The Bass Federation (TBF) held its National Semi Finals Championship this past weekend, November 16-17 on the St. John’s River, Palatka, Florida, just barely six weeks after Hurricane Helene swept through Florida, Georgia and others parts of the Southeast, leaving destruction of epic proportion in its path. Bass Fisherman from Georgia and Florida didn’t let the destruction from Hurricane Helene dampen their charge to advance to and competed in the Championship.
Three days of practice started on Wednesday, November 13. Practice for the competitors proved to be challenging with sunny weather and 10-20 mph winds varying from the South to the NNE.
Anglers from both states blasted off from the Palatka City Ramp with weigh-in starting at 3:00 p.m. both days. Weather conditions on the first day of the event showed a huge improvement over the practice days. There was a light breeze on the river and schooling fish were located on several of the shell beds.
Day 1 results had Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers leading on the Boaters side with five (5) bass weighing 21.81 pounds. Larry Atkins of the Augusta Bass Club lead the Co-Anglers with five (5) bass weighing 13.30 pounds. Florida’s Boater, Jesse Tacoronte lead with five (5) bass weighing 16.5 pounds and Florida’s Co-Angler, Josh Williams lead with five (5) bass weighing 10.15 pounds. Patrick Brown of the Georgia’s Bulloch Bass Club caught Big Fish weighing 5.13 pounds.
Day 2 results had Boater Michael Deen of the Georgia’s Okefenokee Bass Anglers coming in with five (5) bass weighing 14.69 pounds and Co-Angler Danny Rawlings from the Georgia’s Lowndes County Bass Masters weighing in four (4) bass totaling 7.78 pounds. For Florida, Boater Doug White had five (5) bass weighing 17.17 pounds and Co-Angler Josh Williams had five (5) bass weighing 16.68 pounds. Florida’s Doug White caught Big Fish for Day 2 weighing 5.35 pounds.
Overall winners for the 2024 District 1 TBF FL-GA National Semi Finals were Georgia’s Boater Michael Deen with 36.50 pounds and Florida’s Boater, Doug White with 29.98 pounds. Larry Atkins was Georgia’s leading Co-Angler with 13.30 pounds and Josh Williams Florida’s leading Co-Angler with 26.83 pounds. Florida’s Doug White captured Big Fish for the tournament weighing in at 5.35 pounds.
A total of 188 bass were weighed in with a combined weight of 447.93 pounds.
The top Boater and Co-Angler from each state advances to The Bass Federation National Championship in 2025, where they will test their skills by competing against the winners of the other forty-eight states. Date and location of the 2025 The Bass Federation (TBF) National Championship TBA.
