The Fisherman 2024 Dream Boat Fishing Challenge Official Rules
NO ENTRY FEE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER THIS CONTEST.
Sponsor: Fishmedia Corp., DBA The Fisherman Magazine®, (the “Sponsor”).
Eligibility: The Fisherman’s 2024 Dream Boat Fishing Challenge (“Contest”) is open to legal residents of the United States who: (1) Are a paid subscriber of The Fisherman Magazine at least one day prior to time of entry, (2) 18 years or older, and (3) physically reside in one of the following eligible states of: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island (referred to hereafter as “contestant”). Void in any U.S. State not mentioned previously and where prohibited by law. 4) Have not previously been a Grand Prize Winner of The Fisherman’s Dream Boat Fishing Challenge at any time. 5) Entry is limited to the named Fisherman Magazine subscribers only, and does not apply to the entire household, or family any members. 6) Employees of Sponsor, AVS Laminates Inc., Steiger Craft Boats, Yamaha, Johnson Outdoors and all Dream Boat Fishing Challenge sponsors, promoters and any company providing a prize, and their parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, representatives, retailers, advertising and promotion agencies (all collectively, “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each of the foregoing are not eligible to enter or win. Contest is only open to active print and digital subscribers not currently employed in the fishing industry and those with complimentary/trial subscriptions are not eligible to enter or win. For the purpose of these Official Rules, “fishing industry” is defined as any commercial, or for hire fishing professional such as a charter/party/commercial boat captain or employee, tackle shop owners and employees, fishing guides, marina owners and employees, outdoor writers/photographers/artists, retail boat sales employees or owners, manufactures of fishing gear, boats, boat dealers or marine products, social media influencers for fishing, any media position associated with fishing, and anyone who sells fish. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Contest Entry Period: The Contest entry period begins at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 1, 2024 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on November 30, 2024 (the “Entry Period”).
Entry Requirements: To qualify in the Contest, the contestant must be a subscriber of The Fisherman Magazine a minimum of one (1) calendar day prior to the date the fish was caught. Any fish caught and entered in this Contest, must be caught by the contestant in a sporting manner on rod and reel only and caught within an eligible U.S. state as mentioned above. Only the following seven (7) fish species and its minimum weight requirement are eligible to be judged: Blackfish, 7 pounds; Bluefish, 15 pounds; Fluke, 7 pounds; Porgy/Scup, 2 pounds; Black Sea Bass, 4 pounds; Weakfish, 5 pounds; and Sea Robin, 2 pounds. Each contestant must follow all local, state and federal recreational fishing regulations and the fish must be caught within the official season time for the species per each eligible state’s regulations/guidelines. The fish must be weighed and measured (length and girth) at a participating tackle shop which is an official Fisherman Magazine weigh-in station. Weights must be measured in decimals. Any entry using ounces will be converted to decimals. When measuring the length of the fish, the nose of the fish should begin at the 0” mark and extend to the fork of the tail to record the length. When measuring the girth, the measurement should be made from the widest part of the body of the fish. Measurements are to be made to the nearest ¼ inch. This means that if the measurement falls short of the nearest 1/8-inch mark then the length is rounded down, and if the length exceeds the nearest 1/8-inch mark then the total length is rounded up. If the measurement is on the 1/8-inch mark the length will be rounded up. (tournament judges will have the final say on a given fish’s length.)
The fish weight and measurement must be filled-in on an official entry form, signed and dated, by the tackle shop authorized personnel. Official entry forms can be found at participating tackle shops or a copy can be downloaded by visiting www.TheFisherman.com (“Website”). Participating tackle shop locations will be published in The Fisherman Magazine and on the Website.
How to Enter: Contestant must submit a completed and signed official entry form to the Sponsor which must be received within 10 days of weigh-in along with a copy of the Fisherman Magazine subscription mailing label (if available), and a unaltered photo of the contestant and the caught fish (collectively referred to herein as “Entry”). At the Sponsor’s sole discretion, incomplete, and, or illegible submissions may not qualify for judging. Contestants may submit as many Entries as they wish however only the heaviest one (1) entry per species category will be entered. Entries can be submitted via email or mail. Email submission to: dreamboat@thefisherman.com. The photo file name should be the same as the contestant’s full name. Email Entries received in a given month will be entered into that month’s Fish of the Month competition, and will automatically be entered in the overall Contest. Mail-in submission to: Dream Boat Fishing Challenge, PO Box 395, Mt. Sinai, NY 11766. The photo can be on a compact disc, USB Flash drive, or photo paper which will not be returned. Mail-in Entries postmarked in a given month and received no later than 10 days the following month will be entered in the postmarked month for the Fish of the Month competition, and may be entered in the overall Contest. We recommend that you take a photo of your entry form for your own record.
