Despite the much-lamented loss of eelgrasss in the St. Johns River, it fished much like it did the last time the Bassmaster Elite Series was here on March 17, 2016. As you can see from the numbers below, a far greater percentage of the 110-angler field caught limits in 2016, but the size average size of the bass weighed-in was almost exactly the same – 3.02 pounds on March 17, 2016, and 3.03 pounds on Feb. 7, 2019.
The discrepancy between the two events becomes apparent in the weights at the lower levels of the standings. For instance, 50th place was 15-7 in 2016 and 11-5 yesterday. That, and the difference in the percentage of limits, may simply be the result of this tournament being almost a month-and-a-half earlier in the year than it was in 2016.
The following is a comparison of Day 1 of the Elite Series tournaments in 2019 and 2016 on the St. Johns River.
| 2019 | 2016 | |
| 1st place |
25-2 | 23-13 |
| 10th place |
20-8 | 20-15 |
| 5th place |
16-13 | 18-9 |
| 35th place |
13-7 | 17-3 |
| 50th place |
11-5 | 15-7 |
| Big bass |
11-2 | 9-13 |
| # of limits |
57/75 | 109/110 |
| % of limits |
76% | 99% |
| Ave. bass wt. |
3.03 lbs. | 3.02 lbs. |