The Bass Federation (TBF) held its National Semi Finals Championship this past weekend, September 27-28 on Lake Blackshear, Cordele, Georgia. Three (3) days of practice started on Wednesday, September 24. Practice for the competitors proved to be challenging with sunny weather, light breezes and the largemouth bass choosing not to participate in this event.
Anglers from both states blasted off from the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park with weigh-in starting at 3:00 p.m. for Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday. Weather conditions on both days were sunny with some light breezes.
Day 1 results had Jesse Tacoronte of the Florida Bass Federation leading on the Boaters side with five (5) bass weighing 15 pounds 1 ounce. David Perry of the Florida Bass Federation lead the Co-Anglers with two (2) bass weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces
Day 2 results had Boater Patrick Brown of the Georgia Bass Federation coming in with five (5) bass weighing 16 pounds 4 ounces and Co-Angler Kevin Watson from the Georgia Bass Federation weighing in three (3) bass totaling 8 pounds 6 ounces.
Overall winners for the 2025 District 1 TBF GA-FL National Semi Finals were Jesse Tacoronte of the Florida Bass Federation with eight (8) bass weighing 21 pounds 8 ounces on the Boater’s side and Gene Willis of the Georgia Bass Federation with five (5) bass weighing 11 pounds 11 ounces on the Co-angler’s side.
Top Boater and Co-Angler from the Georgia Bass Federation was Jason Cheek and Gene Willis.
Top Boater and Co-Angler from the Florida Bass Federation was Jesse Tacoronte and David Perry.
Big Fish for the tournament was caught by Brian Rodriguez of the Florida Bass Federation weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces.
A total of 177 bass were weighed in with a combined weight of 409 pounds 6 ounces.
The top Boater and Co-Angler from each state advances to The Bass Federation National Championship in 2026, where they will test their skills by competing against the winners of the other state federations. Date and location of the 2026 The Bass Federation (TBF) National Championship TBA.
State Pride honors went to the Georgia Bass Federation.
