A Strong Start to the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series
Each year, the Quest for the Crest Sailfish Series, presented by Raymarine, brings together the best sailfishing teams in the country—and this season felt no different from the moment the docks filled up.
Operation Sailfish opened the series with its largest fleet to date, 68 teams deep, and the level of competition matched the numbers. One crew quietly drawing attention was Reel Deal, a team that joined the series last season and wasted no time making their mark.
With Capt. Koby Dobbelaer at the helm and a seasoned crew made up of Oliver Jones, Max Jones, Rich Clawges, and Trace Bishop, Reel Deal showed up confident, prepared, and ready to fish against the best in the game.
Staying in the Hunt
Reel Deal put themselves in a strong position early, posting five releases on Day One to sit fifth heading into the final day. They knew they’d need to make a move—and on Day Two, they did just that.
Adding four more releases, Reel Deal pulled even with Day One leaders Priceless, locking both teams at nine releasesas lines-out approached.
A Finish Every Angler Dreams Of
Then it came down to the kind of moment every angler lives for.
With just two minutes remaining before lines-out, Capt. Koby Dobbelaer called in a buzzer-beater hookup, and the entire fleet knew what was at stake. The leaderboard stayed frozen for more than 30 minutes as teams waited to see how it would play out.
“With just two minutes left before lines-out, Reel Deal called in a buzzer-beater that would decide it all.”
When the release was finally confirmed, Reel Deal’s walk-off finish sealed the win.
A Clean Sweep and a Statement Made
The late push earned Reel Deal the Operation Sailfish Dog Tags, the top spot on the Overall Leaderboard, and a sweep of Tier One and Tier Two Dailies, the Leaderboard, High Rollers Club, Big Easy, Sporty, and Charity Calcuttas.
By the time the numbers were tallied, the $256,340 payout spoke for itself—and sent a clear message to the rest of the fleet:
The new guys are here to win.
Champions Crowned
Congratulations on accomplishing the mission. Reel Deal’s 2026 Operation Sailfish Champions title is officially set in stone.
Well done.
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