As the General Manager of the Roland Martin Marina & Resort, Ramon Iglesias and his dedicated crew run the Roland Martin Marine Center Series, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida. We recently sat down with him to get his thoughts on the history and future of the RMMC Series as they get ready for the 2017 Championship where a record $20,000 will be awarded to the top team.

Name: Ramon Iglesias
Title: General Manager @ Roland Martin Marina & Resort
History with Marina & Resort: 13 years
Home: Clewiston, FL

Q When was the first event of the RMMC Series?
RI Our first tournament was in March of 2015. We had about 65 teams competing and the winner’s check was $4,000 back then. From the initial feedback, our anglers liked what we were doing and it fueled the fire to keep us going.

Q How did the series start?
RI When I started at the Marina 13 years ago, owner Mary Ann Martin told me from day one that she wanted to have our own tournament out of the Marina. Unfortunately, since I was new to the fishing tournament world, I wanted to wait to make sure we did it right. As time went by, I hosted a few tournaments over the years but wasn’t in charge of them. It wasn’t until Mike Krause came on board, who had been involved in tournaments, that we started figuring out how to bring Mary Anne’s vision to life.

Q What do the anglers have to say about the series?
RI There’s a lot that they like about it. Of course the payouts are the main thing. They’ve told us it’s the best-run tournament on Lake Okeechobee. We’ve also heard it’s the best-run tournament in Florida. It's all led to us being named the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida. And at the end of the event, when the anglers see how much work goes into bringing them the type of tournament we put together and the amount of money we’re paying out, they appreciate it. And we appreciate them.

Q How much do you rely on your staff and the resort during the events?
RI It’s a complete team effort. And everyone plays a role. From the tackle shop, to the front desk booking rooms, to the staff in the kitchen, to mechanics helping with boat repairs and even maintenance helping with setup. Then there’s our phenomenal M.C., Mike at the bump tank, the guys caring for the fish in the release boat and Heather on stage keeping us on track. It’s a lot of work and everyone steps up to bring it all together.

Q What makes the RMMC Series different from other team tournament trails?
RI We truly are a 100% payback event. We’ve got the best M.C. in the business and we truly care what the anglers think. Even better, you can eat, sleep and fish right where the tournament is happening.

Q Are you amazed at the amount of top anglers the Series attracts and how hard they fish?
RI Absolutely! From retired professional anglers to weekend bass warriors, we attract some true diehards. We haven’t been subject to too many bad-weather events, but it doesn't matter. These guys will brave near monsoon conditions to get out there and fish.

Q How have the sponsors stepped up to boost the series?
RI Not only have current sponsors stepped up, but I had four different sponsors contact me in the last couple weeks wanting to be a part of what we’re doing. We continue to look for sponsors that we can bring value to. We’ve turned down sponsors just for the simple fact that we didn’t think we could add value to their product. We’re not just going to take a check unless we think they can get a good return from our working relationship. Companies like U.S. Sugar have been with us from the start and contribute Big Bass Awards along with their support. ARK Rods has stepped up to sponsor our Team Of The Year Award, which awards our Team Of The Year paid entries for the entire 2018 season. They even stepped up to foot the bill for our Championship Banquet Friday night at the John Boy Auditorium. Other sponsors like Gilbert Chevrolet have been with us since day one as our official vehicle sponsor. Ranger Boats contributes Ranger Cup incentives that awards $1,000 to the winning team if they are fishing from a Ranger Boat. And Interstate Batteries joined us last season taking care of the purchase of our Championship trophies, which is huge. The list continues with other great companies - be sure to visit our sponsor page for complete list.

Q What are the main attractions of this year’s championship?
RI Besides a record payout of $20,000 to the winning team, the excitement of who is going to win is the big draw. Plus, this lake fishes different every other day. You could be on them one day and off the next. It’s anybody’s guess who’s going to win. And that right there is what it all comes down to. The excitement isn’t limited to just the anglers either. For the fans, M.C. Chris “Peanut” Brill keeps the energy going with his unique commentary. We always have something for the kids courtesy of Charlie’s Worms to get them excited about fishing. We got great raffle prizes, too. And not only fishing products. We’re giving away everything from T.V.’s and wireless headphones to watches and perfume. We have something for everyone.   

Q How is the condition of Lake Okeechobee?
RI The water level has been high following Hurricane Irma but it’s dropping 4/10” every day. There are plenty of areas that are fishable even though there’s still a lot of dark water. But all in all, Irma did some good for the lake. For example, as the lake drops, areas like the Monkey Box will be in better shape. We just have to get through it. After all, this is Lake Okeechobee. Even on its worst day, it fishes better than most lakes across the country. And all it takes is one Okeechobee lunker to catapult you to the top.

