The inaugural Bonus Bass tournament wrapped up its final weekend with a splash, awarding a $4,400 prize to Sumter native David Ardis after he landed a three-pound tagged bass in Taw Caw Creek on May 30—just two days before the contest’s close.
Ardis, who paid a discounted $59 entry fee during a recent promotion, had been fishing lit docks at night when he flipped his line beneath an unlit dock and hooked into the prize-winning fish. Unbeknownst to him at the time, the bass had been tagged in early March by tournament organizer Kyle Jenkins.
“This one didn’t travel far,” Jenkins said. “It stayed within two miles of where it was originally released.”
Ardis is the third and final registered angler to turn in a tagged fish during the three-month-long contest, which ran from March 5 through June 1 across Lakes Marion and Moultrie. Unlike traditional fishing tournaments, Bonus Bass offered a progressive payout system that increased by $100 each day a tagged fish went unclaimed.
“David’s fish was turned in on Day 44 of the current cycle,” Jenkins said. “That’s how he ended up with $4,400—the biggest payout of the season.”
He joins fellow Sumter angler Tommy Stuckey, who claimed a $2,700 prize, and Wyatt Sims of Timmonsville, who won $1,300 back in March. Each registered winner also received a free one-day fishing pass to Santee Cooper Outdoors, a private fishing facility in Summerton.
But the big question remains: will one of them also land the $25,000 grand prize?
Jenkins confirmed that each of the three registered winners now has a one-in-200 shot at matching the preselected winning tag number, which was sealed and shipped by a gaming insurance company. The package is expected to arrive this week, and the grand prize reveal will take place via Facebook Live—likely hosted at Phantom Outdoors in Moncks Corner, a tournament sponsor.
Sixteen other anglers caught tagged fish during the tournament but were not registered and therefore ineligible for any prizes. Jenkins noted one of those unregistered catches went viral on social media, reaching over 1.5 million views.
“The response has been incredible,” Jenkins said. “We’ve had everyone from kids to retirees sign up. Some fish from kayaks or the bank, some from bass boats. It really leveled the playing field.”
Jenkins is already planning for next year’s Bonus Bass season, with hopes of expanding to other South Carolina lakes, including Lake Murray and Lake Hartwell. He’s also exploring the possibility of a larger prize package—potentially swapping the $25,000 cash prize for a boat or other high-value gear through a dealership partnership.
“My goal is to make Bonus Bass the most accessible and exciting tournament in the state,” he said. “We’ll take the off-season to plan, then hit the water again in January.”
For updates on the grand prize drawing and next year’s tournament announcements, follow Bonus Bass on Facebook or visit www.BonusBass.com.
