Top 10 Anglers Earn Spots on Team USA as Team PNW Wins Inaugural National Team Championship

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA — August 2026 — USAngling Saltwater Kayak Fishing is proud to announce Chad M. Gierlich of San Diego, California, as the 2026 USAngling Saltwater Kayak National Champion, following two days of intense competition on the waters of San Diego Bay.

Hosted by F.I.S.H. — Fishing Initiative for Stewardship & Habitat, the 2026 USAngling Saltwater Kayak Nationals brought together top anglers from across the United States for a two-day, multi-species Catch-Video-Release competition on August 15–16. The championship featured kayak anglers competing across San Diego Bay and Shelter Island in one of Southern California’s premier fisheries.

A major addition to this year’s championship was the use of the HOOKED Field app, designed by KAYAKVAULT specifically for USAngling. The app tracks each angler’s catches and accumulated points and displays the results on a live leaderboard, allowing competitors, tournament directors and spectators to follow the action as it happens. Hooked has received tremendous positive feedback from both athletes and tournament directors, with many directors now expressing interest in using the platform for their own events. The app is also gaining momentum beyond USAngling, attracting interest from tournament organizers throughout the United States and Canada and quickly becoming a valuable tool for competitive kayak fishing.

The Catch-Video-Release format put conservation at the center of the competition, with every qualifying fish documented on video and released alive. During the championship, 811 fish were caught and released, representing more than 16 different species, demonstrating both the incredible diversity of San Diego Bay and the conservation benefits of the Catch-Video-Release format.

GIERLICH WINS A THRILLING BATTLE FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE

Gierlich finished the championship with 161 points, tying Texas angler Tommy Burgin, who also recorded an outstanding 161-point performance.

With the two anglers deadlocked, the National Championship was decided by USAngling’s established tie-breaking procedure: the angler who submits their qualifying catches first is awarded the higher position. Gierlich ultimately secured the National Championship by submitting his catches ahead of Burgin.

The victory was especially impressive considering Gierlich’s extensive tournament success on San Diego Bay and the caliber of the field he faced.

Chad described the competition as the toughest he has faced:

“This was the stiffest competition I’ve faced yet. Going up against the best in the USA, I had to work really hard and was tied. Luckily, I submitted my catches first.”

Burgin’s performance deserves special recognition as well. A Stealth Kayaks rider, Burgin competed from a paddle-only Stealth kayak in a field dominated by modern pedal-driven kayaks. His ability to compete at the highest level from a paddle-only platform makes his 161-point performance even more remarkable.

The narrow, performance-oriented Stealth kayak demands a high level of balance, boat control and paddling skill. Burgin’s performance demonstrated that a highly skilled paddle angler can compete head-to-head with the nation’s best and come within a tie-breaker of winning the National Championship.

The final result was a remarkable display of sportsmanship and competition, with Gierlich taking the title and Burgin proving that he was more than capable of pushing the National Champion to the very end.

TOP 10 ADVANCE TO TEAM USA 2027

The National Championship also serves as the final step in USAngling’s selection process for the U.S. National Team. The Top 10 individual finishers earned their place on Team USA 2027, representing the United States in international saltwater kayak fishing competition.

The 2027 USA Team is:

1. Chad M. Gierlich — California / San Diego — 161 points
2. Tommy Burgin — Texas — 161 points
3. Giorgio Dieguez — Hawaii — 140 points
4. Chris Williams — Team PNW — 136 points
5. Nathan Rich — Saltwater Kayak Series Team — 135 points
6. Kristie Cronin — Team PNW — 133 points
7. Jed Rivera — Team PNW — 131 points
8. Jonathan Bielmeier — USA Alumni Team — 118 points
9. Cash Brecht — California / San Diego — 117 points
10. Ricardo Concepcion — Team PNW — 111 points

For these ten anglers, the achievement represents the opportunity to compete at the highest level of saltwater kayak fishing in the United States and to represent their country on the international stage.

PIONEERING PERFORMANCE FOR WOMEN IN USANGLING 

Kristie Cronin made USAngling history in San Diego, becoming the first female angler to finish inside the Top 10 at a USAngling Saltwater Kayak National Championship and earning a place on Team USA. Cronin finished an impressive sixth overall with 133 points, earning her the opportunity to represent the United States in international competition. A member of Team PNW, Kristie’s achievement is a proud milestone for USAngling and an inspiration to female anglers across the country. USAngling is proud to see women competing alongside the men at the highest levels of the sport, and Kristie’s accomplishment demonstrates that the pathway to Team USA is open to any angler willing to compete, qualify and rise to the challenge.

TEAM PNW MAKES A STATEMENT IN ITS FIRST NATIONALS

One of the biggest stories of the 2026 National Championship was the performance of Team PNW — Pacific Northwest.

Making its first appearance at the USAngling Saltwater Kayak Nationals, Team PNW immediately established itself as a force to be reckoned with, capturing the inaugural USAngling National Team Championship with an impressive 598 points.

Under the new team format, the top five individual scores from each team were combined to determine the final team standings. The new competition added another layer of strategy, regional pride and camaraderie to the National Championship.

2026 USAngling National Team Championship

GOLD — Team PNW / Pacific Northwest — 598 points
SILVER — California / San Diego — 534 points
BRONZE — Saltwater Kayak Series Team — 467 points

1. Texas — 441 points
2. Hawaii — 364 points
3. USA Alumni Team — 303 points

Team PNW’s remarkable first showing was highlighted by four PNW anglers finishing inside the individual Top 10, including Chris Williams in fourth, Kristie Cronin in sixth, Jed Rivera in seventh, and Ricardo Concepcion in tenth.

Their combined performance not only secured four Team USA positions, but also delivered the first-ever USAngling National Team Championship title to the Pacific Northwest.

F.I.S.H. HOSTS THE 2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

USAngling extends its sincere appreciation to F.I.S.H. — Fishing Initiative for Stewardship & Habitat for hosting the 2026 USAngling Saltwater Kayak Nationals in San Diego.

San Diego Bay provided an outstanding championship venue, challenging anglers with diverse structure, changing tides and a wide variety of target species. The official tournament format required all fish to be caught from kayaks, documented through Catch-Video-Release and safely released.

F.I.S.H. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing habitat conservation through recreational and tournament fishing. Its mission of combining competition with environmental awareness aligns closely with USAngling’s commitment to responsible sport fishing and conservation.

USAngling would also like to thank the tournament sponsors, volunteers, officials, local kayak-fishing community and everyone who helped make the 2026 National Championship possible.

LOOKING AHEAD

With the 2026 National Championship complete, USAngling Saltwater Kayak Fishing now turns its attention toward building the next generation of American international competitors.

The accomplishments in San Diego demonstrate the continued growth of competitive saltwater kayak fishing throughout the United States. From the established programs in California, Hawaii and Texas to the emergence of Team PNW, the future of USAngling is stronger than ever.

Congratulations to Chad Gierlich, the 2026 USAngling Saltwater Kayak National Champion, Tommy Burgin on an outstanding runner-up performance, Team PNW on its historic inaugural Team Championship, and all ten anglers who earned their place on Team USA.

USA! USA! USA!