May 3, 2025 | Mashpee, MA — The American Fishing Tour (AFT) Division 5 event held on the historic Mashpee-Wakeby Ponds delivered an impressive showdown on May 3rd, 2025. With several seasoned tournament anglers in attendance, it was Aaron Orsi who emerged victorious, rewriting the division record books in the process.
Orsi took home first place with a stellar five-fish limit weighing 19.95 pounds, edging out a stacked field by targeting deeper water where pre-spawn females were staging. While many competitors focused on warming shallow flats, Orsi’s decision to go deep paid off, earning him $451 in winnings. He also landed the third-largest bass of the day, weighing in at 4.63 pounds.
Finishing just behind him was longtime ABA angler and former Division 5 director Dan Rose, who brought in a five-fish bag totaling 19.48 pounds. After a couple of tough events, Rose found redemption on the Cape, securing $254 for second place.
Rounding out the top three was Daniel Gonsalves, whose five-fish limit tipped the scales at 19.25 pounds. Gonsalves made a bold attempt to connect with a giant bass in the 6–7 pound range, but the risk didn’t quite pay off. Still, his performance earned him $79 and a well-deserved third-place finish.
Randy Almeida closed out the top tier with a strong 19.02-pound limit and took home the Big Bass honors with a 4.82-pound smallmouth, earning an additional $320 in Big Bass cash.
Notably, all four of the top finishers broke the previous Division 5 record of 18.20 pounds, which had stood for several years and was held by Louie Bernardo. The record-setting weights highlight just how competitive and productive the Mashpee-Wakeby fishery was on this memorable tournament day.
Top 10
The next stop for AFT Division 5 is set for June 14th, 2025, at Lake Shirley – Shady Point Beach & Campground in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Anglers will be looking to carry the momentum from this landmark event into the heart of the season.
About American Bass Anglers
American Bass Anglers is dedicated to organizing affordable, local tournaments for weekend anglers while offering opportunities for individual angler advancement. To learn more about American Bass Anglers, including the Team Series, American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, ABA Team Series, Top 150 Solo Tour, and Professional League, all presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
American Bass Anglers is proud to be sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, WattCycle Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
For more information, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
