SFC Explained: 'Doubled Up' Simulcast

Watching SFC’s coverage from the Pensacola Billfish Release Tournament two phrases come up several times during the broadcast: “Simulcast,” and “doubled up.” 

The latter is something overheard all the time in fishing, as least if you’re around people who know what they’re doing. Two fish hooked up at the same time, you’re doubled up. The former is something that’s never been done in competitive fishing before. 

Next week will mark the first ever simulcast of professional fishing tournaments, where SFC’s Atlantic Division will compete in the Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic and Gulf Division will compete in The Billfish Pachanga. Meaning during SFC’s broadcast will be coming to your screen live from boats in two bodies of water, thousands of miles away from each other.

“We will always leverage the latest and greatest developments in technology to advance our sport,” said SFC Commissioner and CEO Mark Neifeld. “In the summer, there are offshore tournaments taking place every weekend all over the U.S. and we’re proud to bring you along for the ride in both the Atlantic and the Gulf.” 

The Oak Bluffs Bluewater Classic takes place July 13-18 with host sites on Cape Cod (Falmouth) and Martha’s Vineyard (Oak Bluffs) where competitors have a 5-day window to fish. Several of SFC’s Angling Clubs are slated to fish the later window and will be showcased live during our Thursday and Friday broadcast windows. The clubs have the option to either fish two consecutive days, or fish two individual days. The deadline to return to the dock depends on the option chosen since there is a 140 mile range to fish.  

New to the SFC calendar in 2025, The Billfish Pachanga is held in Port Aransas, Texas and has a unique ruleset as well. Like the other SFC Gulf Division events, clubs will fish three consecutive days (weather permitting) from July 17-19. Unlike the other tournaments, there is a range limit to where clubs can fish: only 100 miles from the Port Aransas jetty, and the deadline to return home is earlier (4:00PM CT). 

Given the timelines of both tournaments, SFC programming has a Championship Friday for OBBC in the Atlantic, and Championship Saturday for The Billfish Pachanga. 

Speaking of championships, this coming week has huge implications for the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, so our TV coverage will be heavily focused on the top half of the divisional leaderboards. Oak Bluffs marks the fourth of six tournaments in the Atlantic, where 100 points is the gap between second place Lights Out New England Angling Club and third place East Coast Remix Angling Club. 

Meanwhile, The Billfish Pachanga is the penultimate Gulf stop, with only the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club Labor Day Invitational in Orange Beach deciding the two clubs who will punch their tickets to Cabo San Lucas. 300 points separate four angling clubs from the final playoff berth, and the division leading Third Coast Renegades could mathematically clinch their spot once The Pachanga “se acabó,” (finishes). 

Keep eye out for the programming schedule to follow the action across both bodies of water and be a part of history.