Coastal Angler Magazine | March 2024 | Mississippi Gulf Coast Edition

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST EDITION

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SPRING

TIPS FOR REDS

POOR MAN'S

& TROUT

WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?

GIANT TREVALLY

MAR 21-24 • PBBOATSHOW.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF TOMMY MIANO

VOLUME 29 • ISSUE 348

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F R A N C H I S E

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

W O R L D W I D E

MARCH 2024

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KEEN SENSES

ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

I

t is always important to pay attention to our surroundings as we go through life, and fishing is no exception. How many of you have been fishing without any action and find yourself daydreaming and going through the motions until you feel the tug on your line?

Suddenly you are frantically trying to remember the cadence of your retrieve to duplicate the action, but you are dreaming of fish instead of trying to catch them.

Well, in this article and the accompanying video for The Angler Video Magazine, I will go over a specific situation when paying attention paid off, and you can see it and hear me talk through it on the video. I will also share some wisdom from two incredible Texas guides whom I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours with on the topic of targeting big trout.

While wading in knee-deep water that

4 NATIONAL

MARCH 2024

was about 61 degrees, I could see a few mullet jumping in their casual mullet way. It was enough to keep me interested in the area. The bottom had undulating depth with grass and scattered potholes, or sand pockets for those not familiar with the term. I was throwing a slowsinking soft-plastic jerkbait, letting it slowly sink between twitches where the sand and grass met.

With a cast in mid-air, I saw a mullet do an abnormal flip. It was distinct from the norm of the day and not as if it were being chased, but different, nonetheless. I burned my lure back in and made a cast just beyond where the mullet flipped. When my lure paused near the area, a nice redfish slammed my soft plastic. Had I not been paying attention and blew it off as just another mullet jumping, I would not have caught that fish and a few more in the general area.

Since we cannot always have a bird’s eye view,

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we need to utilize the birds’ eyes. Here are a few tips I picked up on during a conversation with guides. Birds do not always need to be feeding to point us to fish. There are subtle hints, such as a head turn of a gliding pelican. They don’t turn their head for no reason; they saw something.

Maybe they saw a huge trout and kept soaring because it was too big for them to eat. Also, watch the lines birds are relating too. They may not dive, bait may not flee from the shadow, but they are flying that line for a reason, and maybe you should work your way toward the area.

Pay attention on the water and in conversation with old salts. You might need to read between the lines, but the answers are there.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures®, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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JACK CREVALLE: BATTLE THE BULLIES OF THE REEF

S

ometimes called the “poor man’s giant trevally,” jack crevalle will strike a surface lure or bait aggressively, and once hooked, engage the angler in a slugfest they won’t soon forget. Jacks are world-class fighters.

These fish are perfect for small-boat anglers because they frequent inshore and nearshore waters. They can be caught in bays, inlets, canals and off reefs, where they target schooling baitfish.

These fish are perfect for light spinning gear or a fly rod, as they will readily take any fast-retrieved bait imitation. They frequently show up in bays and estuaries following migratory baitfish like mullet.

Strong current that concentrates bait is usually best, and you’ll find them at the mouths of the inlets on a strong outgoing tide. Any nearshore reef close to an inlet that has “nervous water” – a sure sign of bait schools—is prime territory for jacks.

A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod equipped with a 6000 sized spinning reel and spooled with 40-pound braid is a prime tool for fighting these fish. I like a fluorocarbon leader in the 50-pound range for abrasion resistance. These fish are not leader shy. Jacks school up in large groups of juvenile fish under 10 pounds. The larger 20-plus-pound fish usually hunt in pairs. While a

By Mark Ambert

5000-class rod and reel setup will handle the smaller fish, a larger setup will be better for anything over 20 pounds.

Pro-Tip: If you tangle with one of the larger fish, get a second bait or lure in the water for a double hook-up!

Live bait and chum will usually find the biggest fish. Any local seasonal bait such as herring, pilchards, sardines or mullet will do the trick. For maximum fun factor, a topwater lure or fly stripped fast can’t be beat.

I usually locate a school of feeding fish first then break out the fly or topwater spinning gear for sport.

