The first Hook, Line & Sinker Bass Tournament, held Sept. 26 at Russo’s Marina in Bethel Island, saw 73 boats blast off at first safe light on one of the hottest days of the year. All but 11 teams weighed fish during what local pros are calling a difficult time to get bass into the boat.

The team of Eric Nobriga of Oakley and Terry Vessel of Delhi won $1,005 for their first-place total weight of 25.28 pounds for a seven-fish limit. Nobriga and Vessel spent the day parallel casting the bank, resulting in Vessel’s landing of a 10.46-pound lunker that put his team over the top on a quarter-ounce chartreuse spinnerbait with gold blades.

The second-place father-and-son team of Craig and Matt Carabello of Discovery Bay punched the edge of the weeds to get their 21.35-pound limit, anchored by a 7.44-pound second-place big fish.

Matt Rogers of Livermore and Mario Guel of San Jose rounded out the top three with an 18.73-pound bag using a combination of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, frogs and a green/white speedtrap.

Sign-ups for future tournaments take place at Hook, Line & Sinker in Oakley, or the morning of the tournament at Russo’s Marina. Blast off is at first safe light and weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. The next tournament is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24.