Bay Area Bassmasters is “the world’s largest B.A.S.S. Nation ‘buddy’ team tournament trail.” Based out of Tampa, FL this “bass fishing club is designed to provide a little something for anglers of all ages, with or without experience,” and holds events on bodies of water across the state. Like many clubs, the Bay Area Bassmasters are nearing the end of their season. For their eighth event of 2015, the club took to the waters of Rodman Reservoir to hunt down the big bass the lake is known for.
Jeff Crandon and Dan Richardson didn’t boat any monsters, but they did catch a limit of bass heavy enough to secure their first win of the season. The reigning Team of the Year posted multiple wins in 2014, and have come close many times this season, but the 14.39-pound, five-bass limit they boated at Rodman gave the duo their first win of 2015.
Michael Press holds up his 9.64-pound TrophyCatch.
Rodney Yavorsky and Chuck Gomez weighed a 12.60-pound, five-bass limit to finish in second place. Michael Press and Alan Press found one of the aforementioned lunkers to help them to a third place finish. They only weighed two fish, but a 9.64-pound TrophyCatch anchored their 11.29-pound bag, and earned the event’s Big Bass award.
Paul Macchia and Kevin Hebert finished in fourth place with 10.11 pounds, followed by Jeff Baker and Jason Baker in fifth place with 9.91 pounds.
There are two events left in the regular season for the Bay Area Bassmasters, meaning anglers only have two more opportunities to break into one of the Top 4 spots in the end of season points standings. The Top 4 is significant because those teams will have the opportunity to represent Bay Area Bassmasters during the 2016 Florida State Team Championship, where each team will be competing for a new Blazer 595 Pro Elite bass boat powered by a 200 HP Mercury Pro XS.
The club’s next two events are scheduled for September 12th at Lake Kissimmee, and October 10th at Lake Istokpoga. Both bodies of water are big bass factories, so it’s still anyone’s race for the Team of the Year title.
