The First Ever King of Baccarac Tournament: A Historic Bass Fishing Showdown at Lake Baccarac
The inaugural King of Baccarac Tournament, hosted by Pro Bass Adventures at the legendary Lake Baccarac, has set a new benchmark for big bass tournaments. With a 3 biggest fish for the week format, this event delivered heart-pounding action, monster catches, and a nail-biting finish that will be talked about for years. Here’s the full recap of the epic showdown, the standout winners, and why Lake Baccarac remains the ultimate destination for trophy bass fishing.
A Record-Breaking Tournament
The King of Baccarac Tournament brought together top anglers and guides for a week of intense competition. The stakes were high, with cash prizes, gear, and bragging rights on the line. A total of 44 Double-Digit-Bass (10 pounds or more) were caught during the tournament, including 2 teeners (13+ pounds), 5 twelve-pounders, 11 eleven-pounders, and 26 ten-pounders. Hundreds of 8- and 9-pound bass added to the excitement. Including non-tournament participants, the lodge recorded 54 Double-Digit-Bass for the week, and with the prior week’s 29 DDs, the two-week total reached an astonishing 89 DDs. Since January 1, 2025, Pro Bass Adventures Mexico clients have landed an incredible 217 Double-Digit-Bass!
First Place: Team Poncho’s Comeback Victory
The first-place crown went to Team Guide Poncho, featuring Justin Loflin (@loflin_85) and Mason Smook (@masonsmook). Trailing by 2 pounds going into the final day, they staged a dramatic comeback. On the last morning, Justin Loflin landed a colossal 13-pound 12-ounce bass using a @realpreyswimbaits 6″ shad swimbait, culling an 11-pound 2-ounce fish to surge into the lead. In the final 30 minutes, Mason Smook, dubbed “The Comeback Kid,” sealed the deal with a 12-pound 8-ounce bass, culling another 11-pound 2-ounce fish. Their 3-fish bag weighed an impressive 38 pounds 7 ounces, edging out the competition by a mere 3 ounces to claim the victory.
Their 5-fish total was a whopping 60 pounds 11 ounces, with standout catches including:
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13 pounds 12 ounces (Justin)
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12 pounds 8 ounces (Mason)
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12 pounds 3 ounces (Mason)
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11 pounds 2 ounces (Justin)
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11 pounds 2 ounces (Mason)
For their first-place finish, Team Poncho won $14,000. Both anglers also claimed daily big fish awards: Mason’s 12-pound 3-ounce bass on Day 4 and Justin’s 13-pound 12-ounce monster on Day 6 each earned $2,600. Justin’s 13-12 was the biggest fish of the tournament, securing him a @fishgloomis Conquest 905MBR rod and a @fish_shimano_north_america Bantam reel.
Second Place: Team Omar’s Monster Haul
Hot on their heels was Team Guide Omar Parra, with Justin Seay (@doubledigitbass) and Jim Cordiano (@drave.usa). This team put up a fierce fight, finishing with a 3-fish bag of 38 pounds 4 ounces, just 3 ounces shy of first. Their 5-fish total was a staggering 61 pounds 5 ounces, the heaviest of the tournament, including:
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13 pounds 8 ounces (Jim)
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12 pounds 10 ounces (Justin)
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12 pounds 2 ounces (Jim)
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11 pounds 11 ounces (Jim)
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11 pounds 6 ounces (Jim)
On the final day, Jim Cordiano landed a 13-pound 8-ounce teener using a @drave.usa crankbait, culling an 11-pound 11-ounce fish to briefly retake the lead. Jim and Justin also claimed daily big fish awards: Jim’s 11-pound 6-ounce bass on Day 1 and Justin’s 12-pound 10-ounce juggernaut on Day 3 each earned $2,600. Jim’s 13-8 was the second biggest bass of the Lake Baccarac season. For their second-place finish, the team split $4,000.
Third Place Tiebreaker and Honorable Mentions
A two-way tie for third place saw Team Guide Tonito (Greg and Joe) and Team Guide Yovanni (Preston and Chris) each weigh in 34 pounds 2 ounces for their 3-fish bags. The tiebreaker came down to the biggest single fish, with Greg Johns’ 12-pound 5-ounce lunker on Day 3 securing third place for Team Tonito.
An honorable mention goes to Preston and Chris with Team Yovanni, who caught an impressive 12 Double-Digit-Bass during the tournament, showcasing the incredible fishery at Lake Baccarac.
Why Lake Baccarac Reigns Supreme
The King of Baccarac Tournament proved why Lake Baccarac is a bucket-list destination for bass anglers. With 54 Double-Digit-Bass caught in a single week and a lodge total of 217 DDs since January 1, 2025, Pro Bass Adventures Mexico continues to deliver world-class fishing experiences. Their expert guides, including Poncho, Omar, Tonito,Blas Yovanni, and many more ensure every angler has a shot at landing a fish of a lifetime. As they say, #BestFishingGuidesInMexico—Better Call Pro Bass!
Join Us for the Next Adventure
The excitement doesn’t stop here! The next big event is the “Baccarac’s Best” season opener, a 4-night, 3-day tournament from October 12–16. A few spots are still available, so don’t miss your chance to fish with the best at Lake Baccarac. Contact Pro Bass Adventures Mexico for details and to reserve your spot. You can also join the annual FishIn48 group trip which will be February of 2026. If you want a chance to win a trip make sure to fish the Cactus Cup Team Trail where the Anglers of the Year get a free trip to bass fishing heaven.
Congratulations to all the teams, especially Team Poncho (Justin Loflin and Mason Smook) for their epic comeback and Team Omar (Justin Seay and Jim Cordiano) for their monster haul. The King of Baccarac Tournament has set the stage for even bigger battles to come. Stay tuned for more from @probassadventuresmexico and the legendary Lake Baccarac! 🎣 #KingOfBaccarac