A 9- or 10-weight fly rod setup with an intermediate line is optimal. When fly fishing, a popper, Deceiver, Clouser or any streamer pattern will work. I use flies that cast easily and in colorful patterns to attract the fish.

With spinning gear, any noisy or splashy plug such as a 3- to 4-inch Storm Chug Bug is ideal.

I also use a 4-inch Heddon Zara Spook in white with a walk-the-dog retrieve. Watching this lure get knocked out of the water and eaten is worth the

price of admission. For sub-surface action, the Rapala X-Rap size 10 in Ghost finish can’t be beat.

The initial run of a big jack is spectacular, with ever shortened runs to follow. Using lighter gear, you might have to chase bigger fish down, so be prepared to move. Once a fish is spent, I usually use a net or tail grab the fish boatside for a quick picture and safe release, as these fish have limited food quality.

Now head out your local inlet and target these plentiful and eager sluggers. They will not disappoint.

Find Mark Ambert on Instagram @marksgonefishing_™; Email: marksgonefishing25@gmail.com.

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MARCH 2024

NATIONAL 7

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHARTER CAPTAIN?

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

I

went fishing while on Florida vacation about a decade ago. After returning home to Canada for two months, I drove back to pursue a career in the industry. I had zero experience, no connections, and less than half a clue on where to begin. For those with a similar dream, here’s what I learned.

First, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been a weekend warrior. If you want to be a captain, be a deckhand first. You don’t know what you don’t know, and working for someone fishing the waters you plan to guide provides all kinds of information. Every fishery has its own etiquette and unspoken guidelines.

Community is crucial, and paying your dues and earning respect goes a long way. Captains communicate about fishing on the water, and often, we are each other’s first responders. This same-team mentality is nearly currency.

Beginning as a deckhand is difficult. Nobody wants to train you, yet you must be trainable. On your own time, practice skills like knot tying, bait rigging and net throwing. Veteran fishermen are usually happy to flex knowledge to those who ask for help humbly. No matter what you learn, be ready to have a captain you work for tell you it’s wrong. Adapt, and learn things their way.

The expectations of deckhands are high, and everything on board will be their fault. You are expected to arrive early, stay late, come in on days off, anticipate your captain and clients wants, and do it on minimum salary.

The biggest issue with new deckhands is they sometimes don’t show up. Finding a replacement at 6 a.m. is nearly impossible, and it affects the productivity of a charter. Being a fisherman takes a special kind of person. If can fish six days a week and still want to go out for fun on your day off, this job

may be for you. If you’re on the boat watching the clock, you won’t last long.

Showing up to the dock consistently is a great way to make connections and get work. If you can’t find work, show up an hour before local charters head out. Walk the dock and ask if anyone had a no-show deckhand. If you do this consistently and pass out your number, eventually someone will call you.

They will see you have the dedication to show up. Deckhands are also required to be on a drug consortium. Sign up and keep your paper with you.

Lastly, if you hold a captain’s license and are working as a deckhand, make sure your “captain” has one too. You do not want to be held liable for someone else’s mistakes. Protect your future in the industry.

If this is something you want to do, I highly recommend going for it. In 10 years, I have never regretted it or lost the smile it puts on my face.

Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Sweet E’Nuf Charters, Marathon, Florida Keys. Captainquinlyn.com; @captainquinlyn; (504) 920-6342.

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Springtime Speckled Trout

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arm weather is right around the corner and flip flop season is upon us! With this comes some amazing speckled trout fishing! As the water temps begin to creep back up into the 60s, the speckled trout are going to leave the deep channels of the creeks and begin to make their way south for the spawn. These migration patterns create some outstanding opportunities to land not only quality trout but also catch them in numbers!

As these trout prepare for the spawn, they are going to feed heavily creating larger feeding windows and more opportunities.

