Week 1 Highlights From Across the League
A country music reunion, NBA/NFL Crossover, Popping new corks and more from the season opening week
Sport Fishing Championship kicked off 2026, with year four of The Catch Pro-Am, immediately followed by season opening Key West Classic, presented by Salty Dawgs. Some of what went down included:
🥂🍾 Moët Hennessy Brings the Bubbly
SFC welcomed Moët Hennessy as a new corporate sponsor, marking a major step forward in how the league celebrates its competitors and its winners. The partnership highlights the luxury elements of the sport. While chasing billfish for hours in all sorts of grueling conditions can be gritty, these are multi-million dollar sportfishing boats we’re talking about.
🎤🤠 Florida Georgia Line(s) In: Brian Kelley & Tyler Hubbard Reunite
Country music fans were treated to another surprise reunion as country music stars Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard linked up at The Catch. Kelley is a co-owner in SFC’s Gulf Coast Cowboys Angling Club and announced Hubbard as their pick on The Catch draft night.
🏀🤝 🏈 The Crossover We All Wanted To See
Super Bowl LIX champion Leonard Williams of the Seattle Seahawks and NBA All-Star Ben Simmons teamed up to fish The Catch Pro-Am together. Simmons is a co-owner of South Florida Sails Angling Club, announcing his purchase of the club in December. Williams not only fished The Catch for South Florida sails last year, he is also the club’s all-time leading angler in billfish releases since he competed on the Sails’ behalf in the 2025 season opener.
🦅🎣 Trey Burton Makes a (Philly) Special Debut
Super Bowl LII champion Trey Burton, an avid fisherman in his own right, not only fished The Catch, he also joined the New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club season roster. Not only did Burton release a couple of fish, but he also plans to compete alongside The Flock in future tournaments this season.
💍 Championship Rings Presented
On behalf of owner Scottie Scheffler, club GM Justin Lamonica presented the 2025 SFC Champion Texas Lone Stars with a special gift: Championship rings to commemorate their Zane Grey Championship Playoff run.
🏆🏆 Key West Classic Winners Crowned
SFC’s new Citizen Trophy saw double the action this weekend at the season opening Key West Classic, as the league crowned two winners: one for each of the Atlantic and Gulf Divisions. Lights Out Boston Angling Club took home the win for the Atlantic and also posted the highest overall score, with Third Coast Renegades claiming victory in the Gulf Division.
The Citizen Trophy, presented by Citizen Watch, is awarded to the winner of every regular season event on the calendar.
The year is just getting started and the action will continue to heat up as the Zane Grey Championship Playoff picture continues to develop. The Atlantic Division will be back in action twice in May, for the Walker’s Cay Open and the first-ever SFC Carrier Cup in Charleston, South Carolina.
Between those tournaments, The Catch Pro-Am will air on ESPN 2. Be ready to mark your calendars when we announce the time and date.