Three new divisions, increased payouts, seven-event schedules and a three-fish limit highlight the 2027 season
LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. – Xtreme Bass Series announced today the 2027 schedule for the Falcon Boats Divisional Series presented by Mercury Marine, a season that carries the organization across state lines. New divisions in Georgia and Alabama headline a slate of changes that also includes a revised tournament format, a three-fish limit, updated Championship qualification requirements and new incentives for the teams that fish the most.
Each division will trim its schedule from nine events to seven in 2027, and entry fees move to $160 per team, per tournament. Membership remains $50 per angler.
Over a full season, that comes to $1,120 in entry fees, just $40 more than nine events at $120. With two fewer tournaments on the calendar, teams also save two trips’ worth of fuel, travel and other tournament-day expenses, lowering the overall cost of fishing a full season. At the same time, the streamlined structure delivers a 25 percent increase in tournament payouts while also increasing the holdover for the season-ending Falcon Boats Divisional Series Championship.
“I’ve been excited about a lot of seasons, but 2027 is setting up to be the best one we’ve had since Xtreme started in 2005,” said Brian Stahl, president of Xtreme Bass Series. “We’re growing beyond Florida, we’re putting more money back in the anglers’ pockets, and we’re taking better care of the fish while we do it.”
New Water in Three States
The 2027 season extends the Xtreme Bass Series’ reach beyond Florida, with new divisions on Georgia’s Lake Blackshear and on Lake Eufaula, which straddles the Alabama-Georgia line. Closer to home, a new Caloosahatchee River Division will bring the series to Southwest Florida.
The additions give more anglers access to the series and a local path to Championship qualification. Additional divisions may be announced as the series continues to grow across the Southeast.
Three-Fish Limit Puts Fish Care First
The most visible change of 2027 will show up at the scales. All Divisional Series events will move from the traditional five-fish limit to three fish per team, a move to promote better fish care.
Fewer bass in the livewell means more room and less demand on the available oxygen supply, a difference that matters most with bigger fish. The reduced stress is expected to improve live-release rates and lower post-event mortality.
The move also continues a trend as old as the sport itself. Tournament limits stood at 10 fish in the 1970s, dropped to seven in the 1980s and eventually settled on the five-fish format anglers know today. Three fish is the next step in that progression, with fish care at the forefront.
The move should also tighten the competition. With each team weighing only its best three, anglers have more freedom to commit to their preferred techniques and fish to their strengths.
Two Paths to Championship Qualification
Teams can punch their ticket to the 2027 Falcon Boats Divisional Series Championship in one of two ways: by fishing six events in a single division or eight events across multiple divisions. The single-division requirement drops from seven events to six, giving teams a path to the Championship with one fewer event than currently required.
Thanks to the continued support of CopperState Tackle, divisional points champions will once again receive no-cost entry into the Championship, a reward for season-long performance as each division’s top team advances to Lake Seminole.
7×7 = $1,000
The new 7×7 program rewards perfect attendance. Any team that fishes all seven events within one division will be entered into a random drawing for a $1,000 cash prize. Teams that fish all seven events in more than one division will earn multiple entries.
Frequent Fishing Program
Teams that compete in at least 10 Divisional Series events during the season will qualify for the Frequent Fishing Program. The highest-finishing eligible team at the 2027 Divisional Series Championship will win the Michael J. Blocher Memorial Award and $500.
The program recognizes the teams that go beyond the Championship qualification requirements and compete throughout the series.
Divisional Big Bass
The season-long Big Bass side pot moves to a strictly divisional format for 2027, with a $40 entry per team for each division entered.
Teams must fish at least six events in a division to be eligible for that division’s Big Bass award. Teams may enter the 100 percent payback side pot in multiple divisions, with each division requiring a separate $40 entry and the six-event minimum.
2027 Divisional Schedule
Dates and locations subject to change
Blackshear Division
Tournament Director: Jason Sapp
Dates and ramp location to be announced.
