Lights Out Boston Reacts to the Rumors Swirling Around the 2026 SFC Season
So much of the information surrounding sport fishing comes via second-hand reports, hearsay, and gut-feeling confirmation that it should come as no surprise that the latest news we’re hearing around the Sport Fishing Championship League has been driven by a rumor mill that’s turning out heard-on-the-docks gossip on a round-the-clock production schedule. That’s okay, though, because the league is going to do league things, and teams are going to make changes (or not), and we’re all going to gear up for the Key West Classic and get the 2026 season going, and that’s where the magic happens. Here’s what we’re hearing, each with a quick take explaining how it affects Lights Out Boston.
1. Video catch verification may not be needed anymore. Video verification is still the team’s responsibility. Team video will be requested if League coverage does not confirm species of the catch. The league plans to attempt contemporaneous verification during tournaments. The bigger question is whether they will DQ catches in real time where there may be inadvertent rules infractions, such as if the mate touches the angler’s rod prior to release.
The Lights Out Boston Take: I guess this matters to any team who would want to play a little fast and loose with deciding what’s a catch, but it doesn’t matter to us. Verification just shows what we’re doing on the boat, which is fine with us, we have nothing to hide, and wouldn’t want to win any other way but the right way. And we’re sure everyone else feels the same way.
2. Keep an eye out for new teams in the SFC. The league announced the possibility of some new teams that will expand the league. Some are confirmed, and some are still in the planning stages. They’re all coming to join the competition and they’re bringing their A game.
The Lights Out Boston Take: Hey, the more the merrier. We can’t wait to meet all our new friends for some healthy competition on the water and good times on the dock afterward.
3. The New Grand Slam Bonus. Get 200 extra points on top of the catch points for releasing white marlin, blue marlin, and sailfish.
The Lights Out Boston Take: Targeting different species to get a billfish slam and a points bonus sounds like a great reward for the multi-species catch. But when we find the bite, we’re probably not going to go wandering off in search of another kind of billfish. After all, the other species may likely be close by.
4. The Gulf Division is playing Musical Chairs. Teams are parting ways with their boats and crews every which way. One team cuts ties with a boat, only to have another team snap up that partnership. If you know the players and everything that happened last season, you may think it’s pretty interesting.
The Lights Out Boston Take: It’ll be great to see some old friends back on the dock at the opening tournament. Regardless of what team’s colors you’re flying, we’re excited to go fishing and see how we all do. Best of luck this season!