Tyler Dufresne  

Captain, Lights Out AC

Tyler Dufresne was raised in the fishing town of Falmouth, Massachusetts, where the water was always close and fishing was more than a hobby, but a way of life. He grew up striper fishing and chasing bluefin with his dad and from a young age, he knew he wanted to make a career on the water.  

What started as weekend outings quickly turned into dockside jobs, charter boat runs and offshore trips that laid the foundation.  

Throughout high school and college, Tyler worked his way through the ranks of inshore charters to canyon runs, developing a deep respect for the grind and unpredictability of the offshore game. A breakthrough arrived after his college graduation in the form of No Mercy, a 44-foot Cabo, where he started as a mate before earning his captain’s license there and eventually taking over the helm.  

For the next four years, he captained the program’s upgraded 55-foot Viking, sharpening his leadership and technical skills in a fast-paced, competitive setting. 

When No Mercy’s owner moved on, Tyler jumped at the opportunity to captain with Lights Out, joining the Sport Fishing Championship circuit. It’s been full steam ahead ever since.  

In the past season, he’s led the boat through rigorous tournaments across some of the world’s most dynamic fisheries, captaining a group that’s hopeful to sit atop the Atlantic Division standings and eventually earn a Zane Championship. 

Tyler thrives in the pressure and pace of tournament fishing. Nowhere is that clearer than his home waters in Oak Bluffs, where teams make 100-plus-mile runs, fish around the clock and sleep in short bursts between bites.  

“It’s raw, it’s long, and it’s some of the best fishing there is,” Tyler said.  

One of his proudest moments came at that very tournament, when a blue marlin crushed the long rigger on the final day and helped clinch the win. With no billfish seen for days, the bite came at the perfect moment and proved just how fast fortunes can change offshore.  

“It was one of those moments where you just knew. It sealed the deal,” he said. 

Away from the helm, Tyler is a strong advocate for bringing new people into the sport, believing that fishing offers people a unique mix of purpose, adventure and opportunity.  

“A lot of people don’t realize this can be a career,” he said. “It can take you all over the world and connect you with a network of people who want to see you succeed.” 

For him, the SFC is more than just a series of tournaments, but a chance to show people what this world is really like — the travel, the teamwork, the obsession and the pursuit.