Tournament Format
Two Days. One River. One Chance to Make History.
The Vaal River Bass Classic brings together South Africa’s bass anglers for two days of intense competition, outstanding camaraderie, and one of the country’s biggest bass fishing prize purses.
Whether you’re a seasoned tournament professional or an enthusiastic weekend angler, this event is your opportunity to compete for incredible prizes, prestigious titles, and the honour of becoming a Vaal River Bass Classic Champion.
Tournament Overview
- 2-Day Tournament
- Open to all anglers – No club or organisation affiliation required.
- Maximum of 2 anglers per boat.
- Minimum 15 HP outboard motor.
- A functional safety kill switch is compulsory.
- Boats must be fitted with a livewell capable of safely maintaining at least five (5) bass for a minimum of eight (8) hours.
- Launch Venue: Liquid Lounge River Venue – Emerald Casino & Resort
- Dates: 23-24October 2026
Prize Purse
R600,000+ Total Prize Purse
Compete for one of the largest prize purses in South African bass fishing, including prizes for both individual excellence and overall consistency.
Tournament Format
The Vaal River Bass Classic rewards both the angler who catches the tournament’s big bass and the teams that consistently produce quality bags over both days.
Big Fish Championship
The single largest bass weighed during the two-day tournament will earn its team the prestigious title of Big Fish Champion.
But the excitement doesn’t end there—prizes will also be awarded for 2nd to 20th place, giving even more anglers the opportunity to walk away with a share of the outstanding prize purse.
Additional prizes will also be awarded to the Top 3 Lady Anglers and the Top 3 Junior Anglers, ensuring even more competitors have the chance to be recognised for their outstanding achievements.
Team Champions
The combined weight of each team’s best five (5) bass per day, accumulated over the two competition days, will determine the overall tournament champions.
Additional prize categories will also be awarded within the 5-Fish Bag Competition, giving more teams the opportunity to walk away with outstanding prizes.
Triple Crown Challenge
Three Boats. One Team. Ultimate Team Honours.
Take your Vaal River Bass Classic experience to the next level by entering the Triple Crown Challenge—a unique team competition where three boats compete together as one team for ultimate bragging rights and prestigious team honours.
Best of all, there’s absolutely NO additional entry fee. Every team entered in the Triple Crown Challenge remains fully eligible for all the main tournament prizes, including the Biggest Fish, Overall 5-Fish Bag, and all other prize categories.
Teams may enter under one of the following categories:
- Boat Builders Challenge
- Corporate Challenge
- Club & Trail Challenge
- Open Challenge (for any three-boat team not falling within the above categories)
Gather your best anglers, represent your brand, business, club or friends, and compete together for the honour of being crowned Triple Crown Champions.
Are You Ready?
Big fish. Big bags. Big prizes.
The Vaal River Bass Classic is more than just another fishing tournament—it’s the revival of one of South Africa’s most iconic bass fishing events.