The 2022 Abu Garcia Lunker of the Year Award sponsored by MTB Brokerage for the regular tournament schedule is a prize valued at over $2,600. The package includes $1,000 cash, prizes from Abu Garcia worth over $1,600 and plaques/trophies. The prizes include 2 top of line Abu Garcia Zata 30 Spinning Reels, 2 top of the line Abu Garcia Veracity Spinning Rods and numerous tournament winning Berkley soft & hard baits.
May 7th NBSFA Season opener on Harvey Lake – Sponsored by Northside Tire
The 4.40-pound lunker of the day was weighed-in by the team of Jeff Shaw and Keith Cormier, a trophy fish on any body of water.
May 21st & 22nd Mactaquac Lake – Nackawic – Sponsored by MotorGuide & Phil’s Auto & Recreation
The two-day event saw four fish weighed-in over four pounds with the lunker weighing in at 5.10-pounds. The monster fish was caught by the father & son team of Donnie & John MacLeod. It is a rarity for a fish over 5 pounds to be caught in a tournament with many anglers in the province never boating such a smallmouth.
July 2nd – Lake Utopia – Sponsored by Berkley
Late May to early July is spawning season for smallmouth bass and to ensure fish are not moved from their spawning beds tournaments are not permitted. The post spawn event on Lake Utopia was a tough tournament for all the competing teams with keeper size fish at a premium. The lunker of the day weighed-in by the team of Bert & Rosaline Beek weighed in a 2.55 pounds, exactly half the size of the lunker fish from Nackawic.
July 16th Mactaquac Lake – Woodstock – Sponsored by Clark Oil & the Town of Woodstock
The quality weights brought to the scales indicated the post spawn was over but lunker size fish did not show up in numbers with only one fish weighed in over four pounds at 4.25 pounds by the team of Joe Crawford and Nathan Crawford.
July 30th & 31st – Dennis Wilson Memorial – Saint John River – Sponsored by the City of Fredericton
The Dennis Wilson Memorial tournament was very similar to the previous event with quality weights brought to the scales but with lunker fish hard to find. The lunker of the tournament brought to the scales by the team of Reg Kendrick & K. Nickerson weighed 4.00 pounds.
August 13th – Beechwood Headpond – Sponsored by the Village of Perth Andover
The morning fog delay kept the 38 teams nervous with anticipation. This fishery is known for its quality size fish with the tremendous crawfish population. And it didn’t disappoint with a winning weight at over 18 pounds and nearly 16 pounds needed for 10th place. The lunker of the day weighing 4.45 pounds was brought to the scales by the father & son team of Robert & Rob Shiels. A trophy fish but not heavy enough to displace the 5.10 pounder caught early in the season.
September 3rd & 4th – Mactaquac Lake – Woodstock
The last regular season event of the season is known for producing lunker fish. Last year the LOTY was caught at this tournament on the last day. The 4.80-pound smallmouth was caught by the Team of Howard Martell & Steve Watson taking home the 2021 Abu Garcia Lunker of the Year Award sponsored by MTB Brokerage. So, there’s still an opportunity for a team to catch one over 5.10 pounds. Good luck to all the participating teams.