One of the key areas to look for these trout are going to be the flats just outside of the main river and creek mouths. These trout will be a little easier to locate, just look for the huge pods of glass minnows being blown up on in the shallows. I like to target these trout with a Mirrodine 17MR, the erratic action, flash and rattle are hard for an aggressive trout, whose been freezing all winter long, to turn down. Lastly, keep an eye on the water temps. Cold fronts will push push the trout back into the creeks and warming trends will push the trout further south ultimately leading them to their spawning grounds.

For more information on Spring time speckled trout and all things inshore fishing, be sure to check out our YouTube channel “Southern Salt”. We drop several videos each week and go in depth with fishing tutorials. Until next time Tight Lines and hope to see you out on the YOU CAN ALSO VISIT OUR water!

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FISHIN’ IN MARCH

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BY: SONNY SCHINDLER

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rains we get and/or the salinity drops the further east and south we will fish. Hopefully we don’t get a whole lot of rain, then the fishing just gets better and better all month.

Regarding speckled trout, again it hinges on the salinity levels and the temperature.

Typically both are low in March so we don’t put a whole lot of effort into looking for the specks until the very end of the month.

Now if we have little to no rain and warmer temperatures, we will be working the east side of the biloxi marsh, looking for the speckled trout. Truth be told, the safest, easiest, and best play is nearshore, chasing the sheep’s, puppies, and reds in my opinion. Live or dead shrimp on the bottom is pretty lethal. As always have fun and be safe.

arch is definitely a hard one to predict. The month can be very cold or nice and warm. March can definitely be a rainy month, that may bring down salinity close to shore. Please don’t let any of that discourage you from taking advantage of those pretty days and getting out there on the water.

The big sheep head should be everywhere in the beginning of the month. Usually towards the end of the month after they spawn, their numbers will thin out. When the big sheepshead seem to trickle offshore, those delicious puppy drum start piling in. I’m here to tell you, those little 2 to 5 pound puppy drum are some of tastiest fish that swim. Also, when those big gigantic drums come in, there is absolutely nothing bigger that you were going to catch close to shore than a gigantic “sea monster” black drum.

Of course, we will always be keeping an eye out for the redfish. Honestly, the Bay of St. Louis and the nearshore reefs are where we do the most damage on them. The more

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Mississippi Kitchen Delights By: Sean Varone

Chicken, Sausage & Shrimp Gumbo

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ississippi and Alabama gumbos are a hearty and flavorful dish typically made with a rich dark roux and a variety of proteins such as shrimp, crab, andouille sausage, and sometimes chicken or duck.

It often includes vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and celery, along with spices like bay leaves, thyme, and cayenne pepper for added depth of flavor. It’s usually served over rice and is a popular comfort food enjoyed throughout the state. Making a roux for gumbo is a crucial step that adds flavor, thickness, and depth to the dish. Make no mistakes about it, it’s all about the roux when it comes to a big ole pot of gumbo on a cool winter Alabama and Mississippi night!! I hope that you enjoy this recipe as much as me and my family do!!!

12 MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST

MARCH 2024

1 pack Country Pleasin’ Cajun style sausage, sliced 1 pack Country Pleasin’ Andouille sausage, sliced 2lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks 4lbs shrimp, peeled and cleaned (save shells for stock) 2 cups cold water 1/4 cup Ragin’ Cajun seasoning blend 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 cup AP flour 2 sweet onions, diced 2 green bell peppers, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 6 cloves garlic, minced 12 oz tomato paste 4 bay leaves 6 or so springs of fresh Thyme 2 family sized boxes of chicken stock Cayenne pepper to taste (Ragin’ Cajun is pretty spicy so adjust heat carefully) 1 bunch green onions, chopped Zatarain’s long grain rice, cooked for serving

Here is what you do…

Season chicken and shrimp with Cajun seasoning blend and return to refrigerator.

Brown sausage, in batches, over medium low heat. You can use the large gumbo pot and keep the sausage fat for the roux. Set cooked sausage aside.

Add water and shrimp shells to a small saucepan, simmer 20 mins covered. Remove from heat and let sit another 20 mins, then strain and reserve.

