Chasing the Ring & Making an Impact: JJFISHWEEKAC 2025 Makes Waves On and Off the Water
Save the Date for JJFISHWEEKAC 2026 - July 12-18, 2026
Atlantic CITY, NJ – July 25, 2025 – The fifth annual Jimmy Johnson Atlantic City ‘Quest for the Ring’ Championship Fishing Week (JJFISHWEEKAC) wrapped up July 13-19, delivering a high-energy week of competitive sportfishing, thrilling catches, unmatched hospitality, and meaningful community impact along the Northeast coast. Held in partnership with Visit Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Sports Commission, the event brought together more than 60 elite teams from across the country to compete for $1Mill in payouts, while giving back through Catch for the Community, JJ’s signature charitable initiative.
With a refreshed prize structure - including a lower buy-in, simplified Calcuttas, new Daily MVP categories, and more - JJFISHWEEKAC 2025 delivered on this year’s theme: “Your Input, Our Commitment.” Teams fished across two weigh stations in Atlantic City, NJ at the Frank S. Farley State Marina, managed by Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina, and Ocean City, MD, at Sunset Marina, enjoying dual-city hospitality experiences, sponsor activations, dockside dinners, and more.
Presented by Contender Boats, powered by Yamaha Outboards, and guided by Garmin Marine, teams weighed in at either port and enjoyed hospitality experiences in both host cities. Atlantic City served as the epicenter of celebration, with the exceptional Kick Off and always popular hospitality suite nightly dinner series at the Golden Nugget Grand Ballroom all week long, culminating with the Ultimate Gifting Experience - where teams received all the free sponsor swag from Oakley sunglasses to Grundens footwear and tons in between - followed by the legendary Closing Awards Bash hosted by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and presented by Milagro Tequila. From dockside dinners and open bars to live entertainment and a full week of hospitality, JJFISHWEEKAC – produced by the seasoned team at Fish Hard Events - continues to set the bar for sportfishing tournaments.
Polarizer Claims the Ring
Following five days of high-stakes sportfishing, Polarizer from South Jersey emerged as the 2025 tournament champion, showcasing an exceptional performance with 10 White Marlin releases, 1 Blue Marlin release, and two Yellowfin Tuna weighing in at 32.9 lbs and 33.7 lbs. Aboard their 64-foot Viking, the team - led by owner George Robinson and captained by Michael Hunter - earned the most points of the week with 716.6 points, securing the coveted championship ring and a place in Coach Jimmy Johnson’s legendary Ring of Honor. The winning crew included anglers Mike Fitzpatrick, Chris Recchio, Greg Robinson, Casey Roohan, Jimbo Sampson, and Mike Schad.
In addition to the overall title, Polarizer also took home 1st Place in the Catch and Release Division, powered by Yamaha Motors, winning $22,050 in prize money. This year’s ring was awarded to the team that generated the most overall points throughout the tournament, with one point per pound weighed in and release points calculated according to tournament rules. The updated scoring structure, introduced by Coach Johnson himself, reflects his commitment to honoring the team with the most well-rounded and outstanding performance across the week.
Notable Wins and Category Champions at JJFISHWEEKAC 2025:
- Tournament Champion & Catch & Release Division: Polarizer - 10 White Marlin,1 Blue Marlin, 2 Yellowfin Tuna – 716.6 points, taking home the coveted Championship Ring and $22,050
- Heaviest Bigeye Tuna & Top Overall Payout: Jersey Nutz – owned by Cody Melton out of Altantic City, NJ with their 135.5lb Bigeye Tuna, total winnings: $269,653.68 (Dominated the leaderboard with wins in Heaviest Tuna, Early Entry Bonuses, Box of Bigeye Tuna, Atlantic City Inlet Challenges, and multiple JJ’s Daily Game Ball MVPs)
- Heaviest Blue Marlin: Floor Reel – owned by John Ols out of Ocean City, MD with their 510lb Blue Marlin, total winnings: $172,575 (swept multiple categories including Heaviest Blue Marlin Optional, JJ’s Daily Game Ball MVP (Blue Marlin & Tuna), and Ocean City Inlet Challenges for Blue Marlin, Tuna, and Dolphin)
- Yellowfin Tuna Box & Non-Sonar Division (1st & 2nd): Low Profile – owned by Joe Trainor out of New Jersey with their Yellowfin Tuna at 50.8lb, 42lb, and 39.4lb, total winnings: $84,690
- Heaviest Dolphin Optional (1st& 2nd Place): Solid Cast – owned by Dennis Brown out of Wildwood, NJ with their 20.6lb and 19.5lb Dolphin, total winnings: $60,750
- Small Boat Tuna Division & Day 2 Heaviest Tuna Daily Optional: No Limit – owned by Jon Azato out of Delaware with their 103.5lb Bigeye Tuna, total winnings: $28,570.68
For a complete list of winners and payouts, visit jjfishweek.catchstat.com.
