Banks Shaw has once again made waves in the fishing community by winning the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division opener at Lake Okeechobee. The competition wrapped up on Saturday, where Shaw edged Kyle Cortiana by a mere 3 ounces, finishing with a three-day total of 49 pounds, 5 ounces.
Shaw's performance on the final day was pivotal, as he weighed in at 13 pounds, 12 ounces, securing him a substantial payday of $79,250, which included the Phoenix MLF Bonus and Tackle Warehouse Rewards. This win marks Shaw’s third triumph in Major League Fishing in as many seasons.
The victory is not just about the cash; it also qualifies Shaw for the Toyota Series Championship slated for fall on Pickwick Lake. This is particularly significant for him as he juggles an intense schedule: competing in his rookie year on the Bass Pro Tour and defending his Angler of the Year title on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit—all while attending the University of North Alabama.
The week of competition was made challenging by cold weather, which kept the overall weights relatively low. Despite that, Shaw and Cortiana distinguished themselves from the rest of the competitors as the tournament unfolded.
Shaw's success came from his ability to find quieter waters amid the crowded Florida fishery. “I found fish in two areas, but I knew one was going to have a ton of pressure,” said Shaw. “I kind of focused on the one area where I knew there wouldn’t be many people. I caught ‘em the first day, a big one right off the bat, and then after that it was tough to even get a limit.”
On the first day, Shaw caught two fish with the help of forward-facing sonar and three without it. However, Day 2 saw a shift in strategy that paid off well. “Day 2, I had a better idea when they would turn on and start feeding,” he noted. “So, I was able to use my forward-facing to target those fish. The second day went super smooth, other than losing fish – I had a chance to have a good lead.”
On Day 2, the approach proved effective; all his catches came from his sonar use, and he also scouted new waters that were vital for his final day’s success. “I mixed it up today a little bit. I thought for sure I could catch some more fish in my main area, but with having such tough mornings, I decided to start in my secondary area,” Shaw shared. “That’s what produced most of my weight today – I caught four of my fish there.”
Shaw utilized jerkbait and finesse techniques, but ultimately returned to his primary area, which was complicated by changing weather and fishing conditions. “Luckily my main area was clean right when I pulled up to it, and I caught my biggest fish in there – a 3 1/2-pounder,” he explained. “Right after that, the wind picked up. I made one pass, saw some really big ones and didn’t get them to bite, and then all of a sudden the water just dirtied up. You couldn’t really even see the fish, and they weren’t acting right.”
On the final day, only one of Shaw's fish leveraged his sonar technology. He predominantly focused on a Rapala Mavrik 110 jerkbait in combination with 12-pound Sufix Advance line on a 6-foot, 10-inch medium 13 Fishing Myth rod.
Following an impressive Top 10 finish at the opening of the Bass Pro Tour earlier this year, Shaw had an optimistic outlook going into the tournament. “I was on the way down here, and I told Josh, my cameraman, ‘I’m due for a win,’” he confessed. “It felt good to finally get a win. I know I won Pickwick, but it was so close from there on, for quite a while. It wasn’t the best feeling before it happened. Usually when I win it’s by a decent margin, so this was nerve-racking. But I’m glad to pull it away, way down south on Okeechobee.”
Looking ahead, Shaw is eager to maintain his momentum as he prepares for future competitions. With the excitement of claiming another title under his belt, he sets his sights on the upcoming championship, determined to build on his recent success.
