CLEWISTON, FL – Qualifier #2 of the 2026 Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK delivered in a big way. Let’s talk about 20-pound + bags. And let’s talk about a lot of them.
At most tournaments, if you’re bringing over 20 pounds to the scales, you’re feeling pretty good about yourself. Then there’s the Roland Martin Marine Center Series on Lake Okeechobee. Twenty pounds gets you a participation trophy and hearty get-‘em-next-time consolation.
On April 4, 2026, 160 teams took off from the Roland Marina and Resort in Clewiston with their eyes on the prize. At 3:00 pm, the teams started rolling back in and putting the weigh-in bags to the test. When the final bass was weighed, 40 teams brought in limits of 20-pounds and more. Impressive. Now let’s talk dirty-30.
Dropping 34.40 pounds on the scales, the team of Tim King and Russell Clement earned the first Dirty-30 RMMC Series Hats of the 2026 Season along with a hefty check as the Qualifier #2 Champs.
“I told my wife at the start, if we have the place to ourself, we’re going to win,” King said. “And that’s what we got. We probably threw back another 28-pound sack as well.”
“It was an epic day,” Clement added. “And we even lost a 8-pounder next to the boat that could have made it even better.”
Heartbreak turned to gold with the winning check for $6,000 and they took the cherished Dirty-30 hats home for well-earned bragging points.
In second place were the Young Scopers, Yavorsky and Sabot. And yes, another pair of Dirty-30 hats were issued with a weight of 32.28 pounds and the second place check for $3,550.
And so close to making it 3-for-30, the team of Martinez and Miller just missed it with 29.97 pounds. But they wiped their tears with the third place check for $2,550.
And as the highest paying team tournament in Florida, the payouts continued. Along with their winning check, King and Clement also collected $150 in Bruiser Bucks for the Mega Bag of the event. Jack Marshall collected $250 as the highest finisher to cross the stage in HUK GEAR. With the biggest bass of the event, U.S. Sugar awarded Jamie Stephens $500 for his 8.35 pound bass. 2nd Big Bass of 8.34 pounds belonged to Todd Gilbert earning him $100 Gambler Bucks. The highest finishing Mercury owner earned Aaron Yavorsky an additional $250. Robert Alfano collected $250 as the highest finishing Gilbert Chevrolet owner. Coming in as the highest finishing Lady Angler, Esperanza Picos took home a new pair of Bajio Sunglasses. And winning big for going small, the team of Davis and Skidmore turned the smallest limit of 6.76 pounds into $300 from AV Inspection. And talk about a Golden Egg, the team of Carnahan and Alvarez collected $500 for finding the golden buoy.
If you missed it, check out the Gallery and Final Weigh-in to see for yourself. Even Peanut could barely contain himself. But then again, he’s not really one to contain himself. Be sure to join us as we turn up the heat all season long leading up to the Championship where the winning team could possibly take home a record $50,000. So mark your calendar. Our next qualifier is June 27th. We’ll see you then.