Making Waves On and Off the Water
Beyond the excitement on the water, one of the most meaningful traditions of JJFISHWEEKAC is Coach Jimmy Johnson’s Catch for the Community initiative - a powerful way the tournament gives back to those in need.
Now in its third year, the initiative featured a nightly fish fillet station at weigh-ins sponsored by Greentree Mortgage - where many teams generously donated their weighted catches. On the final day of fishing, tournament organizers partnered with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City’s award-winning Executive Chef Leslie Daniel to deliver thousands of pounds of fresh fish to local beneficiaries. Campers at the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City participated in a special culinary experience, learning how to prepare kid-friendly fish recipes alongside Chef Leslie and tournament volunteers.
This year’s tournament expanded its impact to reach even more communities, with donated catches also supporting Diakonia in Ocean City, a nonprofit providing food, shelter, and resources for homeless men, women, families, and veterans across the Tri-County Lower Eastern Shore.
Giving Back at the Bash
The spirit of giving continued at the Closing Awards Bash, with fundraising efforts benefitting several of Coach Jimmy Johnson’s most cherished causes - including Fishing for Muscular Dystrophy, the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, and the Tranquil Shores Foundation, which provides addiction recovery support.
Attendees bid on two hand-painted guitars by official tournament artist Dennis Friel of Connected by Water, each signed by Coach Johnson - a tradition that began in Florida and continues to grow in Atlantic City. A $30,000 giving match challenge was issued to fund a full rehabilitation program through Tranquil Shores, and additional fundraising came via raffles featuring custom offshore rods from Big Dog Tackle and NHL tickets from Sockey Hockey.
In total, more than $100,000 was raised for the tournament’s nonprofit partners - proving that JJFISHWEEKAC is about more than just fishing. It’s about creating lasting impact in the communities it touches.
Watch the Action Again
Nightly weigh-ins were broadcasted live on JJFISHWEEK.CATCHSTAT.COM, presented by Yamaha, and hosted by Greg Mark and Bruce Eberst, co-founders of JJFISHWEEKAC, with full tournament playback powered by Garmin Marine.
For a comprehensive list of sponsors, winning teams, and final payouts, visit the CatchStat tournament portal.
Save the Date: JJFISHWEEKAC 2026
The excitement returns next summer: July 12–18, 2026. Stay tuned for 2026 tournament announcements and prize structure updates coming in September.
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About FISH HARD EVENTS
Fish Hard Events annually hosts a series of fishing tournaments throughout the year with Coach Jimmy Johnson for Jimmy Johnson’s Championship Fishing Week (JJFISHWEEK) and the culmination is this project, the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions (TOC), which takes place in Miami Beach as a celebration of the best of the best teams, the celebrities of the sportfishing, who come together to compete for a high stakes tournament weekend. Coach Jimmy Johnson’s Championship Fishing Week has (2) legs, (1) takes place annually in March across South Florida, where teams come from around the country to fish from Ocean Reef in Key Largo, Fl to Palm Beach and celebrate at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino throughout the week, with a $1Mill Guaranteed purse and up to $2Mill est payout annually, and (1) in July, which takes place in Atlantic City, NJ and attracts teams from across the east coast to join in Atlantic City to compete, which another est $2Mill plus up for grabs.
February’s Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions is the culmination of the hard work these teams put on annually and brings together the leading teams in sportfishing for a VIP Kick off to South Florida Sailfish season with a weekend of luxury entertainment from local partners and high stakes sportfishing with teams from across the country, hosting a purse of est. $300,000-$400,000 and three days of intense tournament fishing and hospitality events taking place at Miami Beach Marina. Teams that generate a certain amount of dollars throughout the competitive season throughout a variety of different tournaments in the country are invited to join. More information can be found at www.fishhardevents.com or on social @fishhardevents @jjfishweek or @jjfishweekac .
About Visit Atlantic City
Visit Atlantic City is a 501(c)(6) organization formed and funded as a public-private partnership by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to create economic development through leisure tourism, conventions, sporting events, film production and group tourism.
Atlantic City is a premier travel destination on the East Coast with the first Boardwalk to open in the United States. Attracting visitors with its diverse array of tourism offerings, Atlantic City is home to nine casino resorts, an eclectic culinary scene, vibrant history, thrilling entertainment and family-friendly adventures, making it the ultimate destination where celebrations live on and inspire visitors to create memory making moments. For complete Atlantic City tourism and convention information, visit www.visitatlanticcity.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About the Atlantic City Sports Commission
The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Visit Atlantic City and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City. For more information, visit www.atlanticcitysports.org. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.