Hello Folks,
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgivin’ Day weekend. My family and I had a great day with family and friends at my daughter’s.
There were quite a few tournaments this past weekend and there are quite a few comin’ up on our lakes real soon. There was a Black Friday tournament held on the Harris Chain. There were 42 boats in this one and it took over 29 pounds to get a check. The first-place team of Nate and Joey Bloom weighed in 5 bass that hit the scales at 25 pounds 5 ounces. The second-place team of Bob and Bobby Bakewell hit the scales with 5 bass that weighed 19 pounds 6 ounces. The third-place team of Clayburn Reed and Tanner Wolf had 5 bass that hit the scales at 19 pounds 0 ounces. They also had big bass which hit the scales weighin’ 6 pounds 12 ounces. Sounds like there were some nice bags weighed in at the Buzzard Beach weigh-in site.
There are goin’ to be a lot of tournaments in our waters in 2025. These are national tournaments that are coming to our state, not counting all the local tournaments that are held just about every weekend. I’m not throwin’ cold water on these tournaments, and I know they bring income to our local hotels, restaurants, gas stations, etc. But, in my opinion, if we are goin’ to hold so many tournaments in our area, with the amount of fishin’ pressure these chains get, they are gonna be over-fished real soon.
If you just look at the ABA, it is having six tournaments on the Harris Chain in 2025. In 2025, MFL is comin’ back to our state to hold a four-day tournament on the Harris Chain. MFL’s Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will hold a three-day tournament on the Kissimmee Chain. Then you have MFL’s Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Gator Division, holding five tournaments in Florida. There will be two on the Harris Chain, one on West Lake Toho, and one on the St. Johns River.
Then you have MFL’s General Tire Series holdin’ a tournament on the Headwaters, Stick Marsh, and Lake Garcia Team tournament. Then MFL’s, the Toyota Series, is comin’ to Florida for two tournaments. One tournament is on Lake Okeechobee, and one is on the Harris Chain.
Now, if you will indulge me, I’ll go to BASS whose bass tournament schedule goes like this: Bassmaster College Series will be held in January of 2025 on the Harris Chain. This is a two-day tournament. Then you have BASS holding a High School Tournament on the Harris Chain on January 26th. And finally, the Elite Series will be on the St. Johns River on February 20th through February 23rd.
These are just a few of the tournaments that I could find on their websites. I’m sure there are plenty more tournaments that I’m missing, but you get the picture. The fishin’ is real good right now and I know they are catch and release, but the fishin’ pressure that is on our state is enormous. As time goes along, things wear out, including tournaments. I just feel these tournaments will soon over-fish our great state of Florida. I hope and pray I’m wrong, but I think we need to bear some responsibility for our actions in allowing all these tournaments to be hosted here in Florida.
The FWC is to meet in Lakeland December 11-12. This meeting is open to the public. Think about it. Go to the MyFWC.com/Commission and hit “meetings” for details.
Now, if you wanted to catch some specks, this cold weather we are havin’ will get those ole specks to bitin’.
That’s it for this week. I hope to see you on the water real soon.
Tip of the week: Go fishin’ while you can.
Save a few and good luck!
