24 overall releases spread across five clubs meant one thing: This tournament was not over until the final seconds on Championship Sunday.
The Rhode Island Offshore Invitational presented by MeetPerry delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2026 Atlantic Division season, with the New Jersey Sea Birds surviving a challenge from South Carolina Outcast to claim the tournament win.
By the time lines came out Sunday afternoon, the Sea Birds had completed yet another comeback they have been known for, rallying from fifth place after Day 1 to stand atop the leaderboard when it mattered most.
Day One was all about the South Florida Sails.
After South Carolina Outcast struck first with a white marlin double, Lee Albarty answered with a blue marlin release that immediately vaulted the Sails into first place.
North Carolina Flare refused to let an earlyi ssue with their house battery derail their tournament. Despite leaving the dock nearly two hours after the fleet, Mark Dressler's afternoon blue marlin pulled Flare AC even with the leaders before the Sails answered almost immediately with a white marlin release from Mark McDevitt to reclaim sole possession of first.
When Friday concluded, the standings reflected just how competitive the Atlantic Division has
Peter Miller called Saturday “Moving Day” on broadcast, and The New Jersey Sea Birds did the most of the moving.
Beginning the day in fifth place, Stephen Birch got things started early for The Flock before Mike Nini added another white marlin to move the club into contention. Meanwhile, South Carolina Outcast kept answering every Sea Birds push, with Steven Lackey and Trey Kemmerlin combining to keep the Lowcountry Legends within striking distance of the lead.
Then the floodgates opened. Mike O'Connor closed the gap. Jay Brower added another. Moments later, Jarrett Birch released another white marlin to propel New Jersey into first place, and the Sea Bird’s weren’t finished. Later that afternoon Jarrett Birch added the Sea Birds' seventh release of the tournament, extending the lead to 700 points.
Behind them, South Florida Sails and North Carolina Flare remained tied at 550 points, while South Carolina Outcast lurked only 200 points behind the leaders.
The final day wasted no time turning the leaderboard upside down.
David Dressler released an early white marlin for North Carolina Flare, moving them into sole possession of second place before Steven Lackey answered minutes later to push South Carolina Outcast past the South Florida Sails to claim third place.
Less than an hour into Championship Sunday, the overnight runner-up had fallen from second to fourth.
At 8:38 AM, Steven Lackey struck again. His second white marlin of the morning elevated South Carolina Outcast into a tie with the New Jersey Sea Birds at 700 points.
Just over an hour later, Stephen Birch released another white marlin, restoring New Jersey's advantage at 800 points and forcing everyone else to chase once again.
The Sea Birds appeared poised to clinch both the tournament title and be in firm control of the Atlantic Division title with only one tournament left to go. South Florida Sails, meanwhile, still needed one more push to help their own playoff hopes.
Disconnected from the broadcast due to Starlink connection issues, Sea Birds captain Blaine Birch offered to relay the Sails’ releases back to tournament officials in a display of sportsmanship.
Then, with only four minutes before lines out, the South Florida Sails hooked up. With extra time permitted to complete the fight, the crew successfully released the white marlin at 3:03 PM.
The release vaulted the Sails from fourth place into second on the unofficial leaderboard, pending post-tournament video verification due to the earlier communication issues.
That final release all but sealed both the Sea Birds and Sails’ tickets to Cabo San Lucas, and one final tournament to determine the division title with both clubs deadlocked in the season standings.
OFFICIAL CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY LEADERBOARD
New Jersey Sea Birds - 800 Points
South Florida Sails - 750 Points
South Carolina Outcast - 700 Points
North Carolina Flare - 650 Points
Lights Out Boston - 300 Points
East Coast Remix - 0 Points
Rhode Island Breakers - SCRATCH
The Flock cap off a historic weekend by avenging their second place Atlantic Division finish in 2025.
The Sea Birds mount a furious rally to be within striking distance of their old rivals from 2025
The Flock cap off a historic weekend by avenging their second place Atlantic Division finish in 2025.
Lights Out Boston start hot in defense of their tournament win last year.
The Atlantic Division caps off its regular season in Ocean City
The Atlantic Division comes down to this final stop in Ocean City
