The Fisherman's Dream Boat Challenge has engaged The Fisherman subscribers competitively in the largest region-wide, multi-species, season-long saltwater fishing event in America. The stage is set in 2012 for a skilled and lucky angler to win our best Grand Prize ever! It's a Hydra-Sports 2300 Center Console Boat powered by an Evinrude E-TEC 250 HP Outboard Engine, with Electronics by Lowrance. Note: The Grand Prize (Hydra-Sports boat, motor, electronics and trailer) will show minor signs of use as it will be have been used on the water during 2012 on a promotional basis. Stay tuned as the drama of the contest unfolds each week (April 15 – November 30) inside The Fisherman magazine and on this web site. Some of the most impressive catches of the season, by some of the best and luckiest anglers in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic region, are posted on our weekly standings board inside the magazine.

Here's How It Works

You must be a subscriber prior to entering. The Dream Boat Challenge officially kicks off on April 15, 2012 and runs through November 30, 2012. Eligible species for the eight divisions include bluefish, summer flounder (fluke), scup/pogry (new), sea bass, blackfish, yellowfin tuna (new), striped bass, and dolphin (mahi mahi). Note that our minimum acceptable weights for entering a fish are intentionally set high to limit the number of fish kept and killed for the purpose of weighing them in. The minimum weights are as follows: bluefish - 15 pounds; fluke - 7 pounds; striped bass - 35 pounds; scup/porgy - 2 pounds; sea bass - 4 pounds; blackfish - 7 pounds; yellowfin tuna - 50 pounds; dolphin (mahi mahi) – 10 pounds.

During the Challenge period from April 15 through November 30, 2012, current subscribers of The Fisherman must catch designated species meeting the minimum required weight. Participants are required to have their catch certified at one of the Official weigh stations listed in The Fisherman each week, and to mail the official weigh slip to The Fisherman within 10 days of the catch. Weigh slips may be available at weigh stations and you can also print out the weigh slip.

A paper printed photo or digital image on disc of the angler and his or her catch must be included either with your returned weigh slip, or the photo can be emailed separately to dreamboat@thefisherman.com.

The 10 heaviest fish for each species at the conclusion of the Challenge receive one or more tickets for the drawing in the "Dream Boat Grand Prize". The heaviest fish in each species division earns 10 chances to be drawn; the second heaviest fish receives nine tickets, and all the way down to the 10th heaviest fish entry in that division which receives one ticket to be drawn. All 80 finalists, with A grand total of 440 tickets are then placed into the final drawing. One Grand Prize winner will then be drawn.

Once we draw the winner's name, The Grand Prize winner must then submit and pass a polygraph exam to ensure that the fish was caught according to the rules of the Dream Boat Challenge.

*Important Note Regarding the Condition of the Grand Prize: The Grand Prize (Hydra-Sports boat, motor, electronics and trailer) will show signs of use as it will be have been used on the water during 2012 on a promotional basis.