Biggest Fish

Biggest Fish

HOLY MACKEREL!

Part of the GoPro Mountain Games Elements

Has your summer been spent out on the water reelin’ in some big ones? Show off your skills (and luck) and compete with other anglers in our virtual Biggest Fish competition for a sweet stack of prizes from our friends at GoPro and YETI. Grub up fisher-peeps, it’s time to score some new gear!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 16


Please note: Registration opens July 28 at 11:00am MST and closes August 15 at 6:00pm MST.

Learn more about our COVID-19 Policy for current and upcoming events.

Event Overview

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

IMPORTANT: Registration closes August 15 at 6:00pm MST.

Has your summer been spent out on the water reelin’ in some big ones? Show off your skills (and luck) and compete with other anglers in our virtual Biggest Fish competition for a sweet stack of prizes from our friends at GoPro and YETI. Grub up fisher-peeps, it’s time to score some new gear!

HOW IT WORKS:
  • Competitors will have from August 8 until August 16 at 6:00pm to fish on any type of water with any type of rod and reel for their “biggest fish”.
  • All big catches must be documented and verified through a photo that includes a standard measuring tape measuring the length of the fish for reference and an item that can physically timestamp your catch between August 8 through August 16, 2020 (a local newspaper, a phone or watch showing the date, a rad handmade sign, etc.).
  • The photo documentation will then be submitted to mountaingames.com/my-big-fish/ for judging and verification. Please read through our Photo Submission Guidelines in the Rules tab.
  • Registered competitors may submit as many photo entries as they would like between the competition start (8/8) and the competition close (8/16).
  • Photo submissions close at 6:00pm on Sunday, August 16.
  • Winners will be contacted on Monday, August 17 via email and announced on Tuesday, August 18 to the Mountain Games social channels and website.

GOPRO MOUNTAIN GAMES ELEMENTS

We’re breaking out your favorite summer events from the Mountain Games on select Saturdays beginning July 18. We have a limited capacity so register early to reserve your spot!

LEARN MORE   COVID-19 POLICY

Times

Times
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

COMPETITION START!

You now have one week to reel in your “biggest fish” and submit your photo entry to mountaingames.com/my-big-fish/


SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

COMPETITION CLOSE

Please submit your photo entry to mountaingames.com/my-big-fish/ before 6:00pm


TUESDAY, AUGUST 18

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Competition winners will be notified via email on Monday, August 17 and announced on the Mountain Games social channels and website on Tuesday, August 18.

IMPORTANT: Registration for this event closes Saturday, August 15 at 6:00pm.

Rules

FORMAT & RULES:

Photos must be submitted by 6:00pm (MST) on Sunday, August 16, 2020 at mountaingames.com/my-big-fish via the submission form on the page.

Images must be at least 1800 pixels on the long edge and at a high enough resolution to clearly make out the fish and the measuring tape for verification of length and your physical timestamp item.

Images may be taken on any camera but your photo must be submitted digitally.

EQUIPMENT:

Competitors will be responsible for providing all equipment needed to compete.

Competitors MUST include a standard measuring tape in their photos for reference and verification of the fish’s length.

Competitors MUST include an item that can physically timestamp your catch between August 8 through 16, 2020 (a local newspaper, a phone or watch showing the date, a rad handmade sign, etc.).

Competitors may use any kind of rod and reel for this fishing competition.

