LAKE MURRAY SHORES, S.C. — The Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on Lake Murray had the Lexington County community talking on Friday as fans and professionals came together to see which anglers could reel in the biggest catch.
Dozens of fans gathered to watch the competition on the water to watch pro anglers take the main stage.
"So, I can see all the fishermen catch big fish," 8-year-old Jaxson Shealy said.
Shealy came to watch the competition Friday afternoon with his sister and grandmother from Pomaria.
"His grandfather and his father both enjoy doing and he likes going fishing with them also, so it's kind of like a family thing," Shealy's grandmother said.
Ten anglers are competing for $100,000, a trophy, and points toward the final competition at the end of the season for angler of the year.
The goal is to catch five bass that total the heaviest weight.
"It's very competitive. They know they have a chance to catch big fish here and a lot of fish, said Major League Fishing's Michael Mulone. "So with that, it means that they've got a chance to win and it makes the competition so much more compelling."
Mulone, the league's business development coordinator, said it's fun for the fans, too!
"When you have the best of the best fishing on their home waters, they can actually learn from them and then use those techniques in the future to become better anglers themselves," he said.
The next fishing tournaments for these anglers will be in Alabama, New York, and Michigan.