Eastern Qualifier #1 on the Chowan River Kicks Off 2025 Season
The 2025 season is officially underway! The first Eastern Series Qualifying Event was held this past weekend on the Chowan River, and it didn’t disappoint. Anglers were met with tough conditions, but the weights at the top proved that quality fish were still biting.
Walt Goff and Phillip Gibson took the top spot with an impressive 25.12 lbs., anchored by the tournament’s Big Fish — a 7.8 lb. giant. Their winning bag earned them $1,270, and they also claimed the Big Fish payout of $210.
In second place, Travis Badgett and Ricky Mize brought in 20.10 lbs., with a 5.39 lb. kicker, and rounding out the top three were Adam Haithcock and Mike Cox with 15.16 lbs.
The top 20 anglers from this event have punched their ticket to the 2025 North Carolina BASS Nation State Championship, which will be announced at the final Western Trail event.
Full Results:
| Team | Total Weight | Big Fish |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Goff – Phillip Gibson | 25.12 lbs | 7.80 lbs |
| Travis Badgett – Ricky Mize | 20.10 lbs | 5.39 lbs |
| Adam Haithcock – Mike Cox | 15.16 lbs | 3.91 lbs |
| Nick Godwin – Shane Godwin | 14.95 lbs | 4.73 lbs |
| Will James – Luke James | 14.34 lbs | 3.18 lbs |
| Tyler Jackson – Blake Jackson | 13.33 lbs | 5.08 lbs |
| Jason Pittman – Jeremy Hodge | 12.51 lbs | 3.24 lbs |
| Adam Richardson – Blake Richardson | 12.47 lbs | — |
| Powell Kemp – Phillip Medford | 11.94 lbs | — |
| Mark Lamb – Robert Griswold | 10.08 lbs | — |
| Matt Kimbrell – Jamie Williams | 9.36 lbs | — |
| Daryl Peele – Jerry Langley | 9.14 lbs | — |
| Jon Mitchell – Scott Shrewsbury | 8.73 lbs | — |
| Brian Stalls – Kyle White | 8.72 lbs | — |
| Trey Nanney – Wesley Bennett | 8.50 lbs | — |
| Andy Evans – Ricky Parnell | 8.44 lbs | 5.17 lbs |
| Daniel Wood – Adam Petty | 7.30 lbs | — |
| Andrew Pittman – Laura Bailey | 7.06 lbs | — |
| Mike May – Cliff Jenkins | 6.18 lbs | — |
| Jonathan Canaday – John Parrish | 5.92 lbs | — |
| Tyler Little – Tim Little | 0.00 lbs | — |
Thank you to everyone who came out and competed! We’re off to a strong start in the East, and we look forward to seeing you at the next stop. Stay tuned for updates on the Western Trail and the announcement of the 2025 NC State Championship location.
