Tuna Challenge Events

Important Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge events are listed below in chronological order. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar so you don't miss one!

All events are held at the Silver Gate Yacht Club. Here is a Yahoo map if you are not sure how to get there.

Early Bird Entry Deadline

Saturday, July 18, 2008

Pre-Tournament Seminar

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 7PM

This special seminar is open to the public and affords anglers the opportunity to hear from experts in sportfishing related activities. Tournament registration begins at 5PM followed by hamburgers, hotdog's, 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 14th, the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge Tournament will host it’s 7th 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 two very knowledgeable experts in Southern California Fishing, who will demonstrate the many different ways to fish for and catch Tuna from Small and Large Private Boats as well as from Sport Boats.  Our Special experts are:  Ray Lowry, Pro-Staffer with Shimano American Corporation, and Bobby Woodard, Jr., Pro-Staffer with Izorline.

This is the last opportunity to register at the early entry Tournament prices, so  the Registration desk will open at 4:00 P.M. and there will be a casual dinner available for a small fee and an open bar.  Tournament Dinner Tickets, Banquet Raffle Tickets, and Boat Raffle Tickets will be available for purchase.  For additional information,  please contact Tom Drake at: (858) 279-0010

Captain's Meeting

Friday, September 5, 2008 - 6PM

Located at Silver Gate Yacht Club at 2091 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA

One team member must be present at this meeting. Team captain's may begin picking up captain's bags and goody bags starting at 4PM while the tournament entry registration proceeds. At 4:30PM there will be hamburgers, hotdog's, and an open bar (no host) followed by the mandatory Captain's Meeting at 6PM covering rules and fishing information.

Tuna Challenge Tournament

Saturday, September 6, 2008 - 5AM

Lines are in the water and the tournament begins.

Weigh-In

Saturday, September 6, 2008 - 4:00PM-10:00PM
Sunday, September 7, 2008 - 7:00 AM-10:00AM

All eligible fish must be weighed in from the boat of entry at either the San Diego Marlin Club or the Dana Landing Market and Fuel Dock in Mission Bay no later than 10:00 AM the morning of the Awards Banquet and Auction. Trailer boats are permitted to remove their boat from the water and drive the boat to a weigh in station. All fish to be weighed must be removed directly from the boat under the observation and authority of the weigh master.

Awards Banquet and Auction

Sunday, September 7, 2008 - 10AM

Banquet tickets for this event are only $10 per person. Raffle tickets are $2 each. Buy 100 or more tickets at a time and get a free Azteca's giant margarita glass while supplies last. (Maximum 6 per customer) This year, in addition to our Giant Mega Raffle with 100 chances to win, we will be holding very special Progressive Raffles with exceptional prizes at the $100, $200, $300 and $500 levels. New in 2008 - a Target Raffle and 52 Card Draw! We have also designed special books of raffle tickets that will make it so much easier to keep track of your raffle ticket numbers.

  • 10:00AM - Silent auction.
  • 10:30AM - Musical entertainment by Broadway Bound Youth Theatre.
  • 11:30AM - Banquet food lines open. Program Begins with Welcome and Introductions.
  • 12:15PM - Silent auction group 1 closes.
  • 12:30PM - Make-A-Wish families presentation.
  • 12:45PM - Angler awards presentation. Silent auction groups 1 closes.
  • 1:15PM - Silent auction group 2 closes.
  • 1:30PM - Live auction commences.
  • 2:30PM - Mega raffle commences.
  • 3:30PM - Presentation of the check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of San Diego, Inc.

Important 2008 Dates



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. 

If you will be fishing on a Private Boat you may download and mail in our 2008 Private Boat Application (PDF). If you will be fishing on a Charter Boat you may download and mail in our  2008 Charter Boat Application (PDF).

This year, special Fuel Certificate Awards will be given to the Boat Captain’s of the  1st-4th Place winners in the Small and Large Private Boat Division. The special fuel awards will be:  $500 for 1st Place, $400 for 2nd Place, and $300 for 3rd Place, and $300 for 4th place and are for this year only.   These Special Fuel Certificates will be redeemable at Pearson’s Fuel Dock on Shelter Island, San Diego.

Review the Rules

 You may download the 2008 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 14, 2008 - 7PM

This special seminar is open to the public and affords anglers the opportunity to hear from experts in sportfishing related activities. Tournament registration begins at 5PM followed by hamburgers, hotdog's, 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 14, the Make-A-Wish Tuna Challenge Tournament will host it's 7th 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 two very knowledgeable experts in Southern California Fishing, who will demonstrate the many different ways to fish for and catch Tuna from Small and Large Private Boats as well as from Sport Boats.  Our Special experts are:  Ray Lowry, Pro-Staffer with Shimano American Corporation, and Bobby Woodard, Jr., Pro-Staffer with Izorline.

 This is the last opportunity to register at the early entry Tournament prices, so  the Registration desk will open at 4:00 P.M. and there will be a casual dinner available for a small fee and an open bar.  Tournament Dinner Tickets, Banquet Raffle Tickets, and Boat Raffle Tickets will be available for purchase.  For additional information,  please contact Tom Drake at: (858) 279-0010

 

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.