The photo may contain other parties; however, it is the contestant’s sole responsibility to first obtain permission in writing from the other parties prior to submitting the photo in his/her Entry. In addition, contestant must have the approval and rights to use any photo that he/she did not create or copyrighted materials owned by others (example: get approval from the photographer who took the photo, etc.).
The Sponsor may publish the Entries in The Fisherman Magazine and/or on its Website, or social media. Each contestant agrees the Sponsor has no obligation to post or publish his/her Entry and that the posting or publication of an Entry has no bearing on winner determination. There is no prize awarded or compensation for the posting or publishing of a contestant’s photo, name, and information associated with the entry and/or Entry itself.
Contestants grant the Sponsor the perpetual and royalty-free copyright license to publish (in whole or in part), post, edit, reproduce, promote, at any time in the future and otherwise use the Entries, along with contestant’s name and likeness, in any and all media for possible editorial, promotional or advertising purposes, without further permission, notice or compensation.
No responsibility is assumed for lost, postage due, damaged, illegible, corrupted, incomplete, undeliverable, misdirected, undelivered emails, or late Entry. By participating in this Contest, each contestant agrees to fish at his/her own risk, weigh the fish at his/her own expense, and submission of an Entry constitutes his/her acceptance of these Official Rules.
The Sponsor, and the Contest Entities assume no liability for personal injuries, damages or negligence on the part of anyone who elects to enter the Contest. All Contestants agree and does hereby release from liability and to indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, Fishmedia Corp. DBA The Fisherman and any of its employees, agents, Contest Entities, sponsors, weigh in stations representing or related to the corporation as regards to The Fisherman 2024 Dream Boat Fishing Challenge for any and all liability for personal injuries (including death) and property losses or damage occasioned by, or in connection with any activity for participating in this event. All Entries become Sponsor’s property and will not be returned or acknowledged.
Winners Determination:
- a) At the conclusion of the Contest, winners for the following prizes will be determined from Entries submitted for these seven (7) fish species (Blackfish, Bluefish, Fluke, Porgy/Scup, Black Sea Bass, Weakfish, and Sea Robin): First Place Grand Prize to third place prize, Largest of Species, Finalist, and Fish Of The Month, and Wild Card Prizes.
One (1) First Place Grand Prize winner: The contestant who has the most points will win the First Place Grand Prize. Points will be awarded to the top ten (10) Entries with the heaviest fish in each species: 10 points to the heaviest fish, 9 points to the 2nd heaviest fish, 8 points to the 3rd heaviest fish, 7 points to the 4th heaviest fish, 6 points to the 5th heaviest fish, 5 points to the 6th heaviest fish, 4 points to the 7th heaviest fish, 3 points to the 8th heaviest fish, 2 points to the 9th heaviest fish, and 1 point to the 10th heaviest fish.
One (1) Second Prize winner: The contestant who earns the second highest points will win the Second Prize.
One (1) Third Prize winner: The contestant who earns the third highest points will win a Third Prize.
Seven (7) Largest of Species Prize winners: The Entries with the heaviest fish in each species will win a Largest of Species Prize.
Seventy (70) Finalist Prize winners: The top ten (10) Entries with the heaviest fish in each fish species will receive a Finalist Prize.
Seven (7) Fish Of The Month Prize winners (one (1) prize per month): The Entry with the heaviest fish of the month for the following fish species will win a Fish of the Month Prize respectively: May-Weakfish; June-Sea Robin; July-Fluke; August- Black Sea Bass; September-Porgy/Scup; October-Bluefish; November-Blackfish.
