Newport, Rhode Island | July 24–26, 2026
There’s something different about seeing the Sport Fishing Championship come to your own backyard.
The Rhode Island Offshore Invitational marked the first SFC event hosted in Newport, Rhode Island, and for the RI Breakers, it was an opportunity we had been looking forward to all season. Our first year competing in the SFC has taken us to some incredible places, but bringing the championship home to Rhode Island meant a little more.
Unfortunately, this weekend didn’t go exactly as planned.
With El Bendido undergoing necessary repairs and maintenance leading into the tournament, combined with conditions that ultimately prevented the boat from making the run north in time to compete, we were forced to officially scratch from the Rhode Island Offshore Invitational.
We wanted to be out there competing in our home waters more than anything. But while the Breakers weren’t able to make it onto the tournament leaderboard, there was no chance we were going to miss the weekend entirely.
Showing Up for Rhode Island
If we couldn’t represent Rhode Island offshore, we were going to represent it on the docks.
The team spent the weekend at Bowen’s Wharf in Newport, surrounded by the SFC community, fellow teams, families, fans and plenty of people getting their first introduction to the RI Breakers.
It turned into an incredible weekend and a reminder that this team is about more than what happens when lines go in.
Throughout the event, fans had the opportunity to step up and test their skills on our fishing simulators, bringing some of the excitement and competition of offshore fishing right onto the docks.
This weekend also gave us the chance to debut something we had been especially excited about: our new marlin chair simulator.
Designed to give fans a taste of what it feels like to battle a powerful billfish from the fighting chair, the new simulator quickly became a highlight of our setup. Kids, families, fishing fans and even experienced anglers got in the chair and put themselves to the test.
There was plenty of competition, plenty of laughs and, most importantly, a lot of people getting to experience a piece of the sport we love.
More Than a Tournament
Of course, we wanted El Bendido offshore.
We wanted to leave the dock, compete against the Atlantic Division and chase billfish in front of our hometown crowd. Having to watch our home tournament from shore wasn't the outcome any of us envisioned.
But weekends like this also show what we're building with the RI Breakers.
We're proud to represent Rhode Island on the SFC stage, but we're equally proud to be part of the community surrounding the sport. Seeing people stop by our setup, talk fishing with the crew, jump on the simulators, support the team and spend the weekend with us made Newport feel exactly like a home event should.
The Rhode Island Offshore Invitational brought professional sportfishing to Newport and put some of the best teams in the Atlantic Division into the waters off our coast. Being able to welcome that community to Rhode Island during our inaugural season was something special, regardless of whether our name appeared on the final leaderboard.
We'll See You on the Water
Every season comes with challenges. Offshore fishing has a way of reminding you that not everything is within your control.
What you can control is how you respond.
For us, that meant showing up.
We made the most of an unexpected situation, had an incredible weekend at Bowen's Wharf and got to share the RI Breakers experience with our hometown crowd.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, jumped on the simulators, met the crew and supported the Breakers throughout the Rhode Island Offshore Invitational.
Our first hometown SFC weekend is one we won't forget.
We'll see you back on the water.