San Juan, Puerto Rico. – Five months of competition, eleven tournaments, 280 hours on the water, and more than 500 billfish releases have culminated in one king of sport fishing. The 69th Annual San Juan International Billfish Tournament served as the tour’s final stop and competition ground for 58 teams – including teams from Brazil, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and the United States. It was team Quantified, led by Captain Justin Drummond, who took home the tournament’s top prize of $1 million and earned the opportunity to “Kiss the Crystal” of the Zane Grey Championship Trophy after amassing 16,025 season-long points.
Quantified also secured tournament top honors in the Gulf Division, with 15325 total SFC Points. 5325 Catch Points and 10000 Finish Points (1st place at GCM, 1st place at ECBC, and 2nd place at TIFT.) The team averaged seven billfish over five events, including eight blue marlin, 12 white marlin, and 17 sailfish. By the close of the San Juan International Billfish Tournament, Quantified added another Top-5 finish, keeping them atop more than approximately 330 teams that competed in the inaugural season.
“From the onset of the SFC, we imagined a series of world-class events that inspired anglers, enhanced the tournament experience, and connected fans from the comfort of their homes,” said Mark Neifeld, Sport Fishing Championship Commissioner. “This ground-breaking season did more than just positively disrupt the industry – it’s brought the competition into the spotlight and sport fishing into the mainstream. It’s just the beginning, and there’s exciting growth on the horizon.”
The inaugural SFC season was an unprecedented success, showcasing eleven of saltwater fishing’s biggest and best tournaments while positively impacting the local economies of its championship towns. Perhaps most notably was the SFC’s ability to bring live tournament action directly to its fans, having delivered more than 38 hours of live streams and 40 hours of CBS Sports Network original programming to date. Coverage will continue airing through the end of the year.
The Sport Fishing Championship will return to action in April of 2023, with more exciting announcements on the horizon. The SFC plans to release its 2023 Schedule in early October. To stay up-to-date on the SFC, please visit SportFishingChampionship.com.
Final SFC Rankings
- QUANTIFIED – (16,025 Points)
- MON CHARI – (10,800 Points)
- RISING SON’S – (10,150 Points)
- SOUTHERN CHARM – (9,600 Points)
- SKIN DEEP – (9,100 Points)
- REBECCA – (8,975 Points)
- BANDITO – (8,250 Points)
- BREATHE EASY – (7,750 Points)
- BADONKADONK – (5,525 Points)
- SIGSBEE DEEP – (5,325 Points)
Heaviest Fish Winners
- Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna Presented by Invincible Boats – Drew Phillips, Team Second Wind, 206.9 lbs., Caught at Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic
- Heaviest Wahoo – Jordan Sanford, Team Gypsea, 103 lbs., Caught at Oak Bluff’s Bluewater Classic
- Heaviest Mahi Mahi – Angelo DePaloa, Team MG, 40 lbs., Caught at Gulf Coast Masters Tournament
About the Sport Fishing Championship
The Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) is the world’s premier offshore fishing series, consisting of eleven points-based tournaments, culminating in one grand champion angling team. Competitors earn points based on their placement in SFC Qualifying Tournaments and additional points for every qualified catch recorded throughout the regular season. The top teams will receive approximately $1.25 million in prizes, and the champion will also receive the SFC’s prestigious Zane Grey Championship Trophy. For more information about the SFC, visit SportFishingChampionship.com or follow on social @sportfishingchampionship.