PHOTO SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
  1. Competition will begin at 8:00am (MST) Saturday, August 8, and end at 6:00pm (MST) Sunday, August 16. Any photos taken before or after these times will not be eligible and the competitor will be disqualified.
  2. Photo submissions must include a standard measuring tape measuring the length of the fish for reference and an item that can physically timestamp your catch between August 8 through 16 (a local newspaper, a phone or watch showing the date, a rad handmade sign, etc.).
  3. Each competitor’s photo submission will be evaluated by the GoPro Mountain Games team to determine that they are in compliance with the competition rules. Photos must be submitted before 6:00pm on August 16 via the form found on mountaingames.com/my-big-fish/.
  4. Each GoPro Mountain Games Elements: Biggest Fish competitor can submit as many photo entries as they would like for their big fish/fishes caught between 8/8-16. Images must be received no later than 6:00pm (MST) on Sunday, August 16, 2020.In an effort to encourage that the images are of the highest integrity, no digital manipulation – other than standard digital processing, color adjustment, exposure and dust removal – will be allowed, (e.g. basic “cleaning up.”) Black & White and Sepia Tone images are also allowed.
  5. Photos should be taken with a digital camera. Recommended minimum image size for competition is 1800 pixels (on the longest side) RGB Jpeg at 300ppi (pixels per inch).
  6. Copyright of photography entered in the competition will remain the property of the photographer. However, by entering the event, competitors release the limited rights of images entered in the competition to the Mountain Games/Vail Valley Foundation to use in promotional materials. No third-party issuance of the images will be granted by Mountain Games without written approval by the photographer.
COMPETITOR ELIGIBILITY:

The competition is open to all interested anglers regardless of state and/or country of residency.

Competitors who are under the age of 18 must register with a parent or legal guardian.

Competitors will be required to provide all their own equipment. Furthermore, competitors must abide by all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations during their participation in the GoPro Mountain Games Elements: Biggest Fish.

For additional questions, please contact our registration team at registration@vvf.org


All participants and staff of the GoPro Mountain Games must wear a face covering when 6 feet of distance cannot be kept from non-household members and must follow the Eagle County 5 Commitments of Containment:

  1. I will maintain 6 feet of physical distance
  2. I will wash my hands often
  3. I will cover my face in public
  4. I will stay home when I am sick
  5. I will get tested immediately if I have symptoms
COVID-19 WARNING:

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and customers with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By participating in the Mountain Games Elements yoga event, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.

VIEW FULL COVID-19 POLICY

Price & Prizes

PRICE

FREE
Complimentary event registration with a suggested donation.


PRIZES

OVERALL BIGGEST FISHGoPro Hero8 Black + GoPro Zeus Mini Light + GoPro Sportsman Mount + YETI Hopper BackFlip

JUDGES’ CHOICE: BEST PHOTOYETI Lowlands Blanket + GoPro Zeus Mini Light

JUDGES’ CHOICE: MOST UNIQUE CATCH/PHOTOYETI Hopper BackFlip + GoPro Zeus Mini Light

Price & Prizes

FISHING BEST PRACTICES

PLEASE KEEP THESE BEST PRACTICES IN MIND BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT FOR A DAY OF FISHING:

Anglers have a responsibility to take care of fish and fish habitat at all times, and our GoPro Mountain Games Elements: Biggest Fish virtual competition is a great opportunity to brush up on the right way to catch fish anytime, or for this comp.

Snap your event photo quickly while fish is very near or under the water

Fish experts agree on the following:

  • Catch and release your fish
  • Only use established river access points
  • Land fish quickly
    • Crimp barbs or use barbless hooks
  • Keep the fish wet throughout the process
  • Reduce fish-touching
  • Wet hands before handling
  • Be ready for your photo
    • keep fish low to water and out of water for quickest possible time
  • Release fish with water flowing over the gills, head into the current, don’t move back and forth

Waters are warm this time of year, reducing oxygen content

  • Take a water thermometer – do not fish in water above 65 degrees
  • Fish early in the morning and when temperatures are low
  • Fish higher-elevation streams and lakes

Sources: Trout Unlimited, Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The Elements: Biggest Fish competition kicks off at 12:00am on August 8, 2020.

Any fish caught before this date will be ineligible for prizes.


Nope! Work with what you got!

This competition is open to any type of rod and reel on any type of water.


Nope! Competitors can submit as many photos as they’d like of their biggest fish caught between August 8 and August 16, 2020.

Please submit only photos that fall within our competition’s Photo Submission Guidelines (found on the Rules tab of this page) to mountaingames.com/my-big-fish/.


We will contact our prize winners via email on Monday, August 17 and announce the winners publically on the Mountain Games website and social media channels on Tuesday, August 18.