SportfishHub — Weekly Tournament Digest

At a Glance

Quick Takeaways

1Real Deal (Chadwick) won the 2026 Quest for the Crest Burgundy Jacket as series champion; Carolina Reel Men (Freeman, 22 releases) dominated Final Sail Leg 3; Right Choice (61' Viking) took the Viking Key West Challenge across a 47-boat fleet. →
2U.S. national diesel averaged $5.62/gal on April 6 and is forecast to peak near $5.80/gal this month, approaching the June 2022 all-time record of $5.82/gal. →
3Three tournaments fished simultaneously this week—Viking KWC, Final Sail, and Chub Cay Invitational—delivering the busiest results weekend of the spring season. →
4Sailfish Alley in the Florida Keys is fishing at elite levels: Badfish (V-41) went 34-40 on sailfish on April 8 out of Key Largo. →
5Bisbee's historic first international event (Pura Vida Payout, Quepos, Apr 14–18) opens Tuesday—fuel at current RECOPE rates before the May increase of ~$0.98/gal. →

1 / Tournament Results

Real Deal Takes Burgundy Jacket; Three Events Fish Simultaneously

Viking Key West Challenge (12th Annual)

Key West, FL April 9–11, 2026 47 Boats All-Release Billfish + Meat Fish

#	Boat	Catch	Prize
1	Right Choice — 61' Viking	1,606.80 pts	—
2	Relentless — 46' Valhalla	1,327.00 pts	—
3	Papa's Pilar — 41' Valhalla	1,030.80 pts	—
4	Don Diego — 46' Viking	1,017.80 pts	—
5	Headin South — 66' Viking	960.20 pts	—

Right Choice led both the billfish release board (1,600 pts) and overall team points. Jennifer Persinger (Don Diego) won Top Female Angler. Fleet of 47 boats scored 101 total releases (98 sailfish on live bait, 1 blue marlin). Awards held at Opal Key Pier.

Reel Time Apps — Official Tracker

Results shown are unofficial as of publication. Final standings may differ. Verify at keywestchallenge.com.

Final Sail 2026 (Quest for the Crest Leg 3)

Miami (Coconut Grove), FL April 8–11, 2026 All-Release Sailfish + Meat Fish

#	Boat	Catch	Prize
1	Carolina Reel Men — Freeman	22 pts	$10,000
2	True Grit — Spencer	18 pts	$5,000
3	Vitamin Sea — Daniels Boat Works	16 pts	$3,000
4	REMIX — Contender	15 pts	$1,500
5	Sandman — Spencer	15 pts	$1,000

Quest for the Crest 2026 series champion: Real Deal (Chadwick). Real Deal won the Burgundy Jacket as the overall series champion, confirmed by Blue Water Movements. Won Leg 1 (Operation Sailfish) with a dramatic buzzer-beater 10-release final day and accumulated enough series points across all three legs to clinch the title. 219 total releases fleet-wide in Leg 3. Sandra MacMillan (Sandman) dominated Top Female Angler with 9 release points. James Barnett (Carolina Reel Men) led all male anglers with 6 releases.

Bluewater Movements Live Leaderboard

Leg 3 results are from the Bluewater Movements live scoring platform labeled “Unofficial Tournament Results.” Final standings may differ. Verify at bluewatermovements.com.

6th Annual Chub Cay Invitational

Berry Islands, Bahamas April 9–11, 2026 All-Release Billfish

#	Boat	Catch	Prize
1	No Le Hace	First place overall + Top Female Angler (Denise McMahan)	—
2–5	Full podium standings not yet published

The No Le Hace crew participated in all three events of the 2026 Chub Cay Series, suggesting strong overall series contention. Tournament Director: Robert “Fly” Navarro.

Results posted via social media April 12, 2026.

2 / Billfish Hotspots

Keys Sailfishing at Elite Levels; DR Fleet Goes 9-16

Best Reports

Badfish (V-41 Valhalla) went 34-40 on sailfish out of Key Largo on April 8—the highest single-boat release count reported regionally this week. Capt. Mike Genoun (Keys Offshore Fishing Academy) reported double-digit sailfish catches by kite-fishing fleet in the April 7–12 window.