Roux time! We used a giant pot that my in laws, Bill and Linda Ray, gave us for Christmas to make the roux. Use your heaviest, largest pot. Heat sausage fat and enough oil to make 3/4 cup over medium low heat. Add the

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flour a This w it easie Ad for 10 paste i Ad cook t Po til com Ad bring Re Ch some 20-30 Ad gumbo when and pl Se small bowl, of gum of gum small sprink onions

flour and stir with a wooden spoon until the roux is a chocolate brown color.

This will take around 30 minutes and a stool or partner to help stir makes it easier.

Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to roux and continue stirring for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are soft. You will have a thick, brown paste in the pot at this point.

Add tomato paste to roux and vegetables, along with bay leaves, and cook the paste for 5 minutes or so.

Pour 2 cups of shrimp stock and the chicken stock into the roux and stir til combined.

Add a couple of tablespoons of Cajun seasoning plus the sausage and bring pot to a boil for about 15 minutes.

Reduce heat to low, add raw chicken, and simmer covered for 30 minutes.

Check consistency and seasoning after chicken is cooked. We needed some extra salt and pepper at this point. Continue simmering covered for 20-30 minutes.

Add shrimp and stir. Shrimp cooks very quickly, 3 minutes or so, and gumbo is ready to serve when the shrimp are pink and plump.

Serve by adding a small scoop of rice to bowl, then a few ladles of gumbo. Top the bowl of gumbo with a second small scoop of rice, then sprinkle with green onions.

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look if by, bu to bed deep h the big hard t combi find th lures y the pr

swimb workin slow r produ of colo Spank or Pea These slick c

rigged Throw some not to your lu

year w March when bang f a large types a

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swim Jig is as equally productive arch has finally arrived, and the Spawn is ON!! There are and often shines when there is thousands of lures you can catch a bunch of bass on this time of light to no wind. Jigs are known year. Males are the easiest to catch, but there are some places to to catch big bass and March can look if you want to catch a trophy bass! Bass prefer deep water access close be the best time of year to throw by, but also want seclusion with harder bottom flats and some sort of cover one. 6th Sense, Freedom Tackle, to bed in. Vegetation, laydowns, stumps all positioned close to a channel or and Dirty Jigs are some of the top deep hole yet on a flat in 2-6 feet of water are ideal spots to look for some of the biggest bass. In pressured areas, big bass know how to find hidden and brands out there. A craw style trailer in a complimentary color is a wise hard to access spawning areas. Do not rule anything out! If you find these choice.

1. And the number one lure I go to in March is a BIG BAD combinations and conditions, you are likely to find a giant bass. When you find them, you need to know what to throw to get them to bite! Here are 4 WORM! A giant worm in March has produced some incredible fish all over lures you can throw that have been proven to get big bass to attack during the country when nothing else seems to work. I always have one tied on and you should too. An 11” Cmac with Baitfuel, Zoom Ol Monster, or a Berkley the prespawn and spawn!

4. Coming in at number four, from my experience, is the small Power Worm are hard lures to beat anytime of the year, but especially in swimbait on a ¼ oz jig head and 10lb test line on a medium action rod. Try March. These bass are often looking for a slender profile but still want a big working your way into the spawning areas from the deepest parts first. A meal. A large worm offers them just what they want. slow retrieve keeping that lure all the way down towards the bottom can And there you have it, 4 lures that will help you catch better quality produce giant bass. There are literally hundreds of brands and thousands of color combinations out there. Some of my favorites are the NETBAIT Lil fish in the month of March. These are not the only lures that will catch giant Spanky in black & blue or Trash, the ZOOM swimming fluke in Sexy Shad fish by no means, just 4 that work for me and will no doubt work for you too. or Pearl White, and the Keitech Swing Impact in Alewife or Bluegill Flash. So, search out those hidden spawning areas and focus in on cover near the These are especially deadly when those big females get lethargic or when it is deeper water retreats, grab you some lures, and most importantly, slick calm conditions, and a subtle approach is necessary.

3. Sitting in the third spot on this list would be a 6” lizard Texas rigged, or Carolina rigged. Dragging one of these around will get you bit.

