Every season, I have the opportunity to look through hundreds of Dream Boat Challenge entries. Some feature trophy catches that anglers spend a lifetime chasing, while others are fish that simply represent a memorable day on the water. Regardless of size, every entry has one thing in common—it was actually submitted.
And that’s the part many anglers overlook.
Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with fishermen who caught outstanding fish but never entered them. They figured someone else had a bigger one, didn’t think about it until it was too late, or simply never got around to filling out the form. Every time I hear one of those stories, I have the same thought: “you’ll never know what could have happened because you don’t enter.”
One conversation from last season really drove that point home.
A friend of mine had several excellent catches throughout the year but never submitted a single one to the Dream Boat Challenge. At the end of the season, we were talking about the fish he had caught, and I decided to do a little math. I compared his catches to the final standings, and it turned out he would have finished near the top had he simply entered them.
Think about that for a second.
He didn’t lose because someone caught bigger fish. He didn’t miss out because of bad luck. He missed out because he never entered.
That really stuck with me, and it’s something I’ve mentioned to quite a few anglers since then.
More recently, I spoke with another angler who had landed a fluke weighing more than 13 pounds. During the conversation, I asked if he had entered it. His answer was no—he hadn’t even thought about it. While that particular fish wasn’t eligible for the Dream Boat Challenge because he wasn’t subscribed, our conversation served as another reminder that entering isn’t always the first thing anglers think about after landing a memorable catch. The next day, he subscribed to the magazine.
The Dream Boat Challenge can’t recognize fish we never see. If you catch a fish you’re proud of, send it in. Don’t decide for us whether it’s good enough. Don’t assume somebody else has already beaten it. Let the standings sort themselves out.
One thing I also want to stress is the importance of completing your entry. Every season we receive submissions that are missing information—where the fish was caught, what it weighed, who caught it or even contact information. Those details matter. Taking an extra minute to fill out the form completely helps us process your entry quickly and ensures your catch receives proper consideration.
As we head into the summer, opportunities are everywhere. Summer fluking is getting into full swing, sea bass fishing continues to produce, tuna season is ramping up offshore and striped bass remain a realistic possibility on many trips. Every time you leave the dock, there’s a chance you’ll catch a fish worth remembering.
When that happens, take a good photo and submit it.
It only takes a few minutes, but those few minutes can make all the difference. At the very least, you’ll have your catch documented and shared with fellow anglers. At best, you could find yourself climbing the standings, earning recognition in the magazine and putting yourself in the running for some outstanding prizes.
I’ve seen too many anglers look back at the end of a season wishing they had entered. Don’t let that be you.
You already put in the time on the water. You invest in the boat, the tackle, the fuel and the early mornings. Spending another five minutes to submit your catch is a small investment compared to everything else that goes into a successful day of fishing.
This year, give yourself the chance.
Because no matter how good your fish is, there’s one guarantee: if you don’t enter it, it can never win.
