Xtreme Bass Series Opens On St. Johns With Big Entry And Big Bags Anticipated

The 2015 Xtreme Bass Series on the St. John’s River opens Saturday with hefty bags expected at the weigh-in and expanded opportunities to fish for new Blazer Boats in two different championships.

“Right now it’s looking like it will take 25 to 30 pounds for a five-fish limit to win Saturday,” said tournament director Mike Oglesbee. “We’ve got some bedding fish already and the bedding fish fishermen are already bringing in some nice bags of fish. We are expecting some huge fish to be brought in Saturday afternoon.”

Oglesbee said teams must fish seven of the nine tournaments to qualify for the Xtreme Bass Championship Nov. 5-7 on Lake Okeechobee. First place in the Xtreme Championship will be a new Blazer 595 Pro Elite Bass Boat with a 200 hp outboard and trailer.

“You can finish last in all seven of those tournaments and still qualify for the championship,” he said. “But the top four teams in points also qualify to fish the Florida State Team Championship.”

The Florida State Team Championship will be held in early 2016 and top prize will be another Blazer 595 Pro Elite bass boat.

The schedule for the 2015 Xtreme Bass Series on the St. Johns River includes: Jan. 17, Feb. 21, March 28, the Haven Hospice Tournament on April 25, the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Tournament on May 16, June 29, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 26. All tournament swill be held out of Crystal Cove Resort except for The Haven Hospice Tournament and the Wolfson Children’s Hospital Tournament, both of which will be held out of Palatka City Dock.

Oglesbee said teams fishing any of the Xtreme Bass Series can count the Haven Hospice and Wolfson’s Childrens Hospital tournaments towards their seven tournaments to qualify for the championship.

“The entry fee to the Hospice tournament is $120 and is open to anyone who wants to pay the entry fee and fish,” Oglesbee said. “For those members of the Xtreme trail who want credit and points for fishing the benefit tournament they will pay an additional $10 processing fee at the ramp to Xtreme Bass Series.”

Oglesbee said the Hospice tournament has a $3,000 guarantee for first place and $1,000 for big bass.

“The Wolfson tournament is the same deal. You don’t have to be a member to fish, but if you are a member and want credit and points one can pay the $10 processing fee to have that done. Entry fee for the Wolfsons tournament must be sent to Wolfsons to get your boat number it cost $100 to enter the tournament,” he said.

“A lot of guys fish the Wolfson’s tournament anyway. That tournament draws 500-600 boats every year and the payback is $50,000, with $10,000 for first place,” he said. “Anybody can fish the Wolfson for a $10 processing fee. They can mail it to me or (Xtreme Bass President) Mike Blocher or pay at the ramp. Hopefully, this will make things better for the fishermen and benefit these charities, too.”

The Xtreme Bass Series is a tournament series for grass roots tournament anglers throughout the state of Florida. Teams pay a $35-per-angler membership fee and $120 per tournament,which includes big fish. The payback is around 86 percent to one in every seven boats, said Ogelsbee who anticipates a strong turnout for the first St. John’s tournament Saturday.

“We’ve been getting a lot of feedback from anglers. We are hoping for good weather and a great crowd.”

 

Xtreme Bass Series

Jan 17, 2015

St. Johns River

Crystal Cove Resort

Call Mike Oglesbee or Gene Crossway at (386) 546-3614

www.xtremefishingseries.com