Judging: In the event of a tie for any position on the standings board (i.e., per fish species), the contestant whose Entry was weighed-in, signed and dated (by the tackle shop authorized personnel) first will be declared the winner. In the event of a further tie, winner will be determined based on the length of the entry. In the event of a further tie, winner will be determined based on the girth of the fish entered. In the event of a further tie the winner will be determined based on the angler with the most fish entered. In the event of a further tie the winner will be determined by the entry that has the most days remaining on their subscription to The Fisherman. In the event of a tie for total points, the contestant with the heaviest fish of all fish entered weighed-in, signed and dated first (by the tackle shop authorized personnel) will be declared the winner. In the event of a further tie, winner will be determined based on the length of the heaviest fish entered first. In the event of a further tie, winner will be determined based on the girth of the heaviest fish. In the event of further tie, the contestant with the second heaviest fish will be declared the winner. In the event of further tie, the contestant with the second longest fish length will be declared the winner. In the event of further tie, the contestant with the second widest fish by girth will be declared the winner. In the event of a further tie for total points for the 1st place prize at the conclusion of the contest, a Tie Breaker fishing competition will be offered to participate in to determine the final winner. For clarification purposes, “fish” refers to a single fish.
All Entries will be judged by a panel of judges consisting of personnel from the Sponsor (the “Judging Panel”). Decisions of the Judging Panel are final and binding. All Entries are subject to verification and the Judging Panel reserves the right to disqualify any Entry for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion. Entries that cannot be verified by a weigh station, or has discrepancies will be disqualified. Any entry that is disqualified will result in contestant being banned from the 2024 Dream Boat Fishing Challenge and any future Dream Boat Fishing Challenges. Sponsor is under no obligation to disclose why an Entry has been disqualified other than the Entry was ineligible under these Official Rules. Furthermore, the Sponsor reserves the right to not award any prize if it does not receive a sufficient number of qualified Entries for a given fish species.
Prizes and Their Approximate Retail Values (“ARV”), or Manufacturers Suggested Retail Value (“MSRP”):
One (1) First Place Grand Prize: A Steiger Craft 21 Classic Center Console Boat with Yamaha 150 HP Outboard Motor (MSRP: $68,850.00); Hummingbird SOLIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 (MSRP: $2,699.99); Minn Kota Riptide Terrova Quest 87” Shaft (MSRP: $4,849.99). Total MSRP of First Place Grand Prize: $76,399.90.
Winner is responsible for any expenses and costs in connection with the First Place Grand Prize not expressly described herein: (i) sales tax payable to dealership; (ii) State tax; (iii) Federal tax (iv) insurance, licensing, title, and registration fees; (v) any travel/shipping costs associated with transportation to and from winner’s residence and dealership (vi) and any other costs, expenses or tax associated with the prize. First Place Grand Prize winner must take delivery of the prize from dealer available stock at a dealership designated by Sponsor within 90 days of notification. Sponsor is not responsible for delays in delivery of the prize. If the prize is not picked-up or winner fails to provide the required documentation within 90 days of notification, First Place Grand Prize winner shall forfeit the prize. All additional options and upgrades will be the sole responsibility and expense of winner.
One (1) Second Place Prize: 4 nights/5 days stay at The Tropic Star Lodge in Panama for up to two (2) people. Includes accommodations, and inshore fishing trips. Airfare not included. Fishing license, meals, all other costs are not included. Must be redeemed in March – May 2025. (ARV: $11,300.00). One (1) fish mount from Grays Taxidermy.(MSRP: $650.00)Total ARV of Second Place Prize: $11,950.00
One (1) Third Place Prize: Sea Eagle FishSkiff 16 Two Person Inflatable Swivel Seat Package: (MSRP $2,399.00). One (1) Engel EN80 Cooler (MSRP: $399.99). Total MSRP of Third Place Prizes: $2,798.99
Largest of Species Prize:
Seven (7) Largest of Species Prizes: Each winner receives One (1) Visser 6.5” Pliers (MSRP: $329.00); One (1) $200.00 Gift Card for Shurhold (MSRP: $200.00); (1) pair of FinNor Sunglasses (ARV: $219.00). Total MSRP of Largest of Species Prize: $748.00
Seven (7) Fish Of The Month Prizes: Each winner will receive one (1) Tsunami Saltx II 4000 Reel (MSRP: $299.00); Dexter Dextreme 7″ Dual Edge flexible fillet knife with sheath, Model 24911 MSRP $48.00 (MSRP: $48.00) Total MSRP of each Fish Of The Month Prize: $347.00
Seventy (70) Finalist Prizes: Package of Owner America Hooks 5315 SSW (MSRP: $21.25). A Tsunami Lure (MSRP: $9.99). Total MSRP of each Finalist Prize: $31.24
Total MSRP of all prizes: $101,000. The ARV or MSRP of these prizes are subject to price fluctuations in the consumer marketplace based on any gap in time between the date the ARV or MSRP is estimated for purposes of these Official Rules and the date the prize is awarded or redeemed. Any difference between the stated ARV or MSRP of any of the prizes and the actual value will not be awarded and may result in addition taxation.
