In a surprising twist down in Florida, the American Bass Anglers event on Lake Okeechobee faced a major hiccup during practice days. Some anglers, including the well-known Scenko Stix owner and Gambler pro-staffer, Alex Terescenko, got disqualified for not wearing life jackets when their motors were on. Even when going super slow in no-wake zones & that is what took place here. This was a new rule that was implemented in 2025 by ABA.
I have attached the rule that was violated.
“12.1 Competitors must always observe safe boating conduct and speed limits. During official practice and competition, competitors must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver, which must always be worn and must have a kill switch attached while the combustion engine is in gear. This life preserver must also be strapped, snapped, or zippered securely and maintained in that condition until the combustion engine is no longer in gear. Violation of this rule shall be a reason for disqualification. “Fanny Pack” preservers are not allowed. In the event a boat is being towed, all anglers in the towed boat must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved chest-type life preserver.”
It seems many local pros missed the memo, and their excitement to get ready for the competition led to some big mistakes. Alex Terescenko, usually a pro on the water, found himself out of the running due to this oversight.
The rule, which requires wearing life jackets whenever the big motors are running, caught several anglers off guard. The tournament organizers, focused on making sure everyone stays safe, stuck to their decision to disqualify those who broke the rule.
This wasn’t just about one angler – it affected many local pros who had their eyes set on a great tournament. The folks in charge stressed how important it is for every angler to read and follow the rules closely.
Despite the disappointment, anglers are taking this as a lesson. Instead of dwelling on the disqualifications, they’re coming together and focusing on learning from the experience. There’s a hope that everyone can move forward from this mistake and have an awesome time fishing for the rest of 2024. It’s turning into a year of challenges, but the anglers are showing they can handle whatever comes their way as they explore new waters.
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