A Massachusetts native with deep roots in New England fishing, Rob Carmichael has spent a lifetime on the water, beginning in small ponds and streams with his grandfather and father and eventually leading the Lights Out team through sportfishing tournaments in some of the world’s most attractive destinations. 

Now living on Cape Cod, Rob’s passion for fishing evolved throughout the years from inshore and lake outings to offshore pursuits, where the life of competitive fishing has hooked him for quite some time. 

Rob’s sportfishing journey began over two decades ago at his first tournament, where Captain Ray Rosher taught him the ins and outs of the sport, coaching Rob up on species, trolling tactics and much more. 

Rob took the advice and ran with it — and since then, he’s fished everything from East Coast oceans to the Sport Fishing Championship's extensive tournament circuit, covering waters from South Florida and the Bahamas to the Carolinas and back to New England. He’s proud to have turned his passion into a family affair, fishing alongside his wife Jackie and children, Tucker and Casey.

While fishing is a shared passion of Rob and Jackie’s, it wasn’t what first brought the two together. They first met while working at a ski area, discovering that they lived just a few towns apart and shared a love for many similar outdoor ventures. 

Jackie grew up sailing around Cape Cod in the same places where Rob spent countless hours on the water. As they built their life together, fishing naturally became a family tradition. Today, it’s not just a hobby, but a way of life that keeps them connected. Whether it’s Tucker’s offshore drive, Casey’s interest in fly fishing, or Jackie hopping in to secure a sailfish in the Bahamas, it’s a shared passion that the Carmichael family is grateful for. 

And while the Carmichaels have savored the privilege of fishing in waters all over the world, the thrills and challenges of his home waters in New England is something Rob greatly cherishes. 

“It’s hard not to appreciate our fishery,” Rob said. “When we’re waiting for the right bite, like a blue marlin or a white marlin, our bycatch could be a 60-pound yellowfin, or a 250-pound bigeye. There’s a lot going on.”

As technology has revolutionized the sport, Rob has embraced tools like satellite imaging and advanced sonar systems to elevate his team’s performance. What drives him, though, is the challenge, the thrill of billfish on the line and the camaraderie of doing it all with family and close friends. 

From catching a tail-wrapped 400-pound blue marlin to watching his son Tucker land a giant tuna at age 11, Rob’s proudest moments are the ones shared.