By subscribing to The Fisherman Magazine, you are automatically eligible to enter our annual Dream Boat Challenge. There is no additional entry fee to shell out, no extra hoops to jump through, nothing. Well aside from catching some fish but odds are that you were going to be doing that anyway!
The Dream Boat Challenge has become quite the tradition for rabid fresh and saltwater anglers from Maine to the Mid-Atlantic each year. It draws upon a pool of everyday, non professional anglers just like you from the Northeast coast with one individual ultimately crowned the champion.
The premise is simple: accumulate the most total points by catching the heaviest fish across a field of eight eligible species (weakfish, porgy/scup, fluke, yellowfin tuna, mahi mahi, bluefish, black sea bass and blackfish/tautog) and win yourself the incredible Steiger Craft 21 DV Boat powered by a Yamaha 200HP outboard motor, and many other great prizes. Contestants may submit as many entries in excess of the minimum weight as they wish. However, only the heaviest one (1) entry per species category will be entered and tallied for points. This means that you can enter a heavier fish in a given species and move up the leader board, but you can not hold multiple spots within any single species. Points will be awarded to each of the top 10 entries with the heaviest fish in each species: 10 points goes to the heaviest fish in each of eight categories, 9 points for second, all the way to a single point for the 10th heaviest fish in that division. The key to winning the Grand Prize in 2017 is not only to land the heaviest fish, but to do so across as many of the eligible species as possible. It is going to take a well-rounded and talented angler to take home the Grand Prize in 2017.
Plenty o’ prizes!
Whether you accumulate the most points, catch the largest of species or win the fish of the month, we have a slew of outstanding prizes to be won in 2017. This year’s Grand Prize for the angler who accumulates the most points is an awesome new Steiger Craft 21 DV Miami boat with Yamaha 200 HP Outboard Motor; a Furuno GPS Plotter/Sounder Model GP1670F, an Engel EN80 Cooler; and a fish mount from Global Fish Mounts of one the fish entered.
The angler with the second-most total points wins a 3-night stay for the winner and one guest at the Zancudo Lodge in beautiful Costa Rica. The prize consists of one standard double-occupancy accommodation, standard meals and fishing. Air transportation, fishing license, fees, taxes, phone calls, and any other incidental expenses are not included and are the winner’s responsibility.
The third prize winner will receive one Okuma M-400 Metaloid machined aluminum reel and a matching St. Croix Mojo MIC70MHF casting rod. Rounding out the top spots, the fourth prize winner will receive one pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses.
Once again we are also awarding prizes for the heaviest fish entered in each of the eight eligible species. This year’s “Largest of Species” winners will each receive an Okuma M-400 Metaloid machined aluminum reel paired up with a St. Croix Mojo MIC70MHF casting rod; a fish mount from Global Fish Mounts of the fish entered; and a 1-year membership to Fishtrack.com and Bouyweather.com. Each of the 80 finalists on the leader board at the conclusion of the challenge in November will also be rewarded a special prize package provided by our sponsors including Rapala, Owner, Williamson and Storm. Finalists receive two items depending on which species category they’re in.
The grand prize |
---|
For 2017 we have a new boat sponsor for the Grand Prize, Steiger Craft Boats, and the 21-foot DV Miami powered by a Yamaha 200 HP outboard motor is the perfect boat for the Northeast angler. The 21 Deep V Miami delivers classic lines, aggressive performance, maneuverability and a massive cockpit for a boat of its size. Learn more about the Steiger Craft Boat Company by checking out the exclusive video at TheFisherman.com |
And last but most certainly not least, we also have the king salmon prize. At the conclusion of this year’s contest, the subscriber who enters the heaviest king salmon will win a Sea Eagle® 385fta Angler Deluxe Solo Package. Remember that king salmon entries yield no points toward the Dream Boat. The minimum weight requirement for entry is 20 pounds, fish must be caught on Lake Ontario and weighed at an official weigh station (weigh station locations around Lake Ontario are limited.)
Make your entry count!
First and foremost, you must be a subscriber to The Fisherman Magazine to be eligible for the Dream Boat Challenge. From there, after you catch an eligible fish, there are several simple steps that must be adhered to or else your entry will be disqualified. You must follow all of the requirements and include all applicable information for your submission to be rendered valid.
Enter the fish at an official weigh station (a complete list is available at www.TheFisherman.com) and do so as soon as possible. Entries must be received within 10 days of weigh-in the catch and the submission is 100% complete and accurate.
Take a photo of your catch—preferably as soon as it is landed and fresh out of the water—and be sure to include the photo with your submission. A photo of the catch at the dock or tackle shop is also sufficient, but keep in mind that we may use your photo in print either in the reports section or on the cover of the magazine, as well as in our weekly fishing forecast videos, so submitting a high resolution quality photo is strongly encouraged. Top 10 contestant images are also posted at www.TheFisherman.com as part of the current standings. Entries may be submitted via email at dreamboat@thefisherman.com or mail to: Dream Boat Fishing Challenge, 14 Ramsey Rd, Shirley, NY 11967.
For a look at the complete rules, prizes, eligibility requirements and more for the 2017 Dream Boat Challenge, please visit www.TheFisherman.com.