Throwing one of these anywhere near bedding fish, well that’s a recipe for some lightning-fast reactions to a guarding male or female. These fish will not tolerate intruders and will bite to kill. Use an easy to see color and watch your lure closely because the action happens FAST! 2. The second most thrown lures off my front deck this time of year would be the bladed jig and swim jig. Windy days are common in March and the Jack Hammer, Thunder Cricket, and Slobber Knocker shine when there is a light chop on the water. These fish are looking to get the best bang for their buck and a bladed jig puts off a strong vibration that suggests a large forage item that bass cannot resist. Change it up with different trailer types and colors to zone in on what those fish want. The large profile of the

MARCH MADNESS!

Joel Davis Fishing

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MARCH 2024

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TIPS FROM A PRO

ISOLATED TARGETS FOR BIG BASS

TYLER WOOLCOTT

A

round the country, spring is either here or it is rapidly approaching. There is an amazing tip I want to share to improve your chances for catching big bass this time of year.

In spring, bass flood into shallower areas of any lake. Whether that be a bank, pocket or a flat shallow area, they move shallow to start their transition and get ready to do their thing.

They use any type of readily available cover to stage up and then eventually spawn. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of the search for where your next bite may come from.

What I look for is isolated cover and structure. Types of cover that I look for differentiate from state to state and lake to lake, but the general concept is always the same. The more isolated the better!

For instance, here in Florida, anything from a couple lily pads or a very small patch of vertical grass sticking up away from most of the other cover is the ideal spot for a big one to be sitting. In other areas of the country, it could be a single rock, a piece of wood or any kind of debris or cover that looks out of place. Shallow brushpiles near a spawning area that you find with your electronics are also an awesome thing to look for.

Some of my biggest spring bass have come from something so obvious that most anglers

go right past it. Fish also often replenish on these places very quickly, so don’t overlook visiting the same piece of structure multiple times in a single day. One of my favorite things to do is cast to isolated lily pads. There could be two tiny little pads out in the middle of a flat on their own, and I might catch multiple fish off the same two pads by revisiting them throughout the day.

I often pick apart these objects by dragging something slowly by or through the structure.

Typically, a wacky-rigged weightless Senko or a very lightly weighted Texas-rigged stick bait are my go-to lures. When in Southern states that have some stain to the water, I stick with darker colors like blacks and blues or junebug.

When the water is clear, I’ll go with more natural colors like a green pumpkin.

You can keep your gear pretty simple, but remember you’re fishing around structure fish can wrap you around and break you off. Use heavier line. Try stepping up your leader size to 12- to 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon on a spinning rod, and use 15- to 20-pound when throwing a Texas rig on a baitcaster. The 13 have fun and be safe on the water.

Fishing Defy series of rods are awesome and Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament affordable. I use the 7’6” MH for baitcasting angler and guide. Check out his website at rods and the 7’1” MH for spinning. www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.

Good luck out there this spring and always

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10 NATIONAL

MARCH 2024

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DECEMBER GIVEAWAY WINNER ZIPPING AROUND WITH HER NEW OUTBOARD

ENTER TO WIN!

A PAIR OF WILEY X SUNGLASSES THROUGH MARCH!

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n December, Coastal Angler and Suzuki teamed up to award one lucky reader with an extra special Christmas gift as part of the magazine’s regular contest drawings. Jeanette Harkin, of Edgewater, Fla., is now the happy owner of small, but feature-rich Suzuki DF2.5 outboard, which she plans to use on the inshore fisheries around Smyrna Beach.

“I was super excited when I found out that I won, because we’ve been wanting to get a nice trolling motor for a long time,” Jeanette said. “It was an extra special Christmas present from you guys! Thank you again!!!”

The Suzuki DF 2.5 weighs just 30 pounds, and the smooth, quiet and dependable engine is a perfect fit for the 16-foot Gheenoe Jeanette plans to put it on. She goes out frequently after whitefish, redfish and blue crabs on the Intracoastal near her home, and this little rig will be perfect for zipping around on the flats and backwaters.

Coastal Angler’s current Giveaway drawing is for two pairs of awesome Wiley X sunglasses. These high-performance and stylish glasses will be just in time for all your springtime outdoor adventures. Go to Coastalanglermag. com, click the “Contest” tab, enter the drawing, and you could be sporting some free new shades on the water this spring.

