BREAKING: West Florida Black Flags Sign Two-Time SFC Champion Justin Drummond for 2026

The West Florida Black Flags have made one of the biggest moves of the 2026 Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) offseason, officially signing two-time SFC Champion Captain Justin Drummond to represent the club in 2026.

Drummond, who captured season championships in 2022 and 2023, returns to SFC after a two-year absence. His signing immediately positions the Black Flags as one of the most formidable contenders in the Gulf Division as they set their sights on the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs.

The announcement confirms speculation that began earlier this offseason when SFC Insider reported that the Black Flags were evaluating multiple teams and captains to represent the organization in 2026.

West Florida Black Flags General Manager Bobby Fisher welcomed Drummond’s return in a statement announcing the signing:

“This marks an incredible day for our organization to welcome two-time SFC Champion Justin Drummond and his crew to West Florida Black Flags. As a team that played such a pivotal role in the league’s early history, we are proud to bring them back where they belong, contending for the Zane Grey Championship Trophy. I also want to show my appreciation for Captain Danny Watts and Marty Wilson for being excellent ambassadors for the club while competing in 2025. They will always be members of the Black Flags family."”

Drummond’s legacy within the SFC is already firmly established. As the league’s first and only two-time champion, he helped define the early competitive standard. He returns, however, to a very different landscape. SFC is now a closed, professional league format, with clubs representing different regions of the country. The scoring has changed a bit since the last time he had lines in the water for an SFC tournament, with more points being awarded for blue marlin, and now a point bonus for a grand slam. 

Since his last SFC appearance, Drummond has remained active on the global sportfishing stage. Most notably, he was part of the Magic Touch team that won the prestigious Bisbee’s Black & Blue Tournament in Cabo San Lucas this past October, further cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s most accomplished competitors.

Now, with a confirmed platform to compete in the full SFC circuit, Drummond’s return represents a major addition not only for the Black Flags but for the competitive landscape of the entire Gulf Division.

Drummond’s signing also closes the chapter on the Black Flags’ 2025 squad, led by Captain Danny Watts, angler Marty Wilson and mate Jeff Izanec.

Capt. Watts and Wilson were widely respected figures throughout the season, earning fan-voted All-Star honors while representing the Black Flags with immense pride. Their campaign, however, was hampered by equipment limitations and mechanical setbacks that put them at a competitive disadvantage throughout the year.

Despite those challenges, their contributions to the club and league were widely appreciated, with them as cherished members of the SFC fraternity.

With Drummond now confirmed in the lineup, the West Florida Black Flags immediately become one of the early favorites entering the 2026 Gulf Division season. His championship experience, combined with the resources to compete across the full circuit, could dramatically reshape the competitive balance in a division that already features several elite crews and major offseason roster moves.

That also means that three of the potential seven captains in the division hail from the state of Texas, with every single SFC championship-winning captain competing against each other within the same division. 

Capt. Justin Drummond, West Florida Black Flags (2022-2023)
Capt. Blake Bridges, Gulf Coast Cowboys (2024)
Capt. Spencer Johnson, Texas Lone Stars (2025)

More roster announcements and offseason developments across the Sport Fishing Championship are expected in the coming weeks as teams finalize their lineups ahead of the 2026 season kickoff.