SFC Insider's Pre-Carrier Cup Power Rankings

It’s Carrier Cup week, and before heading up to Charleston, we have to check back in with the Atlantic Division. The South Florida Sails are riding high from a dominant showing at the Walker’s Cay Open.

Here’s how the points standings look as a reminder heading into the weekend.

Lights Out Boston AC - 6,100 Points
South Florida Sails AC - 5,900 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds AC - 5,600 Points*
East Coast Remix AC - 5,600 Points
South Carolina Outcast AC - 5,400 Points
North Carolina Flare AC - 4,400 Points
Rhode Island Breakers AC - 4,000 Points

Sea Birds have the tiebreaker on Remix for third due to the higher placement in a tournament this season. The highest placement for New Jersey is second from the Walker's Cay Open. Remix have finished third in each of the first two tournaments.

Two weeks later, here’s how we see the division stacking up this week from the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum:

1) East Coast Remix

They’re the defending event champions, so it’s hard to not start with JC Cleare and the group to start as the favorites, just like we did with the New Jersey Sea Birds at Walker’s Cay. What Remix did at Walker’s on Sunday with their crew of five was nothing short of spectacular, and had to do a ton for their confidence. Hard to not see Remix loose to kick off the weekend.

2) South Florida Sails

Not only do the Sails come in red hot, but they are also fishing a tournament on Thursday. Looking back at the leaderboard from the Walker’s Cay Open, the Sails’ total would have held up for the win at the Walker’s Cay Invitational held the week later. Captain Mike King hasn’t fished out of Charleston in some time, but he’s no stranger to the Lowcountry. Those extra fishing days could have the same result as they did fishing the Production vs. Custom Shootout in the Bahamas. 

3) Lights Out Boston

Another product of late momentum from Walker’s Cay, the fourth place finish with a Championship Sunday blue marlin release ties their lowest finish in the Angling Club era of SFC competition, only happening twice before: bookending their 2025 season at the season opener in Fort Lauderdale, and the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs.

4) New Jersey Sea Birds

Based on their prefishing results, I likely have The Flock too low on this ranking list. They released several blue marlin over the weekend, so I would expect the Sea Birds to have some confidence in knowing where to head first, so long as the conditions hold up. New Jersey finished fourth last year, so that played a factor into the ranking

5) South Carolina Outcast

Another crew that feels to be entirely too low on this list are the homesteading Outcast. Fun fact: Capt. Stuart Lackey and the crew finished fifth here last year. I doubt history will repeat itself, but this is where they start on my list this weekend. A couple weeks ago at Walker’s Cay, a hot start faded from third to fifth on the leaderboard after a combined blue marlin flurry from East Coast Remix and Lights Out Boston.

6) North Carolina Flare

Charleston last year was the highest finish for North Carolina Flare, taking second place. For that reason alone, they should be higher up on the list, but there’s one big factor keeping Flare near the bottom of the power rankings this week: absence. Captain Brian Dressler is attending a wedding on Friday, returning to join the crew for the final two days of competition. Family first, first and foremost. It may be a nice day for a white wedding, but Capt. Dressler will be selfishly hoping for a slow day for blue and white marlin. 

7) Rhode Island Breakers

All the love in the world for the Rhode Island Breakers, which have brought a ton to the league this year in terms of how we can track boat telemetry and watch their live stream on Twitch before the broadcast takes place to see what they’re working on. A lot of what we saw in Walker’s was troubleshooting. A week back on the mainland to sort through some sudden mechanical issues should do the crew wonders to come back to Charleston ready to compete.