Long-awaited word started hitting the streets the last week of February about the date for the first Wednesday Night Hawg Fights Bass Tournament Series tournament of 2025.

Hawg Fighters across the land, who love fishing evening bass tournaments in the lakes, bayous, canals and coves across Acadiana, rejoiced as March 19 was announced as the date for the season opener traditionally held out of Marsh Field Landing at Lake Fausse Pointe. Many were relieved because there was some doubt as to the season happening because the long-time director, Mike Sinitiere of New Iberia, wanted to give up the volunteer position.

It took a while for a successor to rise to the occasion. As of January there was no public interest in being director for the WN Hawg Fights BTS until Sinitiere got word from New Iberia outdoorsman Rusty Owens.

“Well, Mike said he wanted a little break or whatever, that he was just going to let somebody take over and nobody stepped up,” Owens said about the offseason.

Finally, somebody stepped up.

“I wanted to keep the tradition alive. A lot of people look forward to it. It’s good, family fun and I didn’t want to see it die,” Owens said earlier this week about his decision a few weeks ago to succeed Sinitiere.

Sinitiere, of New Iberia, announced his intention to give up the director’s position a little before the season-ending WN Hawg Fights Classic last August, then repeated it throughout the fall and winter. He was serious.

“I’m going to step down because I needed a break in my last year of work. I’m retiring next year. I wanted to give full focus on work this year,” Sinitiere said Feb. 27. “I’m still helping; I’ll still be around … I’ll be a weighmaster.”

The 64-year-old business development manager for Coca-Cola United looks back with satisfaction at his seven-year reign as director. It was challenging, at times, of course, but overall, he said, “I enjoyed it because at the end of it (each season), it was a great feeling of accomplishment there. I like it because we run a fair circuit.”

“You have to deal with things that come up but that wasn’t too often. I enjoyed it. I’ll take a break and see how next year unfolds.”

The best part, he confided, was making long-standing friendships. And he praised the bass anglers operating “behind the scenes” – a local outdoors writer who took photos and Chris Vedrines of New Iberia, who monitored the standings and posted photos, results and other information the past several years on Facebook.

Vedrines, too, said he is fishing the circuit again this year but stepping back from his extracurricular duties valued by everyone.

Owens, who owns Randy’s Total Renovations LLC and Owens Investment Adventures LLC, said Bo Amy, who teamed with Donald Romero to win the WN Hawg Fights BTS Angler(s) of the Year title in 2024, has been added as a board member for 2025.

“That way we have five, an odd number (to break tiebreaker votes). Bo’s a down-to-heart fisherman through and through,” he said about the makeup of the board, which includes the new director, Brad Romero, Jacob Shoopman and Sinitiere.

He’s excited about the fast-approaching opening date for Hawg Fights.

“I think we’ll have a good turnout because the weather has been getting better and better. The water should clear up a bit. I think we’ll have a good turnout for sure,” Owens said. “I think we’ll have new fishermen this year. I’ve been preaching the gospel. I’ve got other people wanting to fish, wanting to get involved in it and try their luck.”

This will be his fifth year on the popular local evening bass tournament circuit. He became a board member in his second year and has tirelessly recorded the weights at each weigh-in ever since.

“I just do it because I enjoy it. It ain’t work when you’re having fun. I’ll still be doing that (writing the results) to keep everything on the up and up,” he said.

He said his wife, Felicia, who just opened Dream Team Refurbishing, will update the results and yearly standings on Facebook.

Owens has made one change to the rules. This year dead fish will be weighed but with a .25-pound penalty.

He believes it’s unsportsmanlike to have a bass die, throw it back, then add a freshly caught bass to replace it. Plus, he said, livewell problems could kill one or all of the fish, which might discourage bass anglers from weighing in with nothing to show for their time, effort and money.

The personable outdoorsman has other ideas, such as soliciting sponsors for plaques or trophies. Also, the director tentatively plans to schedule an Open tournament on a weekend this year with a portion of the money going to sweeten the pot for the circuit’s end-of-the-year Classic. An Open derby would get the WN Hawg Fights BTS brand “out there” and perhaps attract “weekend warriors” who might decide, “hey, let’s do this Wednesdays.”

After the March 19 opener, the other 11 Hawg Fights are scheduled to be held April 2, April 16, April 30, May 14, May 28, June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, Aug. 6 and Aug. 20 with the WN Hawg Fights BTS Classic set for Sept. 7.

Weigh-in time, i.e., when each boat’s chip handed out when entry fee is paid, must be on the board before the digital scale opens, will be announced before each takeoff at 5:30 a.m. Entry fee is $60 per boat and must be paid at the launch site before 5 a.m.