The highest level of professional billfishing comes to Charleston this week as the Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) Atlantic Division takes center stage at the SFC Carrier Cup Presented by HUK, May 29-31. The three-day event will feature professional offshore fishing, live coverage, fan festivities and an America250 Summer Kickoff celebration with diamond-selling country music superstar and SFC Angling Club co-owner Brian Kelley, all set against one of the most iconic backdrops in the country: the USS Yorktown CV-10 at Patriots Point.
“Charleston continues to prove it is one of the most exciting markets in professional fishing, and hosting the SFC Carrier Cup Presented by HUK aboard the USS Yorktown takes this event to another level,” said Mark Neifeld, Commissioner and CEO of the Sport Fishing Championship. “From the competition offshore to the broadcast set on the flight deck and the fan experience at Patriots Point, this is a historic moment for our league, our clubs and the sport of billfishing.”
The Carrier Cup marks the third Atlantic Division stop and the halfway point of the SFC season. Each club is competing for critical points toward the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, where the top two teams from the Atlantic Division and the top two teams from the Gulf Division will meet in Cabo San Lucas, October 18–19.
Teams will also be competing for a grand prize of $100,000 along with the CITIZEN Trophy, awarded to the Carrier Cup winner. The combination of prize money, division points and playoff implications gives the Charleston stop major stakes for every club in the Atlantic Division.
SFC competition is primarily a catch-and-release billfish format. Teams earn cumulative points over three days for qualified billfish catches recorded during official tournament competition hours. A qualified catch is verified when the fish meets SFC scoring and video verification requirements.
Blue marlin and black marlin are the highest-value catches at 450 points each, giving every team a chance to make a major move with one release. White marlin, striped marlin, spearfish and unidentified billfish are worth 100 points each, while sailfish are worth 75 points. Teams can also earn a 200-point Grand Slam Bonus by releasing three different species of billfish during the tournament.
The South Florida Sails arrive in Charleston with momentum after winning the Walker’s Cay Open, while Lights Out Boston enters the week holding the Atlantic Division lead with 6,100 points. South Florida sits just behind at 5,900 points, followed by the New Jersey Sea Birds and East Coast Remix at 5,600 points each. The hometown South Carolina Outcast, led by James Island native Capt. Stuart Lackey and owned by NASCAR driver Austin Dillon, enters the Carrier Cup in fifth place with 5,400 points, well within striking distance.
But Charleston has proven it can be a difficult stage, especially for the home team.
Last year, the South Carolina Outcast managed just one sailfish during the inaugural Charleston event, finishing fifth overall while East Coast Remix Angling Club went wire-to-wire to claim the title. Across the shortened two-day event, the six angling clubs released 11 billfish, including six blue marlin and five sailfish.
“The fish are definitely here this year,” Lackey said. “The eastern wind has been blowing the stream closer to land, and the eddies being formed are holding more billfish than we saw last year.”
To reach productive waters, teams are expected to make a 50- to 60-mile run offshore, adding another layer of strategy to the three-day competition.
Lackey, who started fishing these waters with his father in the 1960s, said he expects it will take two or three blue marlin releases paired with six or seven sailfish to win the Carrier Cup title.
Last week’s S.C. Governor’s Cup 58th Annual Georgetown Blue Marlin Tournament offered another sign that the offshore bite is picking up along the South Carolina coast, producing 26 blue marlin, 9 white marlin and 76 sailfish releases. The winning boat, Rascal, released 2 blue marlin and 8 sailfish on the way to first place, the kind of production that could make the Carrier Cup a pivotal stop in the Atlantic Division race.
For the Outcast, the Carrier Cup is also a chance to put last year’s Charleston showing behind them.
“Last year, we had a mechanical issue that was vibrating the boat,” Lackey said. “I would see the fish on the scope, live sonar, and they would swim away the closer we got. We’ve got that fixed and should be able to bring them up on the teasers and connect with a few more this year.”
The hometown captain also said there is some friendly pressure to perform in front of the Charleston crowd
“I’ve gotten a lot of grief from a lot of friends around here for last year’s performance, so I am definitely looking forward to getting some redemption and getting them off my back,” Lackey said.
Atlantic Division Standings Entering Stop No. 3
- Lights Out Boston — 6,100 points
- South Florida Sails — 5,900 points
- New Jersey Sea Birds — 5,600 points
- East Coast Remix — 5,600 points
- South Carolina Outcast — 5,400 points
- North Carolina Flare — 4,400 points
- Rhode Island Breakers — 4,000 points
With the top five angling clubs separated by just 700 points entering the Carrier Cup, one blue marlin could reshape the Atlantic Division standings.
