Make-A-Wish® Tuna Challenge

Seminar - Thursday, August 26th 7-9pm



West Marine Sales Event - September 2, 2010


Welcome to the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge. We hold an annual tuna tournament and fundraiser in San Diego with all of our proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of San Diego, Inc.

Since 1991, we have grown to become the largest tuna tournament in the continental United States. 

Below are PDF's of the final scores for 2009 and the corresponding prizes for the awards.  Also a link to the corresponding fish caught facts.
 
In addition:  520 total anglers, 36 ladies, 18 juniors fished 111 boats.
 
The big number is a the conservative estimate is in excess of $259,000 raised for the Make-A-Wish Foundation San Diego Chapter.  We were hoping to break $250K this year with the down economy so the whole committee is very happy.  That amount allowed us to go over the $2 Million dollar mark raised since the inception of the Make A Wish Tuna Challenge.


 FRED HALL BOAT SHOW RAFFLE WINNERS

The happy winner of the Shimano-Tiagra 30 Wide 2 Speed Reel at the Del Mar Fred Hall Fishing Show was Mr. Jim Schmidt of Encinitas, California!    
 
Tom Manos, from Wildomar, California, thought he had purchased tickets to win a Tuna Challenge T-shirt but was “pleasantly surprised” when he learned he had won a Shimano Tiagra 30w 2 Speed Reel (retail value, $600)! Tom, with his wife, Lorraine, and daughter, Kaitlyn, have attended the Fred Hall Fishing Show in Long Beach for many years and have faithfully supported many of the fundraising charities at the event, but this is the first time he’s ever won anything.

 Tom says he first learned about the Make-A-Wish Foundation when a friend’s child was granted a wish several years ago. “We just really love what you folks do.” The day before Tom and his family attended the Long Beach show, they were present at the Make A Wish ceremony where his wife’s cousin’s child was granted her wish: a trip to Disney World for Elizabeth and her family!

Eleven-year-old Elizabeth has spent her young years battling the effects of Brittle Bone Disease and can no longer walk. Once home from her trip to Florida, she is expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant in hopes of improving bone density and preventing future fractures.           

Tom is a deep-sea fisherman and enjoyed fishing from his own boat before having to sell it. He hopes to be able to participate in this year’s Tuna Challenge. He ought to do well using his new Shimano reel!   

  YOU CAN WIN THIS BOAT!!!!


 

 

 

 

FOR TICKETS:  Please send your check addressed to:
Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge,
attention Brad Brown,
2091 Shelter Island Drive,
San Diego, CA 92106

or call Brad Brown at: 
(619) 546-0243 or
 E-mail Brad at: 
bob385@hotmail.com   

Your tickets will be mailed to you.

 



The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. It is the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 77 chapters in the United States and its territories and 27 international affiliates on five continents. All all of the proceeds from the Tuna Challenge go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego. Read more about some of the wishes that have been granted by donations such as ours.

Important 2010 Dates



To register online, click here

Sign up to Participate
This year we have created a Charter Boat Division which will replace the Sportboat Division. Individuals interested in participating in this division may organize their charters (including 6-Pacs) and compete for their own prizes.  Charter Boats Available

If you will be fishing on a Private Boat you may download and mail in our 2010 Private Boat Application (PDF). If you will be fishing on a Charter Boat you may download and mail in our  2010 Charter Boat Application (PDF).

Review the Rules

 You may download the 2010 Tournament Rules (PDF) at any time. Please make sure that you and your fellow anglers have read over them.

Looking for a Team Member

Are you an angler who doesn't have a boat but wants to fish the tournament? Are you a skipper who needs an extra angler onboard? Please attend the Pre-Tournament Seminar to find other interested members.

 

Still Have Questions

For Tuna Challenge Tournament Inquiries please contact Tom Drake.

Tuna Challenge Seminar

Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 7PM

This special seminar is open to the public and affords anglers the opportunity to hear from experts in sport fishing related activities. Tournament registration begins at 5PM followed by hamburgers, hot dogs, and an open bar (no host) at 5:30PM. This is a great seminar to attend if you are looking for extra crew members or a boat to participate in the tournament on.

Every person in attendance will receive a free ticket to participate in a special raffle at this seminar.

On Thursday evening, August 26, the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge Tournament will host its 9th Annual TUNA SEMINAR, at Silver Gate Yacht Club on Shelter Island, San Diego. This annual event is a great opportunity for Tournament Anglers to learn about the latest techniques and equipment available for catching Tuna. It is Free and we invite all interested Anglers whether they are fishing in the Tuna Challenge Tournament or not, to come and participate. A free drawing for door prizes for all in attendance will be conducted.

The Tuna Seminar takes place from 7-9 P.M. and we are happy to welcome some very knowledgeable experts in Southern California Fishing, who will exhibit the many different ways to fish for and catch Tuna from Small and Large Private Boats. Our Special experts are: Captain Dave Hansen 100 Ton USCG Master License holder and self confessed fishing fool, Chris Jones from Archer Superbars, and our friends from Fishdope.
Captain Dave Hansen grew up at San Clemente Sport Fishing where his Dad started his 70 year long career in the industry. His earliest memories are not of riding my bike with friends, but instead chasing bait around in the receiver. Thirty something years later, after Captaining many of the local sport boat’s on the west coast, private yachts, deliveries to Mexico and beyond, he is still loving what he does and doing what he loves. All those years of experience have now culminated into Captain Dave’s Saltwater Guide Service, where he offers access to every bit of his knowledge that he has scrubbed decks for, bowed to his predecessor Captain’s for, and stayed up night after night to learn the art of fishing. For those that are always open to accepting new information and improving their fishing and boat handling skills will benefit the most from his seminar.
Chris Jones, from Archer Superbars, grew up fishing Halibut, Sturgeon, Salmon and Striped Bass in San Francisco Bay, and later the pelagic rich waters of the Sea of Cortez and Baja's Pacific coast after moving to La Paz where his family owns and operates one of the top fishing fleets in the Baja. Chris has logged many seasons working charters for the business in La Paz and the famous Magdalena Bay. Now representing Archer Superbars, Chris is going to share the winning techniques of using these tools.

FishDope will be on hand to share the latest “Dope’ on what is going on in our local waters and how to utilize the technology they offer to help find the best fishing opportunities.

 

Volunteers Needed

Every year Tuna Challenge is made possible with the support of generous volunteers, from the awards banquet and fileting fish to collecting donations and much, much more. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer then please contact Laura Wellnitz.