Texas Lone Stars' Historic Win at the Zane Grey Championship
The Lone Stars' triumphant finish at the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs marks an exciting conclusion to the inaugural season of the Sport Fishing Championship under its new professional format. This season spotlighted 14 competitive angling clubs, all fiercely vying across two divisions, the Atlantic and Gulf.
The Texas Lone Stars Angling Club boasts prominent ownership, including Scottie Scheffler, who is not only a dedicated angler but also holds the title of the world's number one golfer and a four-time major champion.
Scheffler expressed immense pride in the team, stating, "Winning the league championship in our inaugural year is a significant achievement. This victory reflects their exceptional talent and unwavering determination, especially after navigating through early challenges. I truly believe there is no quit in this team."
This reflection comes on the heels of a challenging start to the 2025 season, where the Lone Stars faced a string of last-place finishes. Mechanical issues with substitute boats posed a challenge as their main vessel underwent extensive repairs that were expedited to allow participation in the latter half of the season.
In the competitive Gulf Division, the Lone Stars secured their place by outperforming renowned clubs like the Gulf Coast Cowboys, co-owned by country music star Brian Kelley, and the Mississippi Blues, also co-owned by LIV Golf personalities Talor Gooch and Harold Varner III.
On the Atlantic side, teams such as the South Carolina Outcast, backed by NASCAR's Austin Dillon, and East Coast Remix, which includes Las Vegas Raiders running back Raheem Mostert, were unable to reach the playoffs.
Reflecting on the strenuous preparation, Captain Spencer Johnson of the Texas Lone Stars mentioned, "I took it upon myself to personally sand and grind our boat to ensure we could return to the tournament promptly. Once we had our vessel back in action, we knew we had a good shot at the playoffs."
The regular season consisted of six tournaments per division, where the top two clubs advanced to the Zane Grey Championship Playoffs, held in Cabo San Lucas. Throughout the season, each of the contests was broadcasted on ESPN+, allowing fans to follow the excitement live. Captain Johnson and his team managed to qualify for the playoffs, achieving second place in the last three tournaments.
The Lone Stars faced stiff competition from the Gulf Division Champion Third Coast Renegades, the Atlantic Division Champion Lights Out Boston, and the Atlantic runner-up New Jersey Sea Birds. However, the Lone Stars had decades of experience fishing in the rich waters of Cabo San Lucas, allowing them to excel in catching and releasing thousands of billfish over the years.
During the playoff competition, the Texas Lone Stars showcased their skill by releasing 41 striped marlin and one blue marlin, gathering an impressive total of 4,550 points. This effort allowed them to overtake their division rival, the Third Coast Renegades, in the final moments of the contest.
Commissioner and CEO Mark Neifeld noted, "This year's Zane Grey Championship Playoffs was reminiscent of a heavyweight boxing match, with all four teams exchanging blows with every fish caught. Congratulations to the Texas Lone Stars for their phenomenal performance in what has been the most competitive season to date."
Across two intense days of fishing, the participating clubs collectively released 165 billfish, comprising 162 striped marlin, two blue marlin, and a sailfish, affirming this region's title as the "striped marlin capital of the world."
Captain Spencer Johnson summarised the excitement perfectly, saying, "There’s really no other fishery on the planet like this. Throughout the tournament, all four clubs circled around the same fishing spot, anxiously trading fish, knowing that each release presented a chance to claim victory."
The upcoming SFC Awards, set to air on Christmas Day, will celebrate the exceptional achievements and moments from the 2025 season, featuring a red carpet event and an awards ceremony that highlights the best of competitive angling.
Zane Grey Championship Playoff Final Results:
Texas Lone Stars Angling Club - 4,550 Points
Third Coast Renegades Angling Club - 4,400 Points
New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club - 4,000 Points
Lights Out Boston Angling Club - 3,825 Points
About Sport Fishing Championship
Founded in 2021, Sport Fishing Championship (SFC) represents 16 regions engaging in competitive sport fishing across North America. With a commitment to enhancing the sport and connecting with fans, SFC+ provides a direct-to-consumer streaming platform that offers live access to events and exclusive fishing-related content.