The SFC Carrier Cup field features several high-profile angling clubs, including East Coast Remix Angling Club, co-owned by NFL star Raheem Mostert; North Carolina Flare Angling Club, co-owned by NFL legend Randy Moss; South Carolina Outcast Angling Club, owned by NASCAR driver Austin Dillon; and South Florida Sails Angling Club, co-owned by NBA player Ben Simmons.
Competition begins Friday, May 29, with official fishing hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Teams will compete across three days as the Atlantic Division points race continues to take shape.
The SFC Fan Fest will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. inside the USS Yorktown, giving fans the opportunity to follow the competition, experience the broadcast atmosphere and take part in event activities throughout the weekend.
Friday night will also feature the America250 Summer Kickoff Concert featuring Brian Kelley, along with the Red, White & Blue Cove, where boats are encouraged to anchor near the USS Yorktown and take part in the concert atmosphere from Charleston Harbor.
SFC Angling Clubs Taking Part in the Carrier Cup (notable owners)
- East Coast Remix Angling Club (co-owned by NFL star Raheem Mostert)
- Lights Out Boston Angling Club
- New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club
- North Carolina Flare Angling Club (co-owned by NFL legend Randy Moss)
- Rhode Island Breakers Angling Club
- South Carolina Outcast Angling Club (owned by NASCAR Driver Austin Dillon)
- South Florida Sails Angling Club (co-owned by NBA player Ben Simmons)
Concert Tickets: sportfishingchampionship.tscheckout.com/event/sfc-carrier-cup
Schedule of Events
(All times ET. Times subject to change.)
Thursday, May 28 (Shem Creek at Muddy’s/Vickery’s)
- 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Media Day – Interview availability with participating clubs .
- 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. — South Carolina Outcast Kickoff Party – Public encouraged to attend and meet the clubs and vendors. Event will include live music, vendors and premium giveaways.
Friday, May 29
- 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. — Competition hours (Lines In & Lines Out)
- 10:00 a.m. — SFC Fanshop opens aboard the USS Yorktown
- 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. — SFC Watch Party LIVE! from the USS Yorktown flight deck
- 6:00 p.m. — USS Yorktown doors reopen for concert guests
- 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. — America250 Summer Kickoff Concert featuring Brian Kelley
Saturday, May 30 – Sunday, May 31
- Fan festival activities aboard the USS Yorktown included with museum admission
- Daily live SFC Carrier Cup coverage from the flight deck broadcast set
- Broadcast windows: YouTube from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.; ESPN App, Disney+ and Hulu from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Daily Public-Facing Events
SFC Fan Fest
Open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. inside the USS Yorktown.
SFC Watch Party LIVE!
Held daily from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. aboard the USS Yorktown CV-10 at Patriots Point.
Friday Night Concert
The SFC Carrier Cup Concert featuring Brian Kelley & Friends will take place Friday, May 29, from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
SFC Carrier Cup presented by HUK:
Title Partner: HUK Fishing
2026 Carrier Cup Sponsors: Scout/Marine Max, Comparion, Archer Roose, Albright, Morning Recovery, Community Coffee, Meta/Oakley, Juiced Fuel, TicketSocket
2026 SFC Corporate Champions: OneWater Yachting Group, Citizen
2026 SFC League Partners: Cross Chartering, Guidesly, Xotic Outdoors, No Rivals
2026 SFC Community Champions: Billfish Conservation Project, The Nature Conservancy, Coast Guard Foundation
About Sport Fishing Championship: Founded in 2021, Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is a competitive sportfishing league of 16 professional angling clubs, competing internationally across North America. SFC’s celebrity-driven club ownership table includes accomplished athletes and entertainers such as Scottie Scheffler, Austin Dillon, Raheem Mostert, Talor Gooch, Harold Varner III, Ben Simmons and Brian Kelley. SFC aspires to grow the sport by focusing on engaging fans through innovation and building community.
About Patriots Point: Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, on the Charleston Harbor, is the #1 attraction in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and is home to a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships and the only Vietnam Support Base Camp in the U.S. Patriots Point is also headquarters to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the agency’s official Medal of Honor Museum. Visit patriotspoint.org for more details.
About HUK: HUK was founded in 2014 to redefine fishing gear with innovative performance-driven apparel and footwear that inspires bold, adventurous lives on and around the water. Engineered for comfort and durability, HUK’s award-winning designs span technical fishing outerwear and all-day sun protection to versatile off-water style. Advanced technologies integrate ICE cooling features, moisture-wicking fabrics, and superior UPF ratings—trusted by guides, captains, and pro anglers alongside adventure-seekers of all ages. The brand’s full-throttle energy and vibrant, color-forward styles geared for men, women, and kids are core to its inclusive, fun-loving community. Built for every outdoor pursuit, HUK is driven by the joy of chasing extraordinary experiences no matter the forecast, staying true to its mission: Unite all anglers. For more information, visit huk.com.
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