Thirty years and one to grow on.
After fishing competitively the past three decades, Mike Iaconelli announced Wednesday that the 2026 Elite Series will be his last.
“Honestly, it was based on a gut feeling,” said the 53-year-old from Pittsgrove, N.J. “I always said when it was time, I would know. Life changes. Between that gut feeling and so many things changing around me, it felt like it was the right time this year.
“I kind of felt it coming for a few years, but it wasn’t right. It sounds like retirement, but it’s not. It’s just like a pivot.”
Ike has made huge wakes in bass fishing, well-known for a prominent tournament career, his variety of shows and the Ike Foundation, which introduces fishing to underserved youth.
Since making his first big splash by winning the 1999 Federation Nation Championship, Ike has accumulated eight Bassmaster victories, including the famed “Never give up!” Classic in 2003, and an Angler of the Year title in 2006. He qualified for 20 consecutive Classics, and his $2.8 million in earnings from 289 B.A.S.S. entries stands second among current Elites.
Adding he’s too competitive, Iaconelli said to expect him to fish some Opens and kayak events, but he plans to become more immersed in “stuff we’re already doing and a lot of new stuff.”
“Ike Live, Going Ike, our shop videos, the content is going to keep pouring,” he said. “With time, I’ll be able to do a better job with those. The return of my City Limits fishing show, that’s really high on the list. And new ones are coming.
“The Ike Foundation, I can start putting more effort into that myself. From the business standpoint, that’s the biggest, best thing I’ve ever done, and I want to continue growing that.”
One of his greatest hopes is to help the next generations of anglers. He said he sees an amazing influx of young anglers who are tournament ready, but he’s working on creating something for them to gain more solid footing in the industry.
“What do I wish I would have had? What do I wish the sport would have had?” he said. “How to educate the guys to grow their brand, their business. I feel a platform that helps with that is coming real soon.
“I was in the thick of it. It was so fun, starting with something that didn’t exist to now I have a million-plus followers on social media.”
Asked what his career meant to him, Iaconelli said he could talk for days.
“It’s been the most amazing opportunity to do something I love for a living. That’s the easiest way to say it,” he said, noting his son, Vegas, aka The Hammer, will be 15 in a few weeks. “When I was his age, I read Bassmaster Magazine, I watched the shows.
“I’d close my eyes and dream about holding a Classic trophy up, I’d dream about the AOY. Those guys, Denny (Brauer), Roland (Martin) and (Rick) Clunn, are my heroes. And I got to do that for 30-plus years at the highest level.”
Accomplishing the dream of his youth has been tremendously self-satisfying, he said. And Ike added there’s terrific residual effects in having amazing fans, sponsors and friends.
Last year, Iaconelli suffered an injury that put the big plans for his 30th season up in the air. He toughed it out and thrilled young fans with giveaways of old school replica vests. He has similar plans in his so-long tour in 2026.
“Last year was successful; people loved it,” he said. “We’re going to do this last year as a thank you, and do it in a way that reflects the old school, the retro of bass fishing.”
His flame branding from 2004 is back on his boat, truck and jersey. There will be “cool” limited merchandise, and he’s spent the past month on the phone with sponsors, like Toyota and Yamaha, for other special promotions.
“There’s been a lot of negative the past few years, and I’ve made a conscious effort to leave on a positive note and to uplift the sport,” Ike said. “I want to leave like, ‘Hey, I hope I helped this sport.’ I want to give it one last boost, and I still want to be here for the sport.”
While he has fished other circuits, going out on Bassmaster’s big stage will be a high point.
“It means the world to me to end it where I began,” he said. “I started in the early ‘90s at B.A.S.S. on my own terms, and now in 2026, I get to end it at B.A.S.S. on my own terms. I’m proud to end it here with Bassmaster.”