Pattern

Northeast wind (15–25 kts) pushing bait tight, creating optimal kite-fishing conditions in 110–180 feet of water. Goggle eyes are the primary bait. Wahoo mixed in for boats kite-fishing for sails. Less boat pressure due to rough conditions is concentrating the bite.

Source: Billfish Report, April 8–9; Capt. Mike Genoun, April 12, 2026

Best Reports

Wanderer released 2 sailfish and added yellowfin tuna on April 8 out of Nosara. Explorer, Harvester, and Discoverer each posted sailfish releases on April 7–8. Adventurer posted a sailfish release April 8 as well.

Pattern

Sailfish biting in good numbers ahead of the Bisbee's Pura Vida Payout (April 14–18). Yellowfin tuna available as a secondary target. Inshore fishing also productive for the Nosara area.

Source: FishingNosara blog, April 7–8, 2026

Best Reports

Marina Cap Cana fleet went 9-16 on billfish on April 9. Fishing Toy went 1-1 on blue marlin and 1-1 on white marlin. Iron Bird went 2-6 on white marlin. Mixed blue and white marlin in the spread.

Pattern

Blue and white marlin both present, with whites providing the volume. Release efficiency is good—fleet converting roughly half of bites.

Source: Marina Cap Cana social media, April 9–10; Billfish Report

Best Reports

Chub Cay Invitational confirmed multiple blue marlin and sailfish releases across the 3-day event. The preceding Chub Cay Open (March 26–28) saw 7 blue marlin, 3 white marlin, and 23 sailfish fleet-wide—a reference benchmark for conditions.

Pattern

Blue marlin season is opening at Chub Cay with good early-season activity. ROFFS spring forecast noted blue marlin “just starting to pick up” near Cat Island; conditions improving through April.

Source: Coastal Angler Magazine, April 2; ROFFS Spring Forecast

Best Reports

No reports from within the April 7–13 window specifically. Guatemala is in active season with operators reporting 30+ sail raises per boat and 20+ bites through end of March. April marks the transition into marlin mixing with sailfish.

Pattern

Sailfish remain the dominant species, with blue marlin numbers increasing April through May. Most productive areas 20–25 miles offshore. Historically strong period for this fishery.

Source: Billfish Report; Sailfish Oasis; FishingWithLarry

3 / Upcoming Tournaments

Bisbee’s Goes International; Costa OWC Format Overhaul

Tournament	Location	Dates	Species
Bisbee's Pura Vida Payout	Quepos, Costa Rica	Apr 14–18	Pacific sailfish, blue/black marlin, tuna, dorado
Costa Offshore World Championship	Quepos, Costa Rica	Apr 19–23	Pacific sailfish, blue/black/striped marlin
IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout	Walker's Cay, Bahamas	Apr 22–25	Blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish
Louisiana Gulf Coast Billfish Classic	Venice / Grand Isle, LA	Apr 28–May 3	Blue marlin, white marlin, yellowfin/bluefin tuna

Bisbee's Pura Vida Payout: First Bisbee's event outside Cabo San Lucas in 44-year history, and the first with an all-release billfish format. Entry: $5,000 base / $98,140 “All In.” Multi-million dollar potential payouts.

Costa Offshore World Championship: Major 2026 overhaul—teams bring own boats, Challenger open-entry category added, entry fees reduced from ~$15,950 to $3,500–$5,000.

IGFA Walker's Cay Shootout: $4,500 entry includes $1,500 mandatory IGFA conservation donation; $18,000 cash Calcutta (90% returned to participants).

4 / New Builds

Scarborough 75’ Skin Deep Nearing Splash

Scarborough Boatworks — 75' “Skin Deep” (Hull 19)

Everett Nautical faux teak exterior artwork confirmed complete as of April 10. Launch imminent; no official splash date announced. Key specs: Twin MTU 2,600 hp, Seakeeper 40, 3,000 gal. fuel, 4 staterooms / 3 heads, 20 built-in tuna tubes, mezzanine cockpit. Gulf Coast tournament-spec build.

Source: Scarborough Boatworks social media, April 10, 2026.

No other new custom sportfishing builds or launches were announced within the April 7–13 window. Builder websites for Viking, Spencer, Jarrett Bay, Bayliss, Release, and Weaver showed no new press releases or launch announcements. Viking's previously announced 64 Sport Coupe (June 2026 delivery) and 70 Convertible Gen II (FLIBS world premiere) remain on their stated timelines.

