The New Jersey Sea Birds secured the Atlantic Division Championship on August 24, 2026, capping a weekend that saw them overcome a significant deficit on the final day. The team entered Championship Sunday trailing Lights Out Boston by 275 points but erased that gap within 23 minutes of lines in.
The Sea Birds faced challenges from Lights Out Boston, North Carolina Flare, and South Florida Sails throughout the day. Two late white marlin releases provided the necessary separation for the club to clinch the title. Captain Blaine Birch of the New Jersey Sea Birds described the start and final minutes as hectic.
The three-day tournament coincided with the final day of The MidAtlantic, utilizing the same 125 nautical mile boundary. Earlier in the week, on Thursday, Sea Birds angler Dave McKendrick caught a 680-pound blue marlin, earning the team a $1.47 million payout. Both the Sea Birds and South Florida Sails had already secured their Zane Grey Championship Playoff berths before the tournament began on Friday.
On Friday, both championship contenders went scoreless, while Lights Out Boston took an early lead with Spencer Talbot’s 450-point blue marlin release. White marlin releases from Casey Carmichael, Matteo Scena, and Ross Nasin brought Lights Out Boston’s total to 750 points. South Carolina Outcast finished Day 1 with 200 points.
Saturday morning saw North Carolina Flare make a strong push, with David Dressler, Trey Baranyai, and Mark Dressler releasing white marlin, eventually reaching 700 points. Baranyai’s second white marlin release brought North Carolina within 50 points of Lights Out. The Sea Birds mounted their own charge, with Jay Brower releasing three white marlin. McKendrick’s blue marlin release at 1:09 PM tied New Jersey with Lights Out at 750 points, though Boston held the lead on time.
On Sunday, boats departed Ocean City at 3:00 AM. Lines went in at 8:00 AM, and by 8:23 AM, the Sea Birds took the lead with Brower’s blue marlin release, increasing their score from 750 to 1,200 points. South Florida Sails also gained ground with a blue marlin release from Lee Albarty at 8:49 AM, bringing them to 750 points. Mark Dressler’s eighth white marlin for North Carolina Flare pushed them to 800 points.
Lights Out Boston found a white marlin at 9:57 AM, reaching 1,125 points, just 75 behind the Sea Birds. The leaderboard remained largely unchanged for several hours. At 2:07 PM, Kyle Paparelli of Lights Out Boston released a sailfish, tying them with the Sea Birds. However, McKendrick immediately responded at 2:16 PM with a white marlin, adding 100 crucial points for New Jersey. Brower further extended the Sea Birds’ lead at 2:47 PM with another white marlin, bringing their total to 1,400 points.
As the 3:30 PM lines out approached, Lights Out Boston hooked a blue marlin at 3:20 PM that would have secured them the win with a 450-point release. However, the marlin was lost at 3:25 PM, mere feet from the boat. At 3:30 PM, lines out was called, confirming the New Jersey Sea Birds as Atlantic Division champions with 1,400 points. Lights Out Boston finished second with 1,200 points, followed by North Carolina Flare with 800 points, and South Florida Sails with 750 points.
