Bass Cat Boats has added veteran Japanese angler Shinichi Fukae to the its pro staff, the company announced Wednesday. Fukae is the only angler in bass fishing history to win Angler of the Year awards on two different continents. Shortly after winning the Japan Bass Top 50 honor he claimed that same title as a rookie on the FLW Tour in 2004.
Fukae, who currently fishes the Bass Pro Tour, has approximately $1.7 million in combined winnings across U.S. tours. While he’s generally thought of as a master of finesse techniques, his tournament record includes FLW wins at Okeechobee, Beaver Lake and Lake Champlain, a testament to his versatility. He has competed in a dozen FLW Cup championships and one Bassmaster Classic.
“This was a very big decision for me and I did not take it lightly,” Fukae said. “I visited the factory and asked a lot of questions. Everyone there was patient, and they welcomed me and my wife and explained the reason behind everything they do. It means a lot to me to be part of the Bass Cat family and I am confident that the boat will enhance and improve my on-the-water experience.”
The addition of Fukae is part of Bass Cat’s ongoing and rapidly-growing partnership with SDG (Showa Denki Group) Marine, Japan’s leading importer of high-performance bass boats.
“We are thrilled to add Shin to our team,” said Kevin Short, Bass Cat’s Pro Staff Director and head of International Sales. “He’s one of the most dedicated anglers I’ve ever met and he consistently does things that right way. Those skills and ethics are rightfully appreciated around the world.”
This year, Fukae will run the Lynx, Bass Cat’s 20-foot, 8-inch wide-body model. He was won over not only by its wave-defying capabilities, but also by the massive deck space and storage capabilities.
“I have already stowed a bunch of my tackle in it and the hole shot still remains unbelievable," Fukae said.
Bass Cat President Rick Pierce first met Fukae at Smith Lake in Alabama in 2016.
“I helped him out with a motor issue when the technician was overloaded," Pierce recalled. "That’s how it is on tour – we all take care of each other. Since that time I’ve gotten to know Shin and [wife] Miyu much better and I know that not only are they really good folks, but they operate as a team. Shin has proven that he’s capable of great things on the water, but his addition will also help us cement our worldwide footprint. We are certain that we’ll see him holding up at least one trophy in his Lynx, and we looking forward to making both him and his wife Miyu long-term members of the Bass Cat family.”