5 / Industry News

Diesel Nears All-Time Record; NOAA Opens Canyons

Rising Diesel Costs Nearing All-Time Record — Offshore Anglers Feeling It

What Happened

National average diesel reached approximately $5.62–$5.65 per gallon as of April 6–7, 2026, according to GasBuddy and AAA data. The EIA forecasts diesel will peak around $5.80/gal in April—approaching the June 2022 all-time record of $5.82/gal. Elevated Brent crude (~$100/bbl in Q2) is the driver, tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict and constrained Strait of Hormuz traffic.

Why It Matters

A tournament-class sportfisherman burning 80–100 gallons per hour is now paying $450–$580 per running hour at the pump. Florida charter operators are publicly warning of rate hikes. Some tournament teams are factoring fuel surcharges into their calcutta budget planning.

Key Details

EIA warns prices may stay elevated for months even after any Hormuz resolution. Florida marina diesel ranges from approximately $4.80 (Fort Pierce City Marina) to over $5.80 per gallon along the SE coast.

Reuters / EIA STEO

NOAA Canyons Commercial Fishing Rule — Final Rule Published

What Happened

NOAA Fisheries published the final rule conforming U.S. fishing regulations to Presidential Proclamation 11009, completing the process of re-opening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing. Published April 6, 2026.

Why It Matters

Sportfishermen working Hudson Canyon, Baltimore Canyon, and Hydrographer Canyon should now plan for increased commercial vessel traffic in those corridors during the 2026 summer season.

Key Details

Pelagic commercial fishing (HMS, tuna) now fully permitted throughout the Monument. Bottom-tending gear remains restricted in the Georges Bank Deep-Sea Coral Protection Area overlay.

NOAA Fisheries Final Rule

Costa Rica Diesel Prices Rising in May — Quepos Tournament Teams Take Note

What Happened

Costa Rica's RECOPE confirmed on April 9 that diesel prices will increase by approximately ¢136 colones per liter (~$0.98/gal) effective May 2026. Current diesel is CRC 530/liter (~$5.18/gal). The May increase will push it to approximately ~$6.50/gal.

Why It Matters

The Bisbee's Pura Vida Payout and Costa Offshore World Championship both fish out of Quepos in the next two weeks, before the May adjustment. Teams already in-country will fuel at the current rate. Those planning May trips should budget accordingly.

Key Details

RECOPE controls all fuel pricing in Costa Rica. The increase is tied to Brent crude averaging ~$95–100/bbl during the calculation period.

Q Costa Rica

Yamaha Marine Promotes Jason Berry to Director of Marine Service

What Happened

Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit promoted Jason Berry to Director of Marine Service, effective April 2, 2026. No organizational changes to dealer or warranty service were announced.

Why It Matters

Berry's appointment to lead marine service at Yamaha's U.S. unit is a boardroom item for dealers and multi-engine yacht owners with Yamaha outboard service relationships. No immediate policy impact.

Yamaha Outboards Newsroom

6 / Market Pulse

No New Data; Fuel Costs May Soften Demand

No new data-backed sportfishing or center console market reports were published this week. The most recent comprehensive benchmark remains the Denison/Boats Group 2025 Year-End Market Index from March 3.

+4.9%

Avg Sold Price YoY

139

Days on Market

−8.5%

Unit Sales YoY

Rising diesel prices (~$5.62/gal and climbing) are beginning to suppress charter and recreational use patterns, which historically precedes softening of transactional demand for larger offshore platforms. No brokerage data confirms this shift yet, but anecdotal signals from Florida charter operators are pointing in that direction.

