The primary goal for anyone who fishes the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier series is to become a professional Bassmaster Elite Series angler. For most of them, qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic by winning one of the events is a secondary objective.
Georgia’s Caleb Hudson accomplished both by winning the final EQ on Lake Okeechobee and finishing seventh in the overall Angler of the Year standings. The 24-year-old pulled off this feat in his first year of fishing the Bassmaster Opens.
His angling addiction began in ninth grade after his father, Jeremy, built a home overlooking a pond. At every opportunity, Hudson would stand on the bank and cast his favorite bait into the pond, a Storm Chug Bug. The 6-pound largemouth that nabbed a wacky rig on a warm spring day is his most memorable bass from that pond.
“When I learned about high school fishing teams, it sounded insane,” Hudson said.
He longed to be on such a team, but his school didn’t have one. His parents were so supportive of his passion, they moved. This allowed him to attend Greenbrier High School, which does have a fishing team.
Hudson’s father also purchased a used 19-foot, 2006 Stratos to use for competition.
“That boat didn’t have any electronics for a long time,” Hudson said.
While competing in Georgia’s B.A.S.S. Nation high school tournaments, Hudson and his fishing partner Matt Frey finished seventh or better in the Angler of the Year points every year.
Jon Hair, president of Greenfish Tackle, sponsored Hudson’s high school team.
“Jon has been a mentor for fishing and life as long as I’ve known him,” Hudson said. “He was kind enough to give me a job while I was in college. I went to shows with him and learned a lot about the fishing industry. Without him, I wouldn’t be here.”
While in high school, Hudson fished tournaments on a variety of regional lakes, including Eufaula, Hartwell and Sinclair. He learned every lake is different and versatility is required.
“I might be fishing offshore in one tournament and throwing a frog on matted grass the next,” he said.
He claimed the most effective thing he learned in high school was how to use side imaging to find likely bass hideouts. His team was allowed only one practice day, and this technology helped him make the most of it.
After high school, he went to Georgia’s Emmanuel University for one year and competed on their bass team with Tyler Campbell. They finished eighth in points and second at a Bassmaster College Championship on Lake Hartwell.
Hudson spent the next two years fishing local open tournament circuits while studying mechanical engineering at a technical school. He finished his education at the University of South Carolina Union, graduating with a business degree.
He and Tanner Hadden teamed up to fish one season on the university’s bass team. They won the Lunker division of the Bassmaster College series. After graduation, he jumped right into the EQs.
Thanks to his mechanical and technical ability, Hudson can rig everything on his boat to perfection. Friends and friends of friends began asking him to help do the same for their boats.
This prompted him to start the Top Marine Technicians boat rigging business with Hadden in Appling, Ga. He has since become a certified technician with the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA).
“We install trolling motors, wire harnesses, Power-Poles, graphs, lithium batteries and all types of bass boat accessories,” Hudson said.
He plans to help maintain the enterprise while competing on the Elite Series tour. It began in a garage, moved to a small shop and now has a shop with a store front. It has grown to the point that Hudson is looking for full-time employees.
“I don’t have definite sponsors lined up for next year, but I’d like to mention some that got me here,” Hudson said. “Many thanks to Newsome Electrical, Brush Strokes commercial painting, Hixon Roofing, Gage Construction Consulting, Greenhead Homes, Ark Fishing Rods, Zoom and SPRO.”
