BENTON, Ky. (April 8, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Kubota Corporation has been named title sponsor of Heavy Hitters, the Bass Pro Tour’s premier all-star event that celebrates big-bass performance.

Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place May 16-21 on Florida’s Orange Lake in Ocala, and showcase 32 of the top Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a top prize of $100,000 to the winner.

The Kubota Heavy Hitters event stands apart from traditional tournaments by also rewarding anglers for landing trophy-class bass, with daily big bass payouts of $10,000 during the Qualifying Round, a $30,000 Knockout Round bonus and a $100,000 prize for the single heaviest bass caught during the Championship Round.

“We’re excited to feature Kubota as the title sponsor of Heavy Hitters,” said Jim Wilburn, President of Sales for MLF. “Kubota has been a valued partner of Major League Fishing for many years, and this expansion of our relationship is a natural fit for one of the most exciting events on the Bass Pro Tour. Kubota is a trusted, hardworking brand that shares so many of the same values as our anglers and fans.”

“We’re proud to support an event that celebrates passion for the outdoors,” said Theresa Duncan, Associate Director for Marketing and Advertising, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “Kubota customers take pride in their land and rely on our durable, reliable equipment to get the job done, and Heavy Hitters unites a community that shares that same commitment to hard work and performance.”

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble. The event will also be filmed for television and premiere on Discovery, Saturday, July 4, with new episodes airing weekly through Aug. 15. The event will also be featured in a one-hour special that will debut on CBS in December.

Orange Lake has emerged as one of the nation’s top big-bass fisheries in recent years, regularly producing double-digit largemouth and providing the perfect stage for the sport’s most exciting big-fish showdown.

For more information about Kubota, visit KubotaUSA.com or follow Kubota on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com . For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, Rumble and YouTube.

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.

About Kubota
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors of up to 200 Gross hp, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, contact: Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or visit  KubotaUSA.com.