Major League Fishing announced recently the complete rules and entry dates for the 2024 Invitationals, Toyota Series, BFLs, College Fishing and High School Fishing seasons.
Invitationals
With national television coverage on CBS Sports, daily MLFNOW! on-the-water livestreams, a top award of $115,000 (including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus), and advancement to REDCREST 2025 on the line at every stop, the Invitationals are a lucrative proving ground for anglers looking to qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour, where they will fish as part of an exclusive field of 50 pros competing for the sport’s most lucrative payouts
The complete 2024 Invitational schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Toyota Series
The Toyota Series gives anglers the opportunity to fish close to home for awards and advancement to the nationally televised Toyota Series Championship, where pros compete for up to $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and co-anglers compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115-hp outboard.
The winning pro at the Toyota Series Championship qualifies for REDCREST 2025 for the chance to win $300,000, and the highest-finishing pro from each division, including the Wild Card, at the Toyota Series Championship receives a $10,000 bonus.
The 2024 Toyota Series Championship is scheduled for Nov. 7-9 at Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama. The championship field will feature the top 25 pros and co-anglers from each of the six U.S. Toyota Series divisions and the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six BFL Regionals and the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; the High School Fishing National Champions; the TBF National Champions; and up to two pros from each MLF International country.
Every Toyota Series tournament features live weigh-in coverage and the Toyota Series Championship will be nationally televised on CBS Sports. New for 2024, the Toyota Series Championship will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.
The Top 5 pros from each U.S. division in Angler of the Year standings qualify for the MLF Invitationals. If a Top-5 pro declines his or her bid or earns qualification through the Invitationals or Bass Pro Tour, the next eligible pro qualifies. This process continues through the top 10 pros in each division.
The Anglers of the Year and Co-Anglers of the Year will also be awarded $5,000 and $2,000, respectively, in each of the six U.S. divisions.
Entry fees are unchanged for 2024 at $1,700 per tournament for pros and $550 per tournament for co-anglers. Anglers can register for the 2024 Toyota Series season at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:
Entries from the Top 25 pros and co-anglers and tournament winners from each division of the 2023 Toyota Series and the Top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division of the 2023 BFLs, plus the winner of each 2023 BFL tournament (who paid an entry fee for all five tournaments in a division and fished at least two tournaments in the same division) and the Top 10 anglers from the 2023 College Fishing National Championship, will be accepted beginning Nov. 6. These anglers have until Nov. 27 to secure their priority entry position.
Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat order who will use their Phoenix boat in Toyota Series competition) may enter beginning Nov. 28.
Anglers who fished a full division of the 2023 Toyota Series or a full division of the 2023 BFLs may enter beginning Nov. 29.
TBF members may enter beginning Nov. 30.
All other entries will be accepted beginning Dec. 1.
The complete 2024 Toyota Series schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
BFLs
The BFLS are the premier grassroots tournament circuit for weekend anglers, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport. The BFL is the only circuit offering weekend anglers the opportunity to advance to the All-American, Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST 2025 for a shot at winning top boater awards of $120,000, $235,000 and $300,000, respectively, including Phoenix MLF Bonuses.
The 2024 BFL All-American will be take place May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The Top 6 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 2025 for a shot at winning $300,000.
With every tournament featuring livestreamed weigh-in coverage, the BFLs anglers to fish close to home – creating a clear path to the Toyota Series, the MLF Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. This also provides grassroots anglers the opportunity to showcase their talents to more than 5 million visitors on MajorLeagueFishing.com and 2.3 million followers on MLF’s social media outlets, as well as coverage in Bass Fishing magazine and in dedicated public relations outreach that generates a potential reach of up to 5.5 billion impressions annually across all MLF circuits.
The Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will continue for the 2024 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 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 co-anglers in super tournaments.
The Top 45 boaters and 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 outboard 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 outboard. 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. Each Regional also features a $1,000 boater and $500 co-angler Berkley Big Bass award.
Entry fees will remain the same in 2024 – $220 per boater and $110 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments, and $330 per boater and $165 per co-angler in two-day Super Tournaments and Regional events.
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The Wild Card will maintain its $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 6 boaters and co-anglers from each Regional and the Wild Card advance to the All-American.
The 2024 All-American will be nationally televised on CBS Sports, offering BFL anglers unmatched media exposure. New for 2024, the All-American will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.
Anglers can register for the 2024 BFL season at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:
Dec. 4, 2023 – Bama, Choo Choo, Cowboy, Gator and Savannah River.
Dec. 5, 2023 – Arkie, Bulldog, North Carolina, South Carolina and Volunteer.
Dec. 6, 2023 – LBL, Mississippi, Okie, Ozark and Piedmont.
Dec. 7, 2023 – Great Lakes, Hoosier, Mountain, Music City and Shenandoah.
Dec. 8, 2023 – 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 BFL competition) and TBF members may enter all divisions by phone starting Dec. 1, 2023.
The complete 2024 BFL schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
College Fishing
The winning team at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-hp outboard and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2025. The runner-up at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-hp outboard. The team will also advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. Third place at the 2024 National Championship will receive $4,000 and advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for the chance to win a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-hp outboard. Fourth and fifth place will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, with sixth through 10th receiving $1,000 each.
Each angler finishing in the Top 10 at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive priority entry into the 2025 Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and the Bass Pro Tour. Every tournament will feature live weigh-in coverage and the National Championship will receive national television coverage on CBS Sports. New for 2024, the College Fishing National Championship will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.
MLF will recognize the top performing school with the School of the Year Presented title, which includes a $10,000 award. Each school receives the total points earned by its top two teams in each tournament. School of the Year is awarded to the school with the highest point total from its three best tournaments.
College Fishing teams can compete in up to nine qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12 percent of teams from each event will advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.
Registration for the 2024 season opens at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 11, 2023. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament, so teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. The entry fee is unchanged at $100 per team.
The complete 2024 College Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
High School Fishing
The 2024 MLF High School Fishing circuit will feature teams competing in seven open events held in conjunction with College Fishing events so students and parents can network with prospective college teams and coaches during college weigh-ins. MLF High School Fishing Opens are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF)-affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of teams in each tournament advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before May 6, 2024, advance teams to the 2024 National Championship. Tournaments held after May 6, 2024, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship.
Both members of the winning team at the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship, held simultaneously with the TBF High School Fishing World Finals, are guaranteed $5,000 scholarships to the school of their choice, plus the opportunity to compete for a share of more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. The 2024 High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers to compete on national television for a Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-hp outboard.
Registration for the 2024 MLF High School Fishing Opens will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 13, 2023. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling (270) 252-1000. There is no entry fee for high school anglers to compete in any MLF or TBF High School Fishing tournament. Both anglers must, however, be a member of the Student Angler Federation (SAF). There is no limit to the number of teams accepted into a tournament from each school or club, but the maximum field size is 250 boats. Teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity.
The complete 2024 High School Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF High School Fishing Camp
The MLF High School Fishing Camp for students and parents will be held July 10-12 at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. The three-day camp experience immerses passionate young anglers and coaches into the world of bass fishing. Students and coaches learn techniques from top MLF pros in small groups, and receive a glimpse into the inner workings of the fishing industry through interaction with MLF staff and special guests. Registration for the 2024 MLF High School Fishing Camp will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Nov. 30, 2023. Visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/camp for details.
