Starting May 1, The Fisherman will once again be partnering with our friends at PENN, Berkley, Costa Del Mar and Princeton Tec to help kick start the spring run with the Annual Black Drum Battle. First place grand prize includes an eight-hour black drum charter in 2022 with Capt. Bob Cope aboard Full Ahead Sport Fishing, a pair of PENN Fathom reels and PENN Rampage 7-foot rods, two 300-yard spools of Spider Wire Ultra Cast, two 100-yard spools of Berkley Pro Spec Fluorocarbon Leader, one set of Costa Diego sunglasses and a three-piece Princeton Tec light kit (approx. retail value $2,444).
One second prize winner will receive a pair of PENN Squall outfits, two 300-yard spools of Spider Wire Blue Camo, a pair of Costa Diego sunglasses and a three-piece Princeton Tec light kit (approx. retail value $849).
Open to subscribers and non-subscribers alike, to qualify for the grand prize a black drum of at least 20 pounds must be caught on rod and reel within New Jersey or Delaware marine waters, and must be weighed and measured (length and girth) at one of the participating tackle shops which are designated an official Fisherman Magazine Weigh Station.
Those who aren’t subscribers have to register for the tournament first; it’s free and can be done online by visiting www.blackdrumbattle.com and agreeing to the official rules prior to fishing.
After you’ve registered in the Black Drum Battle and then caught your big boomer, the fish weight and measurement must be entered on an official entry form, signed and dated, by the tackle shop’s authorized personnel, with photo of you and your qualifying drum submitted along with the Official Entry you’ll find at the official Fisherman Magazine Weigh Station. The contest entry period begins at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2021 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 2021.
If you are a current subscriber to The Fisherman Magazine, you’re already entered into the contest, and you could also win a $500 cash prize on top of the first place prize package if your black drum tops them all.
The contest is open to residents of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, though employees The Fisherman, sponsors, promoters and any prize providers are not eligible to enter or win. Contest is only open to those not currently employed in the fishing industry (commercial or for-hire captains and crews are excluded, as are tackle shop owners and staffers, marina owners and staff, outdoor writers, and those who work in the sportfishing and marine industry).
Full contest rules and free entry form can be found online at BlackDrumBattle.com.
