REEL DEAL: 14TH ANNUAL OPERATION SAILFISH CHAMPIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 2026
OPERATION SAILFISH SETS RECORDS AGAIN IN LEG ONE OF THE QUEST FOR THE CREST PRESENTED BY RAYMARINE
Leg One of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series presented by Raymarine lived up to the hype once again. Operation Sailfish set records for the fourth straight year, filling the docks at Sailfish Marina Resort with 68 teams ready to fish. With a $612,500 purse on the line and the champions’ dog tags waiting at the finish, there was no shortage of motivation. Over the course of the event, teams went head to head against 183 Atlantic sailfish, turning every bite into a battle and every release into a statement.
OPERATION SAILFISH WEEK DEBRIEF
The week got rolling on January 14th with the Captain’s Meeting at Sailfish Marina Resort in West Palm Beach. It was one of those nights that reminds you why this tournament means more than just numbers on a leaderboard. The opening ceremony set the tone, highlighted by a powerful salute to the U.S. military from the Operation Homefront cadets’ color guard, grounding the week in purpose before the fishing even started.
Once the formalities wrapped up, it was time to settle in and catch up dockside. Teams shared stories, shook hands, and enjoyed a relaxed night fueled by cocktails from Islamorada Brewery & Distillery and Josh Wines, with dinner served up by Sailfish Marina. Series partners Raymarine, SIMMS apparel, Clearshine Detailing, Land and Sea Professionals, and Costa Sunglasses were out in full force, and the atmosphere felt equal parts competitive and communal, the kind of night that sets the tone for an exciting weekend ahead.
January 15th brought one of the most meaningful days of the entire event: Take A Hero Fishing Day. 46 veterans were paired with 23 teams for a day on the water, benefiting Operation Homefront. It wasn’t about standings or payouts. It was about quality time on the water with men and women who’ve given plenty already. The day wrapped with an awards ceremony sponsored by Land and Sea Professionals, putting a fitting cap on a tradition that continues to define what Operation Sailfish stands for.
January 16th and 17th were all business. Competition days meant early mornings, tight calls, and pressure filled moments offshore, followed by a laid back evening back at the dock and Happy Hour at the Sailfish Marina Tiki Bar, sponsored by C&L Marine Insurance and APH Marine Construction.
The week came to a close on January 18th with the awards ceremony. Top teams were recognized for their performances, and Operation Homefront was presented with an $8,650 donation. It was a fitting finish, celebrating competition, giving back, and reinforcing the spirit that defines Operation Sailfish.
THE BATTLE RECAP
DAY ONE
The action kicked off on Day One with 107 sailfish released by lines-out. Priceless, with Capt. Jorge Sanchez at the helm, wasted no time taking control of the leaderboard, stacking up six releases and holding the top spot through the end of the day. That consistency paid off in a big way, locking them into first place in both Tier One and Tier Two Daily Calcuttas, turning their Day One performance into a $63,810 payday.
Right behind them, Native Son / Steel Got It, led by Capt. Art Sapp, stayed in the hunt all day. The crew matched the pace with six releases of their own, keeping steady pressure on the leaders. Their second-place finish in both Tier One and Tier Two Daily Calcuttas was good for a $29,430 daily payday, putting both teams exactly where they needed to be heading into day two.
REMIX came out swinging early. With Capt. JC Cleare calling the shots, the team put five sailfish on the board before noon aboard their Contender 44ST equipped with Raymarine’s state-of-the-art electronics, capitalizing on the morning bite to claim the Day One Early Bite and third place in the Tier One Daily Calcutta for $5,860. Double Take, led by Capt. Billy Casanave, and Taylor Jean, under Capt. Blane Birch, stayed right in the mix as well, each posting five releases to round out the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Down on the scales, the meatfish bite showed it had plenty to offer. Tree Money, captained by Eric Neidorf, brought in a solid 53.4 pounds, enough to take first place in the Dynamite Daily Meatfish Calcutta. The weight held up, turning into a $9,450 daily payday.