To enter, go to coastalanglermag.com/contest.

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MARCH 2024

NATIONAL 11

WHERE THE SUWANNEE & STEINHATCHEE RIVERS MEET THE GULF OF MEXICO

PHOTO BY DAVID HAY JONES

GREAT FISHING!

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REDFISH TIP:

THE GARRETT REDFISH DRAG

H

ere’s a quick redfish tip from Capt. Garrett Ross, of Miss Judy Charters out of Savannah, Ga. “While using a traditional adjustable style cork, adjust depth to allow the live shrimp to sit directly on the bottom. This means that your cork will be laying completely over on its side. Now, when the cold-water redfish decides to take the bait in its mouth, you will not know until the cork stands up right and starts to make way. It is suggested to reel lightly tight and allow the circle hook to do its job of lip hooking your redfish!”

Capt. Garrett’s reasoning for the Ethan Long, 13, with a nice redfish caught effectiveness of his while fishing with Capt. Garrett Ross. technique is that a redfish has plenty of time to eat the shrimp and begin to swim away before the angler holding the rod even knows the fish is there. It might sound counterintuitive, but circle hooks have a way of coming unbuttoned when there’s an over-eager angler holding the rod.

For more from Capt. Judy Helmey, visit missjudycharters.com.

12 NATIONAL

MARCH 2024

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very saltwater angler knows the frustration of losing their hardearned catch to sharks. With a hard thump, that big, feisty cobia or snapper stops fighting and all that’s left to haul over the rail is a head.

Those delicious fillets were donated to the taxman, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Well, it seems the U.S. Congress is at least willing to take a look at the issue of shark depredation, which is a shark hammering a fish on the line before it can be landed. The SHARKED Act is a piece of legislation working its way through Congress right now with bipartisan support. The bill is just a first step toward mitigating shark interactions with anglers, both recreational and commercial, but it’s one of those rare occasions when legislators might just come together.

According to the American Sportfishing Association, shark encounters are increasing on all U.S. coasts. The Magnuson-Stevens Act of 2007—the sweeping legislation that gave us the decades-long red snapper fiasco in the Gulf of Mexico—has been successful, maybe too successful, in rebuilding populations of many shark species that were previously reduced by fishing.

In addition to being frustrating to anglers, there is concern that sharks are negatively impacting fisheries, and there is already talk among fisheries managers of stricter regulations on anglers intended to offset or avoid shark interactions.

With support from several sportfishing and conservation organizations, the SHARKED Act unanimously passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives, and at presstime it was headed to the Senate and potentially to President Biden to be signed into law. It would direct NOAA Fisheries to develop a task force to study the issue of shark depredation.

The task force would be tasked with improving coordination and communication across the fisheries management community to identify research priorities and funding opportunities and make a plan to reduce shark/angler interactions.

We can only hope this future plan puts limitations on the taxman and not on anglers.

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GRAND LAKE TO HOST

2024 BASSMASTER CLASSIC T

he field is set, and the grandest spectacle in bass fishing will be renewed for the 54th time from March 22-24. This year’s Bassmaster Classic will be held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, with weigh-ins and festivities in Tulsa, Okla.

Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name. The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history

of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016. Now the picturesque reservoir in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it again plays host the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake.

During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory during a frigid event when icy precipitation tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. In 2016, local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-frombehind win.

“The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country.

“GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.”

On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100.

The field will include 56 anglers competing for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.

“Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”

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Endless Adventure Awaits.

With more than 60,000 surface acres and 1,300 miles of shoreline, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the largest outdoor destinations in Oklahoma. Located on the Grand River, the lake is hugely popular with boaters, fishermen, campers and anyone else who loves spending time in the great outdoors. Anglers are sure to have a blast searching for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, channel catfish, bluegill and the rare paddlefish on Grand Lake waters. And Grand Lake’s shores are lined with so many unique attractions, shops, restaurants, state parks and casinos that seeing everything in one trip is next to impossible.

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