Caloosahatchee River Division
Tournament Director: Raymond Burdine
- January 31 – LaBelle Ramp
- February 21 – LaBelle Ramp
- March 21 – LaBelle Ramp
- April 25 – LaBelle Ramp
- May 30 – LaBelle Ramp
- June 27 – LaBelle Ramp
- September 26 – LaBelle Ramp
Central Florida Division
Tournament Director: Brian Stahl
- January 9 – Lake Shipp
- February 13 – Arbuckle
- March 6 – Parker
- April 10 – Hamilton
- May 8 – Marion
- June 5 – Reedy
- September 11 – Lake Rochelle
Citrus Division
Tournament Director: David Cutler
- January 31 – Rousseau
- February 28 – Panasoffkee
- March 27 – Rousseau
- April 25 – Panasoffkee
- May 30 – Rousseau
- June 27 – Panasoffkee
- September 26 – Rousseau
Eufaula Division
Tournament Director: Jason Sapp
- January 23 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- February 13 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- March 13 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- April 10 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- May 1 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- June 5 – Chewalla Creek Marina
- September 18 – Chewalla Creek Marina
Garcia Division
Tournament Director: George Short
- January 9 – 512 Ramp
- February 20 – 512 Ramp
- March 20 – 512 Ramp
- April 24 – 512 Ramp
- May 15 – 512 Ramp
- June 12 – 512 Ramp
- September 11 – 512 Ramp
Harris Chain Division
Tournament Director: Bruce Comer
- January 23 – Buzzard Beach
- February 27 – Buzzard Beach
- March 13 – Buzzard Beach
- April 17 – Buzzard Beach
- May 15 – Buzzard Beach
- June 19 – Buzzard Beach
- September 11 – Buzzard Beach
Istokpoga Division
Tournament Director: Jamie Stephens
- January 3 – Istokpoga Park
- February 7 – Istokpoga Park
- March 7 – Istokpoga Park
- April 4 – Istokpoga Park
- May 2 – Istokpoga Park
- June 6 – Istokpoga Park
- September 5 – Istokpoga Park
Johns Lake Division
Tournament Director: Tyler Maring
- January 3 – SR 50 Ramp
- February 7 – SR 50 Ramp
- March 7 – SR 50 Ramp
- March 21 – SR 50 Ramp
- April 4 – SR 50 Ramp
- May 9 – SR 50 Ramp
- June 6 – SR 50 Ramp
Kissimmee Division
Tournament Director: Brian Stahl
- January 10 – Camp Mack
- February 14 – Camp Mack
- March 7 – Camp Mack
- April 11 – Camp Mack
- May 9 – Camp Mack
- June 6 – Camp Mack
September 12 – Camp Mack
North River Division
Tournament Director: Jason Gutierrez
- January 9 – Rodman
- February 13 – St. Johns River
- March 13 – Rodman
- April 10 – St. Johns River
- May 8 – Rodman
- June 12 – St. Johns River
- September 11 – Rodman
Orange Lake Division
Tournament Director: Terry Mullis & Kim Mullis
- January 16 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- February 20 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- March 20 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- April 10 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- May 22 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- June 19 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- September 11 – Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- *If water levels do not allow for division to take place, events will be moved to Lake Santa Fe
Panhandle Division
Tournament Director: Phillip King
- January 23 – Apalachicola River
- February 20 – Talquin
- March 13 – Apalachicola River
- April 10 – Talquin
- April 24 – Apalachicola River
- May 22 – Talquin
- June 19 – Talquin
Suwannee Division
Tournament Director: Donnie Feagle
- January 3 – Fanning Springs
- January 31 – Fanning Springs
- February 21 – Fanning Springs
- March 21 – Fanning Springs
- May 2 – Fanning Springs
- June 6 – Fanning Springs
- August 29 – Fanning Springs
Toho Division
Tournament Director: Jeremy Smith
- January 17 – Southport
- February 21 – Southport
- March 21 – Southport
- April 25 – Southport
- May 16 – Southport
- June 20 – Southport
- August 29 – Southport
Road to Lake Seminole
Every cast of the 2027 season leads to one place. The Falcon Boats Divisional Series Championship is set for Oct. 22-23, 2027, on Lake Seminole, where qualifying teams will launch from Earle May Boat Basin and compete for a Falcon F205 boat package. The event is hosted by Visit Bainbridge.
Team check-in and the Championship banquet will take place Thursday, Oct. 21, ahead of two days of competition. The event marks the seventh time the Xtreme Bass Series Championship has visited Lake Seminole, the site of the inaugural Championship in 2005.
Additional Championship information is available in the 2027 Divisional Series Championship press release. Schedules, updated tournament rules and additional program details will be posted at XtremeBassSeries.com in the coming weeks.
About Xtreme Bass Series
Founded in 2005, Xtreme Bass Series organizes team bass tournaments through its Divisional Series and the CopperState Tackle Limited Team Open. Its Divisional Series is Florida’s largest nonprofessional team tournament series, with divisions across Florida, Alabama and Georgia. Each season culminates in the Falcon Boats Divisional Series Championship, where qualifying teams compete for a fully rigged Falcon boat package.