DAY ONE STANDINGS
Day One Leaderboard
1st – Priceless – 6 Points
2nd – Native Son / Steel Got it – 6 Points
3rd – Remix – 5 Points
4th – Double Take – 5 Points
5th – Taylor Jean – 5 Points
Tier One Daily – 50/30/20 Split
1st – Priceless – 6 Points – $12,150 Payout
2nd – Native Son / Steel Got it – 6 Points – $7,290 Payout
3rd – Remix – 5 Points – $4,860 Payout
Tier Two Daily – 70/30 Split
1st – Priceless – 6 Points – $51,660 Payout
2nd – Native Son / Steel Got it – 6 Points – $22,140 Payout
Dynamite Daily – Meatfish 70/30 Split
1st – Tree Money – Aggregate – 53.4 Points – $9,450 Payout
2nd – Team Game Changer – Aggregate – 52.9 Points – $4,050 Payout
DAY TWO
Day Two had a different feel right out of the gate. The sailfish bite cooled off a bit, with 76 releases making it to the board, and teams had to grind for every opportunity. With conditions tightening up, the leaderboard shuffled, and new names worked their way into the mix, setting the stage for a finish that was going to come down to the wire.
In second place on Day Two Living Water / Makin’ Time made the most of the change. With Capt. Alex Burgess at the helm of their new Contender 44ST, the team stayed sharp and put up four releases on Day Two. That pushed their weekend total to six, good enough for seventh overall, but more importantly, it locked them into second place in both Tier One and Tier Two Daily Calcuttas. By lines-out, they had turned a steady weekend into a $29,430 payout.
Next up, Fish Tales was another crew that stayed consistent when it counted. Capt. Ricky Linder and his team, aboard their Yamaha-powered SeaVee 370Z added four more releases on Day Two to finish the weekend with six total, securing fourth overall. Along the way, they topped the Small Boat Division, took first in the Small Boat Stash Calcutta, and added a third-place finish in the Tier One Day Two Daily Calcutta, stacking up $12,560 by the end of the weekend.
Sailfish Marina resident’s Reel Lucky, led by Capt. Tyler Poczatek, made some early noise of their own. With three quick releases early in the morning before the bite faded, earned them the Day Two Early Bite and a $1,000 bonus. They closed out the weekend with five releases.
While sailfish opportunities became harder to come by, the meatfish bite went the other direction. Slob City, captained by Carl Torresson aboard their 39’ Contender, put together a massive Day Two bag weighing 155.6 pounds, highlighted by a 49.2-pound kingfish. That push brought their weekend total to 190.9 pounds, landing them second in the Meat Fish Aggregate and the Grand Daddy award. The team also cleaned up across multiple categories and Calcuttas, including Heaviest King, Dynamite Daily Day Two, Big Fish Bonanza, and first and second in the Big Three, rolling it all into a $48,020 weekend payday.
DAY TWO STANDINGS
Day Two Leaderboard
1st – Reel Deal – 5 Points
2nd – Living Water/Makin’ Time – 4 Points
3rd – Fish Tales – 7 Points
4th – Reel Lucky – 6 Points
5th – La Fe – 6 Points
Tier One Daily – 50/30/20 Split
1st – Reel Deal – 5 Points – $12,150 Payout
2nd – Living Water/Makin’ Time – 4 Points – $7,290 Payout
3rd – Fish Tales – 7 Points – $4,860 Payout
Tier Two Daily – 70/30 Split
1st – Reel Deal – 5 Points – $51,660 Payout
2nd – Living Water/Makin’ Time – 4 Points – $22,140 Payout
Dynamite Daily – Meatfish 70/30 Split
1st – Slob City – Aggregate – 155.6 Points – $9,450 Payout
2nd – Tree Money – Aggregate – 149.0 Points – $4,050 Payout
TOP TEAMS
Overall Leaderboard
1st – Reel Deal – 10 Points
2nd – Priceless – 9 Points
3rd – Viva – 8 Points
4th – Fish Tales – 7 Points
5th – Native Son/Steel Got it – 6 Points
Highest Earnings
1st – Reel Deal – $256,340
2nd – Priceless – $122,950
3rd – Slob City – $48,020
4th – Native Son/Steel Got it – $31,430
5th – Living Water/Makin’ Time – $29,430
MISSION COMPLETE: REEL DEAL SECURES OPERATION SAILFISH CHAMPION’S DOG TAGS
Each year, the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series presented by Raymarine brings together the best sailfishing teams in the country, and this season felt no different the moment the docks filled up. Operation Sailfish opened the series with its biggest fleet to date, 68 teams deep, and the level of competition matched it. One of the crews quietly drawing attention was Reel Deal, a team that joined the series last season and wasted no time making their mark. With Capt. Koby Dobbelaer at the helm and a seasoned crew made up of Oliver Jones, Max Jones, Rich Clawges, and Trace Bishop showed up confident, prepared, and ready to fish against the best in the game.
