Yamaha pro Paul Marks lined his pockets with an additional $4,000 thanks to the Yamaha Power Pay contingency program, following his victory at the Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite on Lake Murray. Marks caught over 90-pounds over the course of the four-day event to finish first.
Marks wasted no time after the tournament and immediately began preparing for a Tuesday Night Jackpot tournament on Lake Lanier with an estimated “ten to fifteen boats” in attendance. Staying on the water and constantly honing his craft is how Marks stays on the cutting edge of competition.
Marks’ impressive win on Lake Murray is the second coveted Elite Series title the second-year Bassmaster® pro has added to his trophy case. Both of Marks’ victories have taken place on “herring fisheries,” or lakes where blueback herring make up a large portion of the predatory bass’s diet.
According to Marks there are a lot of nuances related to bodies of water where blueback herring are present. The Georgia native is adept at catching bass all over the country, but he is considered an expert when it comes to fisheries with these unique baitfish.
“Targeting bass keyed on blueback herring is something I’ve spent a lot of time doing and is definitely become a strength of mine,” Marks said. “I employ a run-and-gun style of fishing for herring eaters that really plays into Yamaha’s reliability, and the trust I have in the 250 -horsepower V MAX® SHO on the back of my Phoenix (boat).
“I was cranking my big engine no less than 80 to 100-times per day at Lake Murray. That’s a lot to ask of your equipment. Timing is everything with herring eaters, so I cover a lot of water. I may pull up to a point, brushpile, or school of fish and only make three casts before firing up my Yamaha to run to the next spot. It’s an exhausting way to fish. It works, but you have to have complete confidence in your equipment.”
Marks explained that Yamaha’s reputation for reliability was one of his main influences in outfitting his boat with a Yamaha V MAX® SHO to start his rookie year in 2025. His confidence has only grown fishing full-time over the past two seasons.
The final day of the 2026 Tedy’s Team Bassmaster Elite fell on Mother’s Day, and Marks was able to celebrate this victory with his mom and family on the shores of Lake Murray. Along with this family element, Marks’ win was punctuated with the Yamaha Power Pay bonus.
Marks received the bonus for being the highest placing pro with a Yamaha motor purchased within the last 60-months on the back of his boat, besting seven other Yamaha outboard pros who finished in the top ten of this tournament.
“That Yamaha V MAX® SHO is already the best, most reliable motor on the market,” Marks said. “The opportunity to win some serious cash through Power Pay is truly an added blessing. If you fish tournaments, you need to get a Yamaha outboard and get signed up.”
Yamaha Power Pay has steadily become one of the most recognized and lucrative contingency programs in competitive fishing and continues to grow in popularity because of its accessibility to anglers at every level. Whether competing in grassroots tournaments, regional circuits, or professional events, registered anglers have the chance to earn significant payouts when competing in one of the over 620 supported events.
You don’t have to win a professional tournament like Paul Marks to benefit from the advantages of Yamaha Power Pay. For more information or to register today, follow this link: https://yamahapowerpay.com/.
