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THE BASS FEDERATION
“ PEOPLE DON ’ T UNDERSTND WHAT FISHING PRESSURE IS UNTIL THEY LOOK AT FLORIDA .”
REBUILDING A FOUNDATION
After serving 25 years in the military , Willequer retired in 1997 . In the 27 years since , he said , “ fishing ’ s pretty much what I ’ ve done .”
He ’ s kept himself plenty busy . Willequer took on his first leadership role with TBF around 2003 . In the years since , he ’ s held a variety of positions within the Central Region , plus served as the vice president for his local bass club and assumed a regional director role with the National Bass Anglers Association . He competes in about two dozen tournaments each year .
Despite his full plate , when the previous Florida federation president revealed he ’ d been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2021 , Willequer took on the challenge of stepping into the role — and it was a challenge .
During his battle with cancer , the previous president had stopped maintaining the chapter ’ s website , and the domain ultimately got purchased by someone from the United Kingdom . Willequer had to set up a new site , which launched in January . He also had to recruit new clubs , as the chapter ’ s membership had .
“ I said , ‘ You know , I ’ ll give it a couple , three years and see if I can ’ t get the tide to turn and increase the membership ,’” Willequer said . “ If I can , I can , and if I can ’ t , well , at least I can say I gave it the good ol ’ try .”
Willequer brought a new , 10-angler club under the TBF umbrella in 2023 , then two more new clubs already in 2024 . He ’ s also added a tournament to the schedule — the state will host six in 2024 , plus the National Semi-Final event for Florida and Georgia — and gotten a few local bait companies on board as sponsors .
“ I ’ m getting some intermittent local sponsorship , so I ’ ve got some stuff to raffle at all our tournaments now ,” he explained . “ Just doing the little things to try to get people back .”
A MORE COLLEGIAL CIRCUIT
Willequer ’ s recruiting pitch has centered around the fact that the TBF offers less crowded , less cutthroat competition . The first-place payout might not be as lucrative as on other trails , but anglers have a far better chance of earning their money back and contending for a trophy . Plus , the TBF schedule doesn ’ t focus solely on the months bass are bedding , when the lakes are at their most crowded . Like all state federations , it also offers a path to the
TBF National Championship and the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American .
“ The trail itself is relatively inexpensive compared to the other ones that are out there ,” Willequer said . “ Those will run you $ 400 , $ 500 plus per tournament , and you ’ re fishing 200 boats . So , the TBF provides you an avenue that ’ s reasonable , and the competition , while it ’ s strong , it ’ s not as many numbers-wise . You ’ re fishing against 25 other anglers instead of 225 , so your chances are magnificently increased when you fish a TBF tournament . And we don ’ t only fish the spawn . We fish all year round .”
Willequer wants to keep growing the club — he doesn ’ t have any plan to cap membership . But he wants to do so while remaining “ angler oriented ” rather than sponsor or profit oriented . The biggest challenge , he said , has simply been spreading the word among the crowded Florida tournament landscape that TBF can offer anglers a different experience .
“ Getting the word out is the most important thing , and letting them know that we ’ re still here ,” he said . “ I ’ m kind of riding on my credibility . The people have known me for 25 years , and they know that if I say I ’ m going to do something , I ’ m going to do it . So , I ’ m sort of beating that bandwagon and saying , ‘ Look guys , I told you when I took over , this is what I wanted to do . I ’ m doing it , so come join me .’”
AJ Willequer , FBF President , presents Robert Miller III , co-angler , with his plaque for a 4.08lb Big Bass at the 1st FBF Qualifier January 13 , 2024 on Lake Shipp , Florida .
Scan this QR code to stay up to date on The Bass Federation tournament schedule , results and news .
76 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | APRIL-MAY 2024