MLF Report
Major League Fishing announced today the schedule, rules, payouts and entry dates for the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, offering weekend anglers the opportunity to advance to the prestigious All-American, Toyota Series Championship and new in 2023, REDCREST – the Bass Pro Tour Championship.
The Hoosier Division schedule is April 22, Lake Monroe; May 20, Patoka Lake; June 17, Ohio River at Tanners Creek; July 8, Ohio River at Rocky Point; and Aug . 26-27, Ohio River, Tanners Creek.
The Michigan Division will be fished all at the Detroit River. Those dates are July8, July 22, Aug. 12, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23-24.
The 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be hosted by Visit Oconee South Carolina May 31-June 2 at Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each of six Regional tournaments and the Wild Card will qualify. The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional and the Wild Card at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus – Beat just five anglers from your regional and advance to a second no-entry-fee championship for a shot at one of the sport’s biggest paydays. The All-American boater champion will also advance to REDCREST 2024 for a shot at winning $300,000.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League is the premier grassroots tournament circuit for weekend anglers, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport.
With every tournament featuring live streaming weigh-in coverage, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League allows anglers to fish close to home – creating a clear path to the Toyota Series, the new MLF Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
The Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will continue for the 2023 season, enhancing payouts from $500 to $7,000 for registered Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, super-tournament and regional tournament, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Toyota Series Championship.
Each qualifying tournament will continue to offer a top boater award of up to $13,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top Strike King co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump up to $16,000 for boaters, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and $4,500 for Strike King co-anglers in super tournaments.
- The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers, plus the five tournament winners in each division, advance to a Regional. Boaters in each Regional compete for a $67,000 top award, including a Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury and $10,000 plus a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers in each regional compete for a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury. Additionally, the highest finishing boater from each division in each regional receives a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division receives a $500 bonus – you only have to beat 49 anglers from your division to win big. New for 2023, each Regional will also feature a $1,000 boater and $500 co-angler Berkley Big Bass award.
- Entry fees will increase slightly in 2023 for qualifying tournaments and the Wild Card – going from $200 to $220 per boater and from $100 to $110 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments.
- Two-day super-tournaments and Regionals will see a slight increase as well, from $300 to $330 per boater and from $150 to $165 per co-angler.
- The Wild Card will maintain the $13,000 top boater award, including Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Enter all five events in a division, fish at least two and automatically advance to the Wild Card if you are not qualified for a Regional. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each Regional and the Wild Card advance to the All-American.
- New in 2023, the All-American winner in the boater division advances to REDCREST 2024 to compete against the top pros in the sport for a shot at winning $300,000.
- The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each regional and the Wild Card at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship – anglers only need to beat five anglers from their regional to advance to a second no-entry-fee championship for a shot at one of the sport’s biggest paydays.
- New in 2023, the Toyota Series Championship winner in the pro/boater division advances to REDCREST 2024 to compete against the top pros in the sport for a shot at winning $300,000.
- The 2023 All-American and Toyota Series Championship will both be nationally televised on CBS Sports, offering Bass Fishing League anglers unmatched media exposure.
The complete 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League schedule, rules and payouts are online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anglers can register for the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League season at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:
- December 5, 2022 – Bama, Choo Choo, Cowboy, Gator and Savannah River.
- December 6, 2022 – Arkie, Bulldog, North Carolina, South Carolina and Volunteer.
- December 7, 2022 – LBL, Mississippi, Okie, Ozark and Piedmont.
- December 8, 2022 – Great Lakes, Hoosier, Mountain, Music City and Shenandoah.
- December 9, 2022 – Buckeye, Illini, Michigan and Northeast.
Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat on order who will use their Phoenix boat in Bass Fishing League competition) and TBF members may enter all divisions by phone starting December 2, 2022.