East Texas local Pake South sets a new record with a 96-pound catch at the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open, securing victory and the $45,408 prize.
JASPER, Texas — An East Texas native fisherman broke a record Saturday while also winning the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Battery Tender.
Pake South, 21, from Winnsboro, had a record-breaking performance of a three-day total catch weight of 96 pounds and 15 ounces at the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open. His final weight broke the record for all-time heaviest winning total in a three-day Bassmaster event.
The mark was previously set by Florida pro Scott Martin on Feb. 3, 2024 by topping the Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee with 90-6.
On day one, South, a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie, placed fifth, and then he took the lead of day two. On the final day, he sealed the win over Jace Lindsay, 22, of Beckville, the Bassmasters said.
“It was great; the lake impressed me this week,” South said. “I didn’t come into this one expecting to catch that much weight. I was expecting to have about 30 pounds a day, but to have back-to-back 34-pound days was a little bit more than I expected.”
For the win, South received the $45,408 top prize. Lindsay finished second with 81-1
“The fish are pulling into these drains getting ready to spawn and with this warmer weather, they’re moving out of the drains,” Lindsay said. “I was kinda cutting them off at the hard spots. I had a couple of brushpiles in the same area.”