| New solo format, bigger payouts and expanded championship opportunities highlight 2027 program, registration opens October 21 BENTON, Ky. (Sept. 16, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the program details for the 2027 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, delivering a new competitive model built around individual competition, bigger rewards and greater flexibility for anglers. The 2027 Toyota Series will feature a new solo format, putting anglers in complete control while pursuing some of the most lucrative payouts in bass fishing. The circuit gives competitors the freedom to qualify for the Toyota Series Championship with or without forward-facing and 360-degree sonar technology and boasts an increased payout scale, with a top award of up to $102,500, including the $35,000 Phoenix MLF bonus at 150 boats, scaling up to $110,000, including the Phoenix MLF bonus at 225 boats, and a guaranteed $56,000 first-place payout, regardless of field size or Phoenix MLF Bonus. In a change to the schedule originally announced July 29 that included five divisions, each with three tournaments, the 2027 Toyota Series will now consist of four geographic divisions, each featuring four three-day tournaments – two with unrestricted forward-facing/360-degree sonar (FFS/360) and two without. The change gives anglers an extra tournament and allows them to fish a full geographic division to qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship or qualify through the new Wild Card division by competing in any combination of four or more tournaments across two or more geographic divisions. For Wild Card qualification, only an angler’s four best tournament finishes will count, allowing competitors to build a schedule around their strengths rather than compromise their preferred style of fishing. Anglers now have the flexibility of fishing only FFS/360 tournaments, only non-FFS/360 tournaments or any combination in between in their quest to qualify for the Toyota Series Championship. “These changes represent one of the biggest evolutions in Toyota Series history,” said Major League Fishing co-founder and CEO Boyd Duckett. “We didn’t want to simply increase payouts or tweak the format – we wanted to rethink what this circuit could be. “Over the past several years, we’ve listened closely to what our anglers value most. They wanted more flexibility, more opportunity and more certainty that their investment would be rewarded. The 2027 Toyota Series reflects that feedback by creating a circuit that offers meaningful earning potential, multiple ways to qualify and a clearer path to the highest levels of professional bass fishing.” Overall, the 2027 Toyota Series will return more than 88% of total entry fees based on an average 150-boat field, with total payouts climbing to 101% when Phoenix MLF Bonuses are included. In addition, 20% of the field is guaranteed to cash a check of at least $3,000 in every tournament. Four $8,000 Angler of the Year (AOY) titles will be awarded in each geographic division based on total points and anglers must fish all four tournaments in a division to be eligible for AOY. Tournament winners who fish four or more tournaments, and the top 25 pros from each geographic division and the Wild Card division, qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship and the opportunity to win up to $235,000. The highest-finishing angler from each geographic division and the Wild Card Division at the Toyota Series Championship will qualify for REDCREST – MLF’s most prestigious championship – where they will compete against the sport’s top professionals for a $300,000 top prize. Registration for the 2027 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats will open October 21. Phoenix boat owners with a current registration or confirmed boat order who will compete from their Phoenix boat will receive an early-entry window beginning October 19. Anglers who enter all four tournaments in a division by the first balance deadline for the division will receive priority. Anglers who miss out on the field of 225 boats in each division will be placed on a waiting list. Enter at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. Thecomplete 2027 Toyota Series schedule, rules and payouts are available at MajorLeagueFishing.com . The 2027 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats features: New Solo Format $102,500 1st Place, including $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, @150 Boats $56,000 1st Place, guaranteed, regardless of Field Size or Contingency Bonus 4 Geographic Divisions + Wild Card Division | 4 Tournaments Per Division Each Division = 2 Events With FFS/360-Sonar & 2 Events Without Wild Card Division = Fish Your Strengths & Qualify for Toyota Series Championship $235,000 1st Place NO-ENTRY-FEE Toyota Series Championship (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus) REDCREST Advancement for Highest Division Winners at Toyota Series Championship 88% Total Season Payout @150 Boats | 101% Including Phoenix MLF Bonuses4 Geographic Divisions + 1 Wild Card Division: Solo Format: 4 three-day qualifying tournaments per geographic division Unrestricted FFS/360 in 2 tournaments No FFS/360 in 2 tournaments Tournament winners, who fish 4 or more tournaments, and the top 25 pros from each geographic division qualify for the NO-ENTRY-FEE Toyota Series Championship Wild Card Division: Fish any four or more FFS/360 and/or non-FFS/360 tournaments, in any combination of two or more geographic divisions, for the chance to qualify for the NO-ENTRY-FEE Toyota Series Championship based on your strengths. Only 4 best tournaments will be counted. The top 25 pros from the Wild Card Division qualify for the Toyota