Competitions

Bobby Lane III and Bryden Tyler of Lakeland Christian High School won the Columbia PFG High School Fishing National Championship on Lake Cumberland with a three-day total of 30-6 pounds, earning $10,000 in scholarships and entry into the 2026 Toyota Series Championship. The Florida anglers achieved a wire-to-wire victory over runners-up Keaton Coe and Macoy Johnson of Anoka Junior Bassers.

The 17th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship Presented by Tackle Warehouse will take place June 24-26 at Lake Cumberland in Russell Springs, Kentucky. Nearly 500 student anglers from around the country will compete for nearly $1 million in scholarships and prizes, with top finishers advancing to the 2026 Toyota Series Championship.

Yamaha Pro Jason Christie won the 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with 92 pounds, 7 ounces, earning his second Elite Series victory of the season. Christie caught 19 bass over four days, focusing on shallow cover in the Chowan River, with a key dock producing several critical fish during the final two days.

The University of Montevallo mathematically secured its 6th consecutive Bass Pro Shops School of the Year title presented by Abu Garcia, earning 6,455 points at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. Carson-Newman University finished 2nd and the University of North Alabama claimed 3rd place in the Association of Collegiate Anglers rankings.

Chef Robbie Nicolaisen of The Hound restaurant in Auburn won the Sweet Grown Alabama Seafood Cook-Off at The Wharf in Orange Beach with his Ember-Roasted Cobia dish, earning a $2,500 prize and a chance to compete in the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans this summer.

Yamaha Pro Paul Marks captured his second Bassmaster Elite series win at Lake Murray on May 10, 2026, with a four-day total of 90 pounds, 14 ounces, earning the $101,000 top prize. Yamaha Pros dominated the tournament, taking seven of the top 10 spots, with Brandon Cobb finishing third and Robert Gee in fourth.

Twin brothers Carter and Dylan Nutt finished 1-2 at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 on Douglas Lake. Carter won his first Pro Circuit title with 48 pounds for $100,000, while Dylan placed second with 47-10 for $23,900. Carter's offshore expertise and crankbait strategy secured the victory and qualified him for REDCREST 2027.

Z-Man Fishing Products and Evergreen International's ChatterBait JackHammer powered the top three finishers at the 2026 Major League Fishing REDCREST Championship on Table Rock Lake. Jacob Wheeler, Takahiro Omori, and Zack Birge all relied on the JackHammer, with ChatterBait bladed jigs accounting for over 25 top-10 finishes and $1.5 million in combined winnings in 2026.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 2026 Lionfish Challenge runs May 22 through September 14, featuring new competition categories including Lionfish King, Lionfish Queen, Commercial Champion, Junior Harvester, and Veteran Champion. FWC Lionfish Outreach Coordinator Tony Hart emphasizes how the challenge supports conservation efforts to protect Florida's marine resources.

Wildlife Forever, Major League Fishing, and Bass Pro Shops Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium are hosting the REDCREST Fish Art Contest, a free youth art competition for grades K–12 during the REDCREST World Championship and Outdoor Sports Expo in Springfield, Missouri, April 17–19. Winners will receive fishing equipment and prize packages.

The Gulf Council is hosting a photo contest celebrating its 50th Anniversary, inviting photographers to submit images showcasing Gulf fisheries, coastal communities, and marine life. Winning photos will be featured in Council materials and displays, with submissions due by April 30th, 2026.

Yamaha pro angler Banks Shaw won the third Major League Fishing Pro Circuit tournament of 2026 at Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama, totaling 62 pounds to earn the $100,000 top prize. Shaw's victory marks his second MLF win this year and moves him into the lead for Angler of the Year.

Tennessee's Dylan Nutt, a 22-year-old Bass Nation qualifier, won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River using Berkley's soon-to-launch Lab Series soft baits. Nutt finished with 66 pounds, 13 ounces, earning $300,000 and qualification to the 2027 Bassmaster Elite Series.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Catch a Florida Memory Triple Threat Throwdown Season 4 launched March 1 and continues through September 13, offering saltwater anglers a chance to win a $4,500+ kayak fishing bundle from premier partners Bonafide, YakAttack, Mustad, and Power-Pole. Triple Threat Club members can enter by submitting qualifying recognitions during the challenge period.

Coach John Owen's Murray State College Aggies have won two back-to-back Junior College National Championships and multiple Oklahoma School of the Year titles in just three years. The program, which started with zero students in 2022, now has over 40 athletes and benefits from St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels scholastic programs that provide quality gear and industry relationships.

Yamaha Pro Takahiro Omori secured his first Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour victory at Lake Hartwell, earning $125,000 and defeating Jacob Walker by 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The Tokyo native relied on shallow-water fishing in the Tugaloo River throughout the four-day event, avoiding forward-facing sonar technology used by competitors.

B.A.S.S. announced the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will be held August 20-22 on Minnesota's Leech Lake in Walker, marking the first time this prestigious collegiate event visits the fishery. College anglers will compete for a national title and opportunity to advance to the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's.

Wildlife Forever's Art of Conservation® Fish Art Contest has 18 days remaining before the February 28, 2026 deadline for student submissions. Supported by Bass Pro Shops, Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Yamaha Righwaters, Rapala, and the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, the free international contest invites kindergarten through 12th grade students to explore fish species and aquatic habitats through original artwork and creative writing.

Major League Fishing's 2026 Columbia PFG College Fishing National Championship streams live on MLFNOW! from Lake Murray, South Carolina, featuring up to 160 collegiate teams competing for a top prize of $43,500 and a Phoenix 518 Pro Bass Boat. Championship Saturday coverage airs February 14 from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. ET on MyOutdoorTV, MajorLeagueFishing.com, and Rumble.

Cody Stahl won the Bassmaster Open on Florida's Kissimmee Chain of Lakes with 74 lb. 6 oz., setting a new record margin of victory and earning his ticket to the 2027 Bassmaster Classic. Stahl's victory was aided by his engineering expertise at Pure Fishing, where he strategically selected Fenwick and Abu Garcia equipment for the tournament.