7 / Fuel Index

SE Florida $5.89/gal; Costa Rica Hike Coming in May

Middle East conflict (U.S.-Iran) is the primary driver. Strait of Hormuz constraints pushed Brent crude to approximately $100/bbl in Q2. EIA forecasts U.S. diesel will peak around $5.80/gal in April—approaching the June 2022 all-time record of $5.82/gal. (Reuters / EIA STEO)

Region	Diesel ($/gal)	Direction	Notes
SE Florida (marina docks)	$4.80–$5.89	↑ Up sharply	Fort Pierce City Marina $5.59; Vero Beach Municipal $4.80; national avg diesel $5.62. Marina dock premiums 20–30¢ above street.
US East Coast (NC/SC ICW)	$3.35–$4.60	↑ Up	Range reflects inshore ICW marinas; offshore/tournament marinas at high end. Charleston Harbor Marina $4.60; Outer Banks $3.66–$4.31.
US Gulf Coast	~$5.60–$6.20	↑ Up	National diesel near $5.62; Gulf Coast regions reporting $6.19+. Venice/Grand Isle expected $5.80–$6.20.
Bahamas	~$5.00 avg	↑ Stable–Up	National avg ~$5.00/gal. Chub Cay Marina ~$6.51 dock price; Walker's Cay historically $8.74—confirm on site.
Costa Rica (Quepos)	~$5.18 → $6.50	↑ Up (May)	RECOPE diesel currently ~$5.18/gal. May increase of ¢136/liter confirmed. Teams at Bisbee's fuel at current rate.
Azores	—	—	In-season (Mar–Oct); no marina pricing sourced this week.
Cape Verde	—	—	In-season (Mar–Oct); blue marlin active in April. No marina pricing sourced.

All marina-dock diesel prices carry significant location and volume premiums over national averages. Call ahead to confirm pricing before departure.

8 / What to Watch

Bisbee’s Pura Vida Fires Tuesday; Skin Deep Splash Imminent

1

Quest for the Crest 2026 Burgundy Jacket Goes to Real Deal

Real Deal (Chadwick) confirmed as 2026 series champion and Burgundy Jacket winner. Official series standings and full payout details—including the $100,000 all-three-legs guarantee (Raymarine/Yamaha)—are expected on bluewatermovements.com this week.
2

Bisbee's Pura Vida Payout Fires April 14 out of Quepos

The first Bisbee's event outside Cabo San Lucas—and the first all-release format in 44-year series history—begins Tuesday. Costa Rica sailfish bite is described as active. Results expected April 18–19.
3

Scarborough 75' Skin Deep Splash Expected Any Day

Exterior Everett Nautical artwork confirmed complete April 10. The Gulf Coast tournament build (twin MTU 2,600 hp, Seakeeper 40, 20 tuna tubes) is the next major launch from a custom builder. Watch scarboroughboatworks.com.
4

Diesel Prices at Near-Record Levels Heading into Peak Tournament Season

EIA projects U.S. diesel peaks around $5.80/gal in April before any meaningful decline. Tournament teams running to the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Gulf Coast events should model fuel costs at or near all-time highs.
5

Costa Offshore World Championship (April 19–23) Registration Status

The 2026 OWC format overhaul—open-entry Challenger division, team-supplied boats, fees cut from ~$16K to $3,500–$5,000—was announced pre-season. First year under the new format begins next week. Check owc.catchstat.com for final entry count.

Quick Takeaways

Real Deal Takes Burgundy Jacket; Three Events Fish Simultaneously

Viking Key West Challenge (12th Annual)

Final Sail 2026 (Quest for the Crest Leg 3)

6th Annual Chub Cay Invitational

Keys Sailfishing at Elite Levels; DR Fleet Goes 9-16

South Florida / Florida Keys

Costa Rica Pacific (Quepos / Nosara)

Dominican Republic (Cap Cana)

Bahamas (Berry Islands / Chub Cay)

Guatemala Pacific

Bisbee’s Goes International; Costa OWC Format Overhaul

Scarborough 75’ Skin Deep Nearing Splash

Scarborough Boatworks — 75' “Skin Deep” (Hull 19)

Diesel Nears All-Time Record; NOAA Opens Canyons

Rising Diesel Costs Nearing All-Time Record — Offshore Anglers Feeling It

NOAA Canyons Commercial Fishing Rule — Final Rule Published

Costa Rica Diesel Prices Rising in May — Quepos Tournament Teams Take Note

Yamaha Marine Promotes Jason Berry to Director of Marine Service

No New Data; Fuel Costs May Soften Demand

SE Florida $5.89/gal; Costa Rica Hike Coming in May

Bisbee’s Pura Vida Fires Tuesday; Skin Deep Splash Imminent

Real Deal Claims Burgundy Jacket as Spring Season Delivers Busiest Weekend Yet