The National Professional Fishing League’s first stop of the season is now in the books, and what a tournament it was! Santee Cooper delivered the kind of excitement that had fans glued to their screens throughout the weekend.
This event marked the NPFL’s bold move to ban forward-facing sonar technology, a decision that sparked plenty of debate in the fishing community. Critics wondered if this would limit the anglers’ ability to find and catch quality bass. Would we see smaller bags? Would the competition suffer?
Those questions were emphatically answered on day one when Jason Christie and Jordan Osborne both crushed the scales with their “dirty thirty” bags—each weighing in over 30 pounds of Santee Cooper largemouth. These massive catches didn’t just silence critics; they shattered several NPFL weight records in the process.
As the tournament continued, we witnessed more anglers adapting to the “old school” approach of fishing without the advanced electronics that have dominated the sport in recent years. The result? Consistently impressive bags throughout the field and some of the most exciting weigh-ins we’ve seen in quite some time.
The NPFL’s decision to “turn back the clock” proved that elite anglers don’t need the latest technology to put together championship-level performances. These professionals showcased their raw fishing skills—reading water, understanding seasonal patterns, and making crucial adjustments as conditions changed.
For many fans, this return to a more traditional style of bass fishing brought back the excitement that first drew them to the sport. There’s something pure about watching anglers rely on instinct and experience rather than digital images beneath their boats.
Of course, the debate about fishing technology isn’t over. Each of the three major bass fishing leagues now offers a different approach to the sport. Some embrace all available technology, others place limitations, and now the NPFL has carved out its niche with this back-to-basics approach.
At the end of the day, you, the viewer, get to decide which style of tournament fishing you prefer. Do you enjoy the high-tech chess match that electronics create? Or does this throwback approach at Santee Cooper remind you why you fell in love with competitive bass fishing in the first place?
One thing is certain—if the rest of the NPFL season delivers action like we saw at Santee Cooper, we’re in for an incredible year of bass fishing competition.
