The Hobie Bass Open Series, one of the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament series, made a stunning announcement for the 2024 season. The Hobie B.O.S. will permit motorized kayaks at a selection of tournaments. The change to the event format stirs conversation among the competitive kayak fishing scene and further illustrates how motors have cemented their place in kayak fishing.
Hobie B.O.S. Allows Motors For 2024
The news about the change in the Hobie B.O.S. event format was first shared on the Kayak Bass Nation Podcast in late December. Until the 2023 season, the Hobie B.O.S. had a reputation for hosting a human-powered fishing series. The tournament director, AJ McWhorter, broke the news to those listening to the podcast episode and also posted the announcement on the Hobie Bass Open Series Facebook page.
“We will be evolving this season after only running human powered events in all of our companies’ categories for decades, to allowing motors in many, but not all, of our events in 2024,” McWhorter shared in the post which was also published on the Hobie B.O.S. website.
Hobie has yet to produce an integrated motor kayak themselves. Still, with the ever-expanding number of aftermarket offerings and kitted-out fishing kayaks, it was likely a matter of time before the juggernaut event series made the call. Anglers had their fair share of comments on the announcement, with some disappointed in the news while others were welcoming of the change.
Not every stop on the Hobie B.O.S. circuit will allow motors, but most will. Six of the eight rounds in next year’s series will be open to motorized kayaks, along with the grande finale Tournament of Champions. The new format is sure to bring new competitors to the events as well as be protested by others as it brings the Hobie series one degree closer to bass boat tourneys.
McWhorter says complete rules for the 2024 season will be announced in the near future. For now, here is a rundown of the events.
2024 Hobie Bass Open Series
- Jan 27–28, Harris Chain of Lakes, FL: Motors allowed
- Feb 10–11, Lake Sam Rayburn, TX: Motors allowed
- March 9–10, Logan Martin Lake, AL: Motors allowed
- April 6–7, Lake Norman, NC: Human power only
- May 4–5, Wright Patman Lake, TX: Human power only
- June 1–2, Lake Cayuga, NY: Motors allowed
- August 10–11, Saginaw River and Bay, MI: Motors allowed
- September 21–22, Lake Chickamauga, TN: Motors allowed
- Tournament of Champions: Motors allowed
Visit Hobie Bass Open Series to learn more about the events.
This is cool – I’ve been following your content for a long time and I’m digging in again – in the market for a new kayak for 2024!
And somehow they call this evolving – sounds like when a city annexes farmland and then puts up a parking lot. Call it what you want but kayaking has always been about tradition and Simplicity, and I stress simplicity. $20K kayaks running around a lake like little bassboats is not evolving!
Progress is regression.
Hobie DID offer a yak motor ……. It was called the Evolve
Kayak tournaments are losing my interest as fast as the big bass tournaments have. The advent of FFS has totally turned me against those involved. Why don’t you hunt deer with thermal scopes? Because it’s illegal and unfair. FFS is no different. They disallowed umbrella rigs for the same reason and FFS is far worse for the sport. And now motors on kayaks. If you need a trailer to bring your kayak to the river or lake, shame on you. The therapeutic, simpleness, of kayak fishing is being exploited by those who think they need this to compete. You’re a disgrace and a shame that you can’t catch fish without all this garbage. If you want to fish like this, then go buy a bassboat; you look silly with 10 rods, a dozen tackle boxes, multiple batteries, and so much other gear that you sit 8″ in the water…..pathetic, sadly pathetic. I’m going to small waters and enjoy what kayak fishing is truly all about….and you know what, you can’t follow me because you draft too low, or your trailer won’t fit where I’m going.
Nothing but truth being spoken. Thanks brother.