> Series News > 20th Season of Xtreme Bass Series Kicks Off
20th Season of Xtreme Bass Series Kicks Off
January 8th, 2024
Land O’ Lakes, FL- Blazer 625’s and 650’s have been cleaned up, Mercury ProXS‘s have had their annual service, Catch Commanders have been reset to zero, and Fitzgerald Rods have been rigged. The pages of 2023 have turned and the 2024 season is here! With that brings about new ambitions for teams as divisional points races begin with a clean slate. Starting the season out with strong finishes will undoubtedly hold well towards claiming the divisional points title when the season closes.
The 2024 season also brings on what will be the 20th season of the Xtreme Bass Series. What started in 2005 with Gary Niemi and Rowdy Ellerbee topping a 26 boat field at Lake Seminole to take home the first boat and motor package has turned into something that has lasted two decades. Over the years, over $3,000,000.00 in cash and prizes have been awarded, including the 17 boat and motor packages that have been earned by the top finishing team at the end of season Championship event.
We closed the 2023 campaign with a record number of teams at the Blazer Boats Xtreme Bass Series Championship presented by Mercury Marine and Discover Lake County in which Marlon Crowder and Kris Smythe topped the 178 boat field over two days of competition to take home a new Blazer 625 Pro Elite powered by a 250 HP Mercury ProXS valued at $85,000.00.
The 2024 season promises to be even more exciting with the end of season event traveling to the shores of the St. Johns River in Putnam County and the input of new divisions for 2024 with Harris Chain, Santa Fe, and Okeechobee.
Related: Putnam County and St. John’s River to Host 2024 Xtreme Bass Series Championship
The 2024 season kicked off over the weekend with events on both Harris Chain and Lake Garcia. AJ Herrera and Frank Oliva topped a 24 boat field at the Harris Chain of Lakes to jumpstart the season. Herrera and Oliva brought a 20.89 pound, 5 bass limit to the scales that included the event’s big bass, an 8.55 pound TrophyCatch. Vernon Kemp and Randy Hamrick boated an 18.40 pound, 5 bass limit to take home second place. Third place went to the team of Steve Bishop and Matt Gee who weighed an 17.10 pound, 5 bass limit. Rounding out the Top 5 were the teams of Pete Roberson & Rob Roberson in fourth place with 17.05 pounds, followed by James Romig, Sr. And Colton Morris in fifth place with 15.09 pounds.
The next event scheduled for the Harris division is set for February 17th.
Bobby Hiers and Mike Bell took top honors at the first Garcia divisional event of the season. Hiers and Bell weighed a 20.07 pound, 5 bass limit to top the 16 boat field. George Short and Santos Solis, Jr. Finished the day in second place with a 19.34, 5 bass limit. Robert Wildt took home a third place finish with a 15.86 pound, 5 bass limit. Wildt anchored his bag with a 6.14 pound kicker to also earn Big Bass honors for the event. Rounding out the Top 5 were the teams of Chris Crow & Scott Brannen with 15.64 pounds, followed by Truman Patterson & Mike Akers in fifth place with 14.92 pounds.
The next event scheduled for the Garcia division is set for February 3rd.
The first divisional event for Lake Istokpoga that was scheduled for January 6th was postponed and will now be held on January 20th.
2024 Incentives
Any angler who wins a sanctioned event in a 2018 or newer model and is pictured with their winning catch and/or reward. There must be a minimum of 60 boats participating in each tournament. They must comply with all rules of the contingency program. To be eligible, anglers must join the Blazer Bonus Bucks program at a cost of $99 per year. Your paid entry into the program includes a long sleeved Blazer dry fit shirt, cap, decal and a t-shirt. To register for the Blazer Bucks program, visit www.blazerboats.com.
Xtreme Bass Series events with a minimum of 20 boats qualify for Power Pole Captains Cash. Winning teams who are a part of the Captains Cash program will receive $100.00 from Power-Pole. Only registered Power-Pole anchor owners placing first overall in a sanctioned event are eligible for contingency payments. Winners must be verified through the sanctioned tournament via website, newsletter or other official organization communication and obtain tournament director’s signature on the claim form. Completed Power-Pole Captains Cash claims forms must be submitted within 30 days of the tournament win. Annual membership is $24.95. All Captains Cash participants must purchase a Captains Cash membership. To register for the Blazer Bucks program, visit www.power-pole.com
Related: Xtreme Bass Series Announces 2024 Divisional Schedules
Upcoming Events
Sunday January 14th: Johns Lake
Sunday January 14th: Kissimmee
Sunday January 14th: Suwannee River
Saturday January 20th: Istokpoga
Saturday January 20th: Orange Lake
Saturday January 20th: South River
Sunday January 21st: Central Florida at South Winter Haven Chain
Sunday January 21st: Toho
Saturday January 27th: Tarpon
Saturday January 27th: Santa Fe
Sunday January 28th: Okeechobee
Sunday January 28th: Citrus at Rousseau
Sunday January 28th: Suwannee River
About Xtreme Bass Series
The Xtreme Bass Series is the largest grassroots bass tournament trail across Florida, featuring 14 divisions and 126 events throughout the season. Anglers can compete in close-to-home events on local bodies of water, keeping costs down and affording them the opportunity to compete in the end of season championship. Teams who compete in 7 of 9 events in one division, or 8 events in a combination of divisions will qualify for the end of season championship event. The 2024 Championship will be held October 31st-November 2nd at the St. John’s River in Putnam County.
For complete details and updated information, visit www.XtremeBassSeries.com. For continuous updates, results, photos, information, tournament news, and more, follow Xtreme Bass Series social media on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
