Elites compete in Pan American competition

Wearing signage with an international flair, a contingent of Bassmaster Elite Series and MLF pros competed for the USA Bass Team in the Pan American Bass Fishing Championship in Hot Springs, Ark.

The weigh-ins at Andrew H. Hulsey State Fish Hatchery on the shores of Lake Hamilton drew some Bass Fishing Hall of Famers who live nearby — two-time Classic champs George Cochran and Bobby Murray. The first Classic winner in 1971, Murray talked fishing but was busy showing old and new friends pictures of deer that visit his property across the lake.

Hosted by Visit Hot Springs, a decent crowd came to watch the weigh-in. Elite Series pro Joey Cifuentes, who won two of nine Elite events to claim the Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year title in 2023, weighs in.

Cifuentes teamed with his mentor, Hall of Famer Larry Nixon. Emcee Charlie Evans, who serves as USA Bass Team coach, has some fun with the two, especially after their productive day of 12-2 that put them in second place behind a team from Mexico.

The Colombia team of Juozas Kulvietis and Daniel Mejia show the crowd their Day 1 haul that weighed 10 pounds, 13 ounces, one of eight five-fish limits in double digits.

Coming from almost as far was the El Salvador team of Juan Carlos Chacon and Amilcar Gonzalez, who had one fish for 1 pound. Evans had fun with one, one and Juan.

Guatemala’s Marlon Grijalva and Galvin Morales check out the proceedings. Forces are moving in the world of competitive fishing to get bass fishing as an Olympic venue.

Cifuentes and Nixon, Elite pros who live in central Arkansas, pause on the shores of Lake Hamilton for a photo. Along with the USA Bass Team that won gold, there were six other nations represented – silver medalists Mexico, bronze medalists Columbia, Canada, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and El Salvador. Many of the international anglers wanted photos with their American heroes.

Nixon took Cifuentes under his wing some years back as they traveled to FLW tournaments, where Nixon imparted his years of knowledge. While the two have fished together plenty, Nixon said it was the first time they’ve competed in the same boat.

A team from South Africa shows off their catch. Five teams from that fishing-crazed country made the 24-hour trip to compete in the US Angling Challenge Cup, a separate competition from the Pan American.

Tyler Rivet and Brock Mosley, who room on the Elite Series, combined their talents to fish on Lake Hamilton.

Mark Schlarb, USA Bass president, and Tony Forte, US Angling president, are two officials behind the efforts to promote international fishing so that it might one day become an Olympic sport. Schlarb is heading the contingent that will travel to Portugal next month for the World Championships.

Scott Martin, team captain of the USA Bass Team, said he had a time fishing with his father, Roland Martin, the nine-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

Scott Martin’s daughter, Hilary, who just joined the University of Alabama bass fishing team as a freshman, competed with Elite pro Justin Hamner. They weighed 10-2 on Day 1 and were thrilled to beat dad and grandpa by half a pound.

After weighing in, Roland Martin visits with Bobby Murray, who’s again showing off his deer photos.

Rounded up for a family photo, Hilary and Hamner tell Scott Martin of their late-day flurry that included her big bass.

Hilary was animated in describing how her big fish bit and her hookset, all of which Scott enjoyed.

One of the goals passed down by organizers like Forte was to consider the next generation of anglers, to instill a love of the sport in youth. Mission accomplished for the Martins, who gather for a photo.

South African anglers Ruan Wahl and Hennie Schoeman say they have followed the Bassmasters for years, digging into the website and magazines for information on how to improve their fishing. They said they had a great week competing against and meeting U.S. pros. Both have dreams of fishing the Bassmaster Classic.

Wahl and Schoeman were a part of the silver medal team in the US Anglers Challenge Cup, which was won by the hosts. A team from the Philippines won bronze, but they had to leave before the banquet.

A large contingent from Team Mexico was proud to represent their country in the event.

Hamner checks out the silver medal that Forte had just placed around his and Hilary’s necks as they vied for the nation pairs award going to the team with the most two-day weight.

Martin and Hamner finished just 2 ounces behind Cifuentes and Nixon, who took gold. The USA Bass Team had a clean sweep in the nations pairs as David Dudley and Michelle Jalaba took bronze. Dudley holds the flag for “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Team Colombia members were thrilled to take bronze in the Pan American competition. Forte told the crowd how the country had recently banned catch-and-release fishing. He said it spoke to their desire to travel so far and do so well, especially considering they do not have largemouth bass. Forte also said that US Angling will work through channels to help end the fishing ban.

Juozas Kulvietis of Team Colombia chews on the fact that he and his team are taking home bronze medals.

The banquet attendees at the Hot Springs Convention Center cheer as Mexico stands on stage for their silver medal presentation.

Mexico anglers stand at attention for their national anthem.

Roland and Scott Martin watch with pride as Forte congratulates Hilary during the Team USA gold medal presentation.

After the national anthem, the U.S. anglers celebrate their victory. Countries had up to eight teams with their average weight deciding the medals.

The three medalist teams, U.S.A., Mexico and Colombia, all get up on stage for a group photo.

The team gold and top weight medal capped Cifuentes’ year, when he won two $100,000 Elite tournaments and the ROY by one point. Fishing alongside his mentor made it all the more enjoyable. The Bass World Championship event is already planned to be in Hot Springs in 2026.