Series Championship16 3-Day Qualifying Tournaments: 4 Per Division | 4 Divisions: $102,500 top award, including $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, based on a 150-boat field, scaling up to $110,000 at a maximum field of 225 boats Fish solo $56,000 guaranteed 1st-place award regardless of field size or bonuses Includes Phoenix 818 Pro powered by a 150 HP outboard, cash & Phoenix MLF Bonus 20 percent of the field wins at least $3,000, guaranteed Winning pro from each tournament, who fishes 4 or more tournaments, advances to Toyota Series Championship Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass limit Full field days 1-2, top 20% day 3 Every pro receives points Live weigh-in coverage Entry fee: $2,000 1 3-Day, NO-ENTRY-FEE Toyota Series Championships: $235,000 top award, including $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus $40,000 second-place award $30,000 third-place award Highest finisher from each geographic division and the Wild Card division advance to REDCREST to compete for $300,000 20 percent of field wins at least $3,000 Tournament winners, who fish 4 or more tournaments, and top 25 pros from each geographic division and Wild Card division qualify Winners determined by heaviest three-day catch – 5 bass per day limit Full field days 1-2, top 40 pros day 3 FFS/360 day 1, No FFS/360 day 2, Coin flip determines FFS/360 day 3 Live weigh-in coverage No entry fee4 Angler of the Year Awards: $8,000 Angler of the Year award in each geographic division based on total points Must fish all 4 tournaments in a division to be eligibleYour Pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Bass Pro Tour: Tournament winners, who fish 4 or more tournaments, and the top 25 pros, based on total points, from each of the four geographic divisions and the Wild Card division earn priority entry into the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit.Qualifying Events – 225 Boat Field: Place Pro/Boater 1 $110,000 * + Toyota Series Championship 2 20,000 3 15,000 4 14,000 5 13,000 6 12,000 7 11,500 8 11,000 9 10,500 10 10,000 11 6,000 12 5,000 13 4,900 14 4,800 15 4,700 16 4,600 17 4,500 18 4,400 19 4,300 20 4,200 21 4,100 22 4,000 23 3,900 24 3,800 25 3,700 26-35 3,500 36-45 3,000 Berkley Big Bass 1 500 Berkley Big Bass 2 500 Total $359,900 Entry Fee $2,000 * Includes $46,295 Phoenix 818 Pro powered by a 150 HP outboard, $28,705 cash & $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field. $56,000 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size or bonuses Qualifying Events – 150 Boat Field: Place Pro/Boater 1 $102,500 * + Toyota Series Championship 2 15,500 3 12,000 4 11,500 5 11,000 6 10,000 7 9,800 8 9,400 9 9,100 10 8,700 11-20 3,500 21-30 3,000 Berkley Big Bass 1 500 Berkley Big Bass 2 500 Total $265,500 Entry Fee $2,000 * Includes $46,295 Phoenix 818 Pro powered by a 150 HP outboard, $21,205 cash & $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus Payback scales, based on the number of anglers fishing, to maintain awards to 20% of the field. $56,000 1st-place guaranteed regardless of field size or bonuses 2027 Toyota Series Championship: Place Pro/Boater 1 $235,000* 2 40,000 3 30,000 4 25,000 5 20,000 6 14,000 7 13,000 8 12,000 9 11,000 10 10,000 11-15 4,500 16-20 4,000 21-30 3,500 31-40 3,000 Central Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT Northern Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT Southern Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT Southwestern Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT Wild Card Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT International Bonus REDCREST ADVANCEMENT Total $519,500 Entry Fee * Includes $200,000 cash & $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus 2027 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Schedule: Central Division Feb. 25-27 (FFS/360) Lake Guntersville Scottsboro, Ala. Ramp/Marina: Goose Pond Colony Marina Hosted by Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce April 1-3 (FFS/360) Kentucky-Barkley Lake Buchanan, Tenn. Ramp/Marina: Paris Landing State Park Hosted by Henry County Tourism Authority April 22-24 (No FFS/360) Pickwick Lake Florence, Ala. Ramp/Marina: McFarland Park Hosted by Visit the Shoals Sept. 16-18 (No FFS/360) Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala. Ramp/Marina: Lake Guntersville State Park Boat Ramp Hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports Northern Division June 24-26 (No FFS/360) Potomac River Marbury, Md. Ramp/Marina: Smallwood State Park Hosted by the Charles County Government, Dept. of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism July 29-31 (FFS/360) Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y. Ramp/Marina: Plattsburgh City Marina Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh & Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau Aug. 18-20** (No FFS/360) St. Lawrence River Massena, N.Y. Ramp/Marina: Massena Intake Boat Launch Hosted by the Town of Massena Sept. 16-18 (FFS/360) Lake Erie Marblehead, Ohio Ramp/Marina: Dempsey Boat Launch Hosted by Shores & Islands Ohio Southeastern Division Feb. 11-13 (No FFS/360) Lake Okeechobee Clewiston, Fla. Ramp/Marina: Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort Hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council March 23-25* (FFS/360) Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla. Ramp/Marina: Ski Beach at Venetian Gardens Hosted by Discover Lake County Florida April 29 – May 1 (No FFS/360) Lake Eufaula Eufaula, Ala. Ramp/Marina: Lakepoint Resort State Park Hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce Sept. 23-25 (FFS/360) Lake Murray Columbia, S.C. |
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