Fishing as a sport, better known as angling, is older than the USA itself. While fishing isn’t on the same level as the big leagues, many competitions are held coast to coast and in the lakes and rivers between them.
Some events are open for public participation, though the biggest and best tournaments require some qualification.
Here are three of the biggest angling events held in America today.
The Bassmaster Classic
Bass is the most popular game fish in the United States, with black bass found in nearly every state east of the Rocky Mountains.
These freshwater fish are known to be fighters, which makes fishing a popular outdoor sport.
Their fighting reputation is so well-known that they’re a staple in fishing-themed entertainment, such as themed slots on iGaming websites.
Among hundreds of other games, fishing slots like Big Bass Splash and Big Bass Bonanza try to simulate the experience of plucking fish from a lively lake.
For those who want to try the real thing, the biggest bass event in the US is the Bassmaster Classic.
The Bassmaster Classic started on the shores of Lake Mead in 1971 and has since become one of America’s most important fishing events.
In 2024, the outing was held at the Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The event is managed by the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.), which has over 500,000 members worldwide, most of whom are based in the USA.
Getting to the Classic is challenging, as contestants must qualify by beating the Bassmaster Open, Elite Series, or other events like B.A.S.S. Nation.
Qualifying contestants stand to get a share of $1 million if they finish with a winning catch, with the top spot getting $300,000.
Some people were upset last year when Canadian Jeff Gustafson won with a total weight of 42 pounds. Fishing is allowed in pre-determined places during the competition to avoid tampering and other mishaps.
Many bass fishing celebrities like Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam distinguished themselves by winning the Bassmaster Classic.
The White Marlin Open
The White Marlin Open, known as the world’s largest bill fishing tournament, occurs yearly in Ocean City, Maryland.
Compared to every other fishing event, it’s the largest in attendance and prize pot and draws hundreds of boats.
Over $9 million is on the line in any year, with over 3,000 ambitious anglers trying to take one of the top prizes.
Marlins and other billfish are some of the biggest game species found in North America. Fishing them can be a tall order for inexperienced anglers, though complete novices can and have won prizes in past years.
The top prize is over $1 million, sometimes closer to $2 million, while lower-level prize winners in the past have received flashy gadgets like a Rolex watch.
While bass fishing makes American sport fishing popular, the White Marlin Open is a much more accessible and attractive event for those who don’t mind grappling with much larger species.
Given the nature of the event, it hasn’t created many sports-fishing celebrities. Instead, it attracts other sports Hall of Famers like NBA legend Michael Jordan and Boston Red Sox All-Star Wade Boggs.
The Mid-Atlantic Tournament
The Mid-Atlantic Tournament, which takes place in the summertime, also happens in Ocean City, Maryland, with other parts of the event happening in Cape May, New Jersey.
Once called the Mid-Atlantic 500, the prize pot slowly grew until the name was ditched entirely.
Today, the five-day tournament splits a pot worth over $5 million, with the first two places getting over a million each.
As for the eligible species, the Mid-Atlantic accepts white marlin, the larger blue marlin, and tasty tuna fish. At their largest, blue marlin can weigh close to 1,000 pounds.
Game fish like wahoo and dolphin are also caught during the event, though they scarcely take the top prizes.
This is also the youngest fishing competition on this page, established in 1991.