Q What can we expect in future seasons?
RI Honestly, I don’t know. But I do know you can be sure we’ll work hard to make it better than the year before. We understand we’re not the big dogs. We look at ourselves as the stepping-stone to the next level. By competing against the hardcore anglers we attract, we can better prepare our anglers looking to step up to the next level. And when the last fish is weighed and we award the big check, you can bet we’re already thinking about how to make next season even better.

The Roland Martin Marine Center Series 2017 Championship is December 9 & 10 at the Roland Martin Marina in Clewiston, Fl. Come out for the weigh-ins starting at 3p.m. Saturday and Sunday with raffles and $20,000 awarded to the winning team following the Sunday weigh-in. See you in Clewiston.

December 8th @ 5pm John Boy Auditorium
Let's get ready for Championship Weekend! Make sure your team is registered here before the deadline December 7, 2017 @ 5pm EST. And gear up for a Championship Celebration - Details Below. If you need additional information, please contact us.  

As we gear up for the 2017 Roland Martin Marine Center Series Championship December 9 & 10 in Clewiston, Fl, the Team Of The Year race is coming down to the wire. With The Ark Rods "Team Of The Year" Award, the 2017 Team Champions will not only experience the rewards of the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, but will also have their entries paid for the 2018 season. 

In anticipation of Hurricane Irma we have decided to re-schedule this weekend’s Roland Martin Marine Center’s Qualifier #3 to November 4th, 2017. Our first priority is the safety of our anglers and families. Your time is best spent preparing for the storm and we wanted to make sure your focus was on your needs and not fishing.

If you have registered and paid already it will be transferred to the October event automatically. If you have a room reservation please call to cancel and rebook @ 863-983-3151.

If you or someone you know have any storm damage please look into the services of one of our own (Jonathan Farmer Public Adjuster) @ 954-297-9594. Let him deal with the insurance companies to get the most out of your claim.

Below are some tips from Johnathan:

Before the storm you should walk around your house or business and video, both inside and outside. This one may veer off, as they sometimes do, but just in case, this will eliminate the argument from the insurance companies that damage was pre-existing. Also keep your policy info together for easy access. If this does hit, the response time will not be great for most, so take pictures of any damage that occurs. This is your best ammunition for getting things settled, without too much aggravation. Make sure your prep is done early, and be ready for no power for an extended amount of time.

If you have additional questions, please contact us. Be prepared and be safe!

Sincerely,

Ramon Iglesias
Tournament Director

CLEWISTON, FL – The highest paying team tournament trail in Florida continues to grow following a record number of boats for the July Qualifier along with a new sponsor, BassBoat4sale.com. 

“My dad brought me to the The Roland Martin Marina when I was ten and I’ve been coming back ever since,” said BassBoat4Sale.com owner Josh Roller. “We’re humble and proud to team up with the successful tournament trail to help out with exposure and be a part of the scene.”

Launching December 31, 2016, BassBoat4Sale.com is focused 100% on the Bass Boat market. Working with dealers as well as individuals, their expanded exposure and personal attention with each individual listing is what sets them apart.

“With other boat listing companies offering limited platforms, mainly just their website, we saw the need for a bigger and better platform for sellers and buyers that was more updated,” said Roller. “By combining a web presence with the power of social media, we've taken it to the next level by offering a better buying and selling experience that you just don’t find with single platform listings. With more detailed marketing at work, sellers benefit from increased traffic while users experience an overall better buying experience. When it comes to the bass boat market, no one does it better. That’s all we do and we do it better than anybody else. And the fact that you get all this added value at a more competitive price makes the decision even easier.” 

Listings on BassBoat4sale.com are also showcased on Facebook and Instagram offering more exposure and information for the buyers and sellers.

Plans for the future include a new expanded website along with additional social media channels to take the buying and selling experience even further.

Want to know more? Visit www.BassBoat4Sale.com and click the contact button. Or make plans to come out to the next Roland Martin Marine Center Series Qualifier, September 9^th, and ask for Josh Roller with BassBoat4Sale.com. The RMMC Crew will be glad to introduce you. 

The Roland Martin Marine Center Series is getting ready for Qualifier #3 of the 2017 season on September 9, 2017. After a record number of boats for Qualifier #2 and $6,000 going to the winning team, the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida continues to grow. Register now to secure a spot for your team or make plans to join us in Clewiston for Big Prizes, Big Bass and Big Checks. Need more information, contact us here.