hit the South Florida waters for a knock-down fight to the finish at The Catch, but it was Rising Son’s/Team Verizon who took home the title with a total of 500 points. The winning earnings of $100,000 were donated to the Coast Guard Foundation, courtesy of Harvey Gulf. 

HIGHLIGHTS ON THE WATER

Rising Son’s/Team Verizon ignited the field putting the first points of the tourney on the board early with a mahi-mahi – reeled in by New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara. After a traditional goodluck round of Lucky Charms “breakfast for billfish” , Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert added to Rising Son’s point total as he fought to release his first-ever sailfish. “Once you bring that fish in, it’s just like scoring a touchdown -- that same great feeling,” said Mostert. The Lucky Charms seemed to have worked its magic as controlled chaos hit the cockpit when Kamara, Mostert and SFC Angler Toby Berthelot were tripled up on sailfish to throw Rising Son’s in front of the pack. “Coaching Alvin (Kamara) and Raheem (Mostert) through a triple-sailfish hook-up and then landing it was amazing,” said Rising Son’s/Team Verizon’s Jaselyn Berthelot. “It’s the first time I’ve accomplished that, to me that’s unheard of.” 

Team Harvey/INEOS Grenadier with Tennessee Titans defensive end Jefferey Simmons and Tampa Bay Bucs running back Rachaad White also had a triple sailfish hookup early on in the tournament, finishing out the event releasing a total of four sailfish. 

Lights Out/Team Salt Life with Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter and cornerback James Bradberry were next up as Carter got smoked by a king mackerel which made it into the cooler and dropped some points in the bucket. 

Lifeline/Team OneWater Yacht Group with NY Jets linebacker Quincy Williams put the smackdown on a king and got a celebratory head “dunk-a-roo” in the ice water bucket. Not to be outdone, brother Quinnen Williams, also with the NY Jets, gave some brotherly love and put a mahi-mahi in the box while releasing a sailfish that got plenty of cheers.  

T-Zero/Team Continental Tire with NY Giants defensive end Brian Burns and NY Giants lineback Kayvon Thibodeaux searched for sailfish but couldn’t connect, though they ended up putting some points on the board with bonus fish to get in the game. 

Quantified/Team R3 got lit up when a sailfish hit the spread as Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson battled a high-flyin billfish to put 100 points on the board. Hendrickson’s sailfish jumped clean out of the water to tap the mate in his chest with its bill, drawing a little bit of blood which celebrity reporter Jameis Winston (quarterback, Cleveland Browns) then lovingly dubbed the “vampire sailfish.”

Gypsea/Team OluKai tried to defend their The Catch title, as NFL Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook and brother Buffalo Bills running back James Cook released two sailfish to put big points on the board. Dalvin, known for talking the smack on the way out, made sure he was jawing it up good with the other boats. “I love talking smack with the other guys,” Cook said. “I like to get under their skin, get ‘em off their game.” 

With minutes to spare, Team Harvey/INEOS Grenadier with Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White and Tennessee Titans defensive end Jeffery Simmons had everyone on edge with a last minute sailfish hookup. It still wasn’t enough to catch Team Rising Son's and upset the leaderboard. 

“It was an awesome performance by Rising Son’s/Team Verizon, and the triple hook-up made it one of the most memorable moments in the history of The Catch,” said Mark Neifeld, SFC CEO and Commissioner. “Bringing together SFC’s best anglers with NFL superstars once again led to one of the most spectacular offshore fishing tournaments the sport has seen.”

The final standings fell as follows:

• Rising Son’s/Team Verizon - SFC Angler Jaselyn Berthelot, NFL players Alvin Kamara and Raheem Mostert - 500 points
• Team Harvey/INEOS Grenadier - SFC Owner Shane Guidry, NFL players Jeffery Simmons and Rachaad White - 400 points
• Quantified/Team R3 - SFC Captain Justin Drummond, NFL player Trey Hendrickson - 350 points
• Lifeline/Team OneWater Yacht Group - SFC Captain Blake Bridges, NFL players Quinnen Williams and Quincy Williams - 250 points
• Lights Out/Team Salt Life - SFC Captain Rob Carmichael, NFL players James Bradberry and Jalen Carter - 225 points
• Gypsea/Team OluKai - SFC Captain Taylor Sanford, NFL players Dalvin Cook and James Cook - 200 points
• T-Zero/Team Continental Tire - SFC Captain Seth Laws, NFL players Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns – 100 points

Media Contacts:
Courtney Hueston
Director of Marketing
305-335-2613
courtney@sportfishingchampionship.com