CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (MLF) — Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to launch the Starlink Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops season this week, with the first event of 2026 – the Bass Pro Shops Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, Sunday, Aug. 16, through Friday, Aug. 21, in Charles County, Maryland.
Hosted by the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, the Patriot Cup will bring MLF’s exciting team-format events to a region rich in American history during the nation’s 250th anniversary year. Located just outside Washington, D.C., Charles County provides a fitting backdrop for the Patriot Cup as communities across the country commemorate America’s milestone anniversary and celebrate the outdoor traditions, waterways and shared experiences that help define the American sporting lifestyle.
“We’re proud to welcome MLF and the Starlink Team Series Patriot Cup as part of the America 250 celebration!” said Alicia Steger, Tourism event Coordinator for the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. “Events like this drive tourism and support our local businesses, and we invite the anglers and their families to experience everything our community has to offer.”
In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols all fishable waters within 60 miles of Charles County, Maryland, have been off limits to competing anglers since the location was revealed to them in early July. The competition waters for each day are top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. The MLFNOW! live broadcast begins on the water at 10 a.m. ET.
The Starlink Team Series features four Cup events in 2026 – the Patriot, Heritage, Challenge and Summit Cups – each showcasing 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money across all four events.
All six days of competition will stream live on MLFNOW!, offering fans a front-row seat to every hookset, decision and adjustment as teams explore new fisheries and adapt in real time. The final hour of each day of competition will be broadcast live from 4-5 p.m. ET on RFD-TV, and each event will also be featured in a series of six original, two-hour episodes set to premiere on Outdoor Channel in the first quarter of 2027.
The 12 teams competing in the Bass Pro Shops Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Charles County, Maryland are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
Team BUBBA:
Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Team Ferguson:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Team Knighten Industries:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Team Kubota:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas
Team Lucas Oil:
Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala.
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Team MillerTech:
Dustin Connell, Deatsville, Ala.
Mark Daniels Jr., Shorter, Ala.
Team O’Reilly Auto Parts:
Nick Hatfield, Afton, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Team OFF! Deep Woods:
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Team Seaguar BRAWLR:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Team Star brite:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Team YETI:
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Fans can follow the action live on RFD+, MajorLeagueFishing.com, and tune in for the final round of each day’s fishing tournament on RFD-TV, with hosts Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney breaking down every minute of competition.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Starlink Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Bass Force, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Starlink, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Starlink Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
