The 2024 Bass Pro Series Grand Final.
Central Coast angler Tim Jones was determined to secure a big win at the 2024 ABT BASS Pro Series Grand Final, and he certainly delivered. Using a 2010 Mercury 150hp Optimax, Tim led at the end of all three days to capture the championship title and an impressive prize. By taking out the grand finale at Lake St Clair in New South Wales, Tim earned a brand-new Mercury 115hp Pro XS, fitted to an Alloycraft bass boat. “It felt incredible to win,” Tim said. “They say when it’s your time, it’s your time, and I really believe that, everything I did on the water paid off right up until the last session. “On the final day, I caught exactly five fish and missed two good ones, which had me a bit stressed. But thankfully it all worked out in the end.”
He reeled in a total of 11 fish, weighing 12.075 kg to seal the victory. Tim’s catches weighed 3.635 kg and 3.180 kg on day one and two and finished with a total of 5.260 kg on day three. Now equipped with a Pro XS, Tim is eager to have a boat setup he can dedicate exclusively to saltwater fishing.
“The Pro XS came on an Alloycraft boat, so I’m going to keep that setup just for saltwater and I’ll use my 150hp Optimax for freshwater,” he said. It won’t just be new environments that Tim’s Pro XS will open him up to, but a whole new outboard performance experience. “I’m excited to use my new outboard because it’s my first four stroke,” Tim said. “My current Optimax is a two stroke from 2010, and has served me well, but I know the four stroke engines are much better in terms of fuel economy and performance. “I can’t wait to test it all out and see how it performs on the water.”
With a Pro XS now in his fleet, Tim is focused on upgrading his Optimax and freshwater setup with another Pro XS to maximise his chances of defending his title next year. “In the future, I plan to upgrade the motor on my freshwater boat to a 150hp Pro XS, so both of my boats will have the best engines available to set myself up for success,” Tim said. “I’m really excited to re-enter the Bass tour next season, I can’t wait to get back into the competition.”