Selection of prize item, size, color and model will be at Sponsor’s sole discretion. All winners acknowledge that the Sponsor and its agents do not make, nor are responsible for, any warranty, quality, conditions, merchantability of any aspect of any prize except that such prize shall be subject to manufacturer’s standard warranty to the extent offered. Gray’s Taxidermy cannot guarantee an identical match of the fish size and color submitted. Upon delivery of any prize to each winner, Sponsor will be deemed to have awarded the prize and each winner assumes full responsibility for the prize.
Winner Notification: All potential prize winners will be notified by e-mail and/or phone and will be required to respond to the notification within five business days. At Sponsor’s sole discretion, potential winners also will be required to complete and return an Affidavit of Eligibility & Liability/Publicity Release (“Affidavit”) within 10 days of date specified on prize notification. First Place Grand Prize potential winner must agree to a background check and/or a polygraph test at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Prize forfeiture and the selection of an alternate prize winner may result from any of the following: i) an Affidavit or a prize notification is returned as undeliverable; ii) the Affidavit is not returned within the date specified on notification; iii) a prize winner is otherwise found to be ineligible; iv) prize winner cannot accept or receive the prize for any reason, including a negative background check and/or polygraph test result; and v) any other non-compliance with these Official Rules. In the event of any prize forfeiture, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award or not award the forfeited prize to the corresponding next highest scored Entry. No substitutions, cash redemption or transfer of prizes permitted. If prize is not available, the Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of comparable value. If winner is not able to accept any portion of the prize due to any reasons, he/she will not receive an alternate prize. Winners of prize valued at $600 or more will be required to furnish his/her Social Security number and an IRS Form 1099 will be filed in the name of the winner for the value of the prize. All federal, state and local taxes, insurance, licensing, registration, delivery costs and title fees and any other costs are the responsibility of the winners.
Consent and Release: Entry and acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor (except where prohibited by law) to use each winner’s name, prize won, hometown, tasks and likeness for promotional purposes without further compensation, permission or notification. Contestants agree to release the Contest Entities, and their respective parent companies, affiliates and all other businesses involved in this Contest, from all claims and liability relating to their participation, and assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by redemption or use/misuse of the prize. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the Contest or in the announcement of the prizes. Sponsor or any weigh station is not responsible for the accuracy of the measuring devices used to weigh, or measure length and girth of fish entered.
In the event Sponsor is prevented from continuing with the Contest as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to pandemic, fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, equipment failure, fisheries closures, financial hardship or other cause not within Sponsor’s control, Sponsor shall suspend or terminate the Contest. This Contest shall be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the State of New York, U.S.A. without regard to its conflicts of laws provisions. By participating, contestants agree that any and all disputes arising out of or relating in any way to this Contest shall be litigated only in courts sitting in New York, U.S.A. Contestants waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with this Contest. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Contest shall be settled on individual basis by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association.
In the event of a dispute over the identity of an entrant or ownership of or rights to the Entry, the Sponsor may: i) disqualify the Entry; and/or ii) request entrant to provide proof that he/she submitted the Entry to the satisfaction of the Sponsor. Entry materials that have been tampered with or altered will be disqualified. Any Entry that contains a fish that has been illegally caught in a manner contravenes with these Official Rules will be disqualified in the Sponsor’s sole discretion. The Sponsor is not responsible for: (i) human error, theft or unauthorized access to entry materials; ii) technical malfunctions of any kind, or inaccurate transmission of entry information; (iii) any damage to contestant’s device resulting from participation in the Contest; or (iv) the failure of any third party to comply with the instructions and proper administration of this Contest. Any attempt by an individual, whether or not a contestant, to deliberately interfere with the operation of the Contest, is a violation of criminal and civil laws and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages against any such individual to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Winner’s List: For the names of winners, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope by December 31, 2024 to: The Fisherman 2024 – Dream Boat Fishing Challenge Contest Winners, PO Box 395, Mt. Sinai, NY 11766.
This Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding this Contest must be directed to the Sponsor, and not to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. By participating in this Contest, contestants agree to release Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, from all claims and liability related to this Contest.
