New team/solo format, five All-American Championships and exclusive $120,000 Phoenix Ultimate Tournament Rigs headline major transformation
BENTON, Ky. (Aug. 12, 2026) – Major League Fishing announced today a historic series of changes to the 2027 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, introducing a new team/solo format, five regional All-American Championships and significantly increased awards and advancement opportunities, including direct advancement to REDCREST for five anglers.
The changes represent the most substantial evolution of the BFL since the introduction of the boater/co-angler format in 2000.
Beginning in 2027, anglers may compete alone or with a teammate, allowing partners to share expenses and compete together throughout the season. The circuit will feature 20 divisions organized into five regions, with five one-day qualifying tournaments per division.
“This is one of the biggest changes in the history of the Bass Fishing League,” said Major League Fishing co-founder and CEO Boyd Duckett. “For more than 44 years, the BFLs have provided everyday anglers with the opportunity to compete close to home and work their way onto the sport’s biggest stages. The BFL format has, however, evolved over the years, from boat-on-boat draw, to boaters and co-angler and now team/solo. This latest evolution makes it easier to compete with a friend to share expenses, or fish solo to protect your hotspots, while offering more money, more championship opportunities and more reasons than ever to fish.”
Tournament winners and the top 30 teams in each division will advance to one of five no-entry-fee All-American Championships that push lifechanging rewards closer to home than ever before. Each winning team will receive an All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250-horsepower outboard valued at $120,000. The top-of-the-line 21-foot boats will feature custom All-American branding and will be built specifically for the five championship-winning teams as the ultimate fishing machine.
Each All-American-winning team will also earn advancement to two of MLF’s premier championships. The team captain will qualify for REDCREST and compete for a top prize of $300,000, while his or her teammate will advance to the Toyota Series Championship to compete for as much as $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus.
Regular-season tournaments will feature a $500 entry fee and a $22,000 first-place award, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, at 150 boats. Twenty percent of the field will earn a paycheck, and the minimum first-place award is guaranteed at $10,000 regardless of field size. At the max field size of 225 boats, the winner will earn as much as $29,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus.
All told, the 2027 BFL season will return more than 91% of entry fees to anglers based on an average field of 150 boats. When Phoenix MLF Bonus awards are included, the total season payout rises to 101%.
Teams must compete together in at least three of the five divisional tournaments to be eligible for an All-American Championship. The Team of the Year in each of the 20 divisions will receive $2,500, and anglers from the top 30 teams in each division will receive priority entry into the Toyota Series.
Current year Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, NPFL and Elite Series pros will not be eligible to compete. The 2027 season will also feature unrestricted use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar.
“These changes honor what has made the BFL successful for decades while creating an even stronger future for the circuit,” Duckett said. “We want anglers to grab a partner, fish the lakes they love and compete for prizes and advancement opportunities that can truly change their lives.”
Registration information, schedules and full program details for the 2027 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine will be announced later this year.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
2027 PHOENIX BASS FISHING LEAGUE PRESENTED BY T-H MARINE OVERVIEW
- NEW TEAM/SOLO FORMAT | UNRESTRICTED FORWARD FACING/360-DEGREE SONAR
- $15,000+ 1ST PLACE IN EVERY TOURNAMENT @ 150+ BOATS
- 1st PLACE GUARANTEED AT $10,000+ REGARDLESS OF FIELD SIZE
- 5 ALL-AMERICAN REGIONS | 4 DIVISIONS PER REGION | 5 TOURNAMENTS PER DIVISION
- NOW OFFERING 5 ALL-AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS EACH WITH $120,000 WINNERS
- REDCREST & TOYOTA SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP ADVANCEMENT FROM EACH OF 5 ALL-AMERICANS
- 91%+ TOTAL SEASON PAYOUT @ 150 BOATS | 101% INCLUDING PHOENIX MLF BONUSES
5 All-American Regions: NEW Team/Solo Format
-
4 divisions per region
- 5 one-day qualifying tournaments per division
- Unrestricted FFS/360
- Tournament winners and the top 30 teams from each division qualify for an All-American Championship
100 1-Day Qualifying Tournaments: 5 per Division | 20 Divisions
-
$22,000 top award, including $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, based on a 150-boat field, scaling up to $29,000 at a maximum field of 225 boats
- $10,000+ guaranteed 1st-place award regardless of field size or bonuses
- Fish with a buddy or by yourself
- Current BPT, Pro Circuit, NPFL and Elite Series pros are not eligible.
- 20 percent of the field wins at least $700, guaranteed
- Winning team from each tournament advances to a NO-ENTRY-FEE All-American
- Saturday tournaments (unless otherwise noted)
- Winners determined by heaviest one-day catch – 5 bass limit
- Every team receives points
- Live weigh-in coverage
- Entry fee: $500
5 3-Day, NO-ENTRY-FEE All-American Championships – 1 Per Region:
-
$120,000 All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250 HP outboard top award plus $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified teams
- Team captain advances to REDCREST to compete for $300,000
- Teammate (if not fishing solo) advances to the Toyota Series Championship to compete for more than $280,000, including $200,000 cash plus a $46,295 Phoenix 818 Pro powered by a 150 HP outboard and a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
- $20,000 second-place award
- $15,000 third-place award
- 20 percent of field wins at least $1,000
-
Each All-American Championship features teams from four divisions – 140-boat max field
- Tournament winners and top 30 teams from each division qualify
- Thursday/Friday/Saturday tournament: full field all three days
- Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day limit
- Live weigh-in coverage
- No entry fee
Team of the Year Awards:
-
$2,500 Team of the Year in each of 20 divisions based on total points
- Must fish all five tournaments to be eligible
Your Pathway to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour:
- Anglers from top 30 teams, based on total points, from each of 20 divisions earn priority entry into the Toyota Series
Lucrative contingency bonuses, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com for details
Qualifying Events – 150 Boat Field:
Place Team/Solo
1 $22,000 (includes $7,000 MLF Phoenix Bonus)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-20
21-30
Berkley Big Bass 500
Total $64,400
Entry Fee $500
Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field.
$10,000+ 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size
Qualifying Events – 225 Boat Field:
Place Team/Solo
1 $29,000 (includes $7,000 MLF Phoenix Bonus)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26-35
36-45
Berkley Big Bass 500
Total $94,240
Entry Fee $500
Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field.
$10,000+ 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size
All-American Championships – 140 Boat Max Field:
Place Team/Solo
1 $127,000 * + REDCREST Qualification for team captain and Toyota Series Championship qualification for teammate (includes $7,000 MLF Phoenix Bonus)
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11-28 1,000
Berkley Big Bass 750
Total $208,250
Entry Fee None
* 1st place receives a $120,000 All-American limited-edition Phoenix powered by a 250 HP outboard. Team captain advances to REDCREST to compete for $300,000. Teammate (if not fishing solo) advances to the Toyota Series Championship to compete for more than $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
