EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2023) – Boater Paul Marks of Cumming, Georgia, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 54 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama . For his victory, Marks earned $67,992, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Marks also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.
Marks said he roamed from Lakepoint State Park to the dam searching for bass during the event, and his first two days produced solid weights. However, he lost a 5-pounder at the end of Day 1 on Thursday and a 6-pounder late on Friday which would have boosted his weight dramatically.
“Then Saturday was tough for me,” said Marks, who noted he had fished Lake Eufaula only once prior to the regional event. “I had to really beat on them to catch what I caught.”
Marks said he spent most of his time dragging a Picasso Fantasy Football Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer, as well as a Texas-rigged worm for his bass. He said he targeted points, ledges, and brush in 8 to 25 feet of water that were holding fish.
“At the end of the day on Friday I thought I had a pretty good chance for a win,” Marks said. “I really wrecked them, and I thought I might catch 20 pounds on Saturday.
“I just don’t have words to describe this experience,” Marks added about his win. “It’s very surreal.”
The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 54-11, $67,992 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., 15 bass, 50-9, $10,992
3rd: Bradley Enfinger, Donalsonville, Ga., 15 bass, 49-9, $4,991
4th: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 14 bass, 45-14, $4,198
5th: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 15 bass, 45-14, $3,328
6th: Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 44-4, $1,799
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 44-2, $1,899
8th: Bobby Padgett, Lagrange, Ga., 15 bass, 43-10, $2,399
9th: Ben McCann, Bradenton, Fla., 15 bass, 42-9, $1,199
10th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $1,099
The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Choo Choo: Bobby Padgett, LaGrange, Ga., 8th Place, $1,000
Gator: Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla. 2nd Place, $1,000
Music City: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 4th Place, $1,000
Savannah River: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 5th Place $1,000
Marks took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met.
Tommy Cowart of Danielsville, Georgia, weighed in 10 bass over three days totaling 34 pounds, 5 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top six co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Tommy Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., 10 bass, 34-5, $50,000
2nd: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 11 bass, 25-15, $5,502
3rd: Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 10 bass, 22-0, $3,006
4th: Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 12 bass, 21-13, $2,001
5th: Randy Paquette, Sarasota, Fla., 12 bass, 21-12, $1,000
6th: Lamar Oxford, Dale, Ind., 12 bass, 21-2, $900
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
7th: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., 10 bass, 20-6, $800
8th: Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 10 bass, 20-6, $1,200
9th: Chad Bleiler, Old Hickory, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-5, $600
10th: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 11 bass, 18-8, $550
The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Choo Choo: Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 3rd Place, $500
Gator: Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 4th Place, $500
Music City: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 2nd Place, $500
Savannah River: Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 8th Place $500
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