Reel Deal put themselves in a solid spot early, posting five releases on Day One to sit fifth heading into the final day. They knew they’d need to make a move, and on Day Two they did just that, adding four more releases to pull even with Day One leaders, Priceless. With both teams sitting at nine releases, the leaderboard locked up as lines-out approached.
Then it came down to the kind of moment every angler lives for. With just two minutes left before lines-out, Capt. Koby Dobbelaer called in a hookup, stopping the room cold. The leaderboard stayed frozen for more than half an hour as the fleet waited it out, until Reel Deal finally called in the release, with a walk-off that sealed the win. The late push earned them the Operation Sailfish Dog Tags, the top spot on the Overall Leaderboard, and a sweep of Tier One and Tier Two Dailies, the Leaderboard, High Rollers Club, Big Easy, Sporty, and Charity Calcuttas. By the time it was all tallied, the $256,340 payout spoke for itself, and left rest of the fleet with a clear message: the new kids aren’t here to ease in, they’re here to win.
Congratulations on accomplishing the mission; Reel Deal’s 2026 Operation Sailfish Champions title is set in stone. Well done!
QUEST FOR THE CREST SERIES STANDINGS THROUGH LEG ONE
1st – Reel Deal – 31 Points
2nd – Priceless – 29 Points
3rd – Viva – 28 Points
4th – Fish Tales – 27 Points
5th – Native Son/Steel Got it – 26 Points
6th – Remix – 25 Points
7th – Living Water/Makin’ Time – 24 Points
ON TO THE NEXT ONE: SAILFISH CHALLENGE, LEG TWO OF THE QUEST FOR THE CREST SAILFISH SERIES
The stage is set for the 23rd Annual Sailfish Challenge, hosted by Galuppi’s Restaurant & Sports Bar in Pompano Beach from February 18 – 22, 2026, with proceeds benefiting The Billfish Foundation. As the second leg of the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series, this highly anticipated event offers competing teams a shot at a cash purse estimated to exceed $600,000. In true Sailfish Challenge style, the tournament’s unique three-inlet format allows teams to fish from Miami’s Government Cut, Pompano Beach’s Hillsboro Inlet, and West Palm’s Lake Worth Inlet. This strategic flexibility gives teams the edge to track the bite north or south and still make check-in at the end of the day.
The 3-inlet format isn’t the only signature aspect of the Challenge. The tournament also boasts a unique ‘Coin Challenge’ competition that randomly assigns teams in groups by color to see who can release the most sailfish in the tournament!
Don’t miss out on securing your place in this premier tournament! Early registration for Sailfish Challenge is available at a discounted rate of $1,200 per boat until February 5th, 2025. After that, the fee rises to $1,700.
Visit www.sailfishchallenge.com to learn more.
ABOUT THE QUEST FOR THE CREST SAILFISH SERIES
The Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series stands as the ultimate battleground for the world’s top billfishing teams. This prestigious 3-leg series boasts an estimated purse of over $1.7 million, attracting fierce competitors from across the globe. But the true prize—the one that every team covets—isn’t about the money. It’s about The Crest.
The Crest represents the highest honor in the world of tournament sailfishing, a symbol of unmatched excellence. This coveted award, embodied by the iconic burgundy jacket, is reserved for the team that rises above all others in skill, strategy, and stamina. To don the jacket is to hold the title of world champion. It is not just a prize; it is a legacy earned through sheer dominance over an elite field. Only the best of the best can claim this privilege on their quest for the ultimate crown in billfishing.
ABOUT FISH BLUEWATER
Based in the heart of South Florida, the sportfishing capital of the world, Fish Bluewater is a premier sports marketing company with over three decades of expertise. For 30 years, we’ve been at the forefront of the competitive fishing scene, developing some of the most successful tournaments in the industry. Our deep-rooted knowledge of tournament fishing, paired with cutting-edge event marketing strategies, has allowed us to deliver unparalleled experiences for both anglers and sponsors alike.
With a portfolio of seven highly sought-after tournaments, each hosted at iconic venues across South Florida, Fish Bluewater continues to set the standard in competitive sportfishing events. Our commitment to excellence ensures that every tournament we produce is more than just a competition—it’s a premium experience that celebrates the passion and spirit of the sport.
For media inquiries, images, and additional information, please contact:
Chris Caravello
Phone: 954-725-4010
Email: Chris@bluewatermovements.com
