Featured image: Dylan Quilatan lifting a bass at the Harris Chain tournament]
Photo credit: Emily Tucker / Major League Fishing
From City Parks to Pro Podiums
New York City has produced legends in basketball, tennis, and baseball—but competitive bass fishing? That world always felt more Southern than Fifth Avenue. That all changed when 17-year-old Dylan Quilatan transformed his passion for Central Park’s bluegill and Prospect Park’s bass into two Major League Fishing Toyota Series victories this season.
A Family’s Leap of Faith
In December 2019, Dylan persuaded his parents, Michael and Rachel, to swap their Brooklyn brownstone and corporate careers for Central Florida’s bass-rich lakes. “Everybody thought we were nuts,” recalls Michael. But when the pandemic hit, Dylan logged countless hours on his first boat—studying forward-facing sonar, honing casts, and learning every nook of those new waters.
Mastering the Harris Chain of Lakes
Early tournaments pitched Dylan against local veterans who knew every weed bed and drop-off. “I was getting my teeth kicked in,” he admits. Yet every setback sharpened his instincts—reading weather-driven migrations, fine-tuning lure presentations, and making split-second calls. Last weekend, on the Harris Chain of Lakes near Orlando, those lessons paid off: he landed enough bass to claim $39,055 and his second Toyota Series win of the year.
What’s Next for an Urban Angling Prodigy?
With back-to-back victories under his belt, Dylan Quilatan is no longer just a novelty—he’s a genuine contender. Balancing high-school coursework with tournament travel, he’s already eyeing the sport’s biggest stages. “Every time I go out, I’m working towards being a better angler,” he says. As the Major League Fishing tour moves on, watch for this teenager from New York City—he’s casting a long shadow over bass fishing’s future.