By MLF Communications Staff

The last time Major League Fishing had held an event on the Harris Chain of Lakes – the AAA-level 2021 Toyota Series – 22-year-old Tampa, Florida angler Christian Greico landed “Jim Thomas”, a 9-pound, 12-ounce giant largemouth that had been tagged by the Friends of Lake Apopka and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as part of the Lake Apopka Fish Tag Challenge. Greico was awarded a prize of $5,000 for catching that bass, and used those winnings as part of his deposit to compete in his rookie season against the pros on the 2022 MLF Pro Circuit.

On Wednesday, it all came full circle for the Florida rookie. Greico weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 18-05 to win the four-day Pro Circuit event in Leesburg, Florida. Greico edged the second-place pro, Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, California, by 1-08 and earned the top payout of $100,000 – or the equivalent of 20 tagged bass.

“I really can’t believe how this week turned out,” Greico said. “Coming back to the ramp with only 18 pounds today – I thought for sure that someone had busted a 20-plus-pound bag. I was thrilled to just be in the Top 10 and standing there on the final day with (MLF emcee) Chris Jones. To get it done today – man, I’ve had a blessed week. All glory to God on this one.”

After targeting offshore shell beds in Lake Harris with a Carolina-rigged Googan Slim Shake and a Googan Dart on the first three days of competition, Greico pivoted on the final day and scrapped his shell bed pattern to run to Lake Apopka and flip a jig for the day.

“I could tell yesterday that the shell bite was deteriorating on me. I decided to start on the pattern first thing this morning, but once I drug through there for 10 to 15 minutes and didn’t get a bite, I knew it probably wasn’t going to happen in Lake Harris. So, I made the decision to run to Apopka and put the flipping stick in my hand. I knew if those fish were biting, it was only a matter of time until I caught a few big ones.

“It took me about five minutes before I got my first bite, and that’s when I knew it could happen,” the 23-year-old said.

Greico’s flipping fish came on a Googan Nuke Punch, with a 3/4-ounce weight.

Despite the fast start to his career, Greico plans to play it conservatively and ensure he remains in the sport for the long haul.

“The money is great, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not out here for the money,” Greico went on to say. “I do this because I love it, and to earn these trophies. This is a huge confidence booster – this is where I’m meant to be. I can have a career as a pro bass fisherman and go toe-to-toe against the best guys. It’s an honor to even be out here competing against them. To win, in just my second event – it blows my mind.

“I’m probably going to bed early tonight, and I’m putting this money in the bank and saving it. It can get pretty expensive chasing around these bass.”

The tournament the second regular-season event of the year for the Pro Circuit. The next event for Pro Circuit anglers will be the April 21-24 at Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee.