Fishing Derby – Details & Requirements

12th Annual Lake Elsinore Dream Extreme Fishing Derby

Get hooked on the excitement! Dive into the ultimate angler adventure for a mere $120 per team, where you’ll reel in the excitement and cast your luck to hook the grandest catch of them all! Set sail on your chosen vessel—whether it’s a majestic boat, zippy jet ski, trusty kayak, cheerful canoe, or even a cozy float tube.

Participants: Team of 2 or 1 Individual Participant
Vessels: See Official Rules below.
Registration Fee: $120 Team of 2 – $60 for Individual Participant
Date: May 17, 2025
Launch Location: Launch Pointe Recreation Destination & RV Resort, Lake Elsinore, California

All fishing must be performed from a vessel. No fishing is allowed from the shoreline for the fishing derby.

Order of Events

5:00 AM | Check-In Begins
Vessel Inspections in order of Launching
6:00 AM | First Wave
6:10 AM | Second Wave
9:00 AM | Weigh-In Opens
2:00 PM | Weigh-In Closes
2:00 PM | Closing Banquet and Awards

2025 Fishing Derby Official Rules

1. GENERAL – Fishing Derby times are 6am-2pm on Saturday May 18th, with a banquet and awards taking place directly after. Fish must be weighed at the Launch Pointe Weigh Stations by the end of the time limit. Scales will close at 2pm of the Derby. Any team failing to weigh their fish caught will be disqualified. All entries will be based on individual specie weight, in case of a tie; length will be the determining factor. Cancellation decisions will be made by Derby officials, Launch Pointe, and/or the CDFW. It is the Angler’s responsibility to return to the Dock and weigh fish by determined time.

2. ENTRY FEE – $120 per team or $60 per individual team. A team may consist of one or two members. All team members must fish together i.e., use the same boat etc. Passengers are not allowed in boat. Registrations are completed online (http://lefishingderby.com) or in person on the day of the Derby, Saturday, May 18th.

3. VESSEL TYPES – Approved vessels can include boats, jet skis, kayaks float tubes, stand-up paddle boards, or properly safe floating devices. All vessels must meet Lake Elsinore City regulation and California specifications. Life jackets (Coast Guard Approved) must be worn when the boat is on plane.

4. WEIGH-INS – All fish must be caught in a sporting method consistent with Lake Elsinore Lake rules and CA department of fish and wildlife regulations. Live or dead bait may be used to catch all qualifying species EXCEPT BASS. Only Bass that are alive will be weighed. Teams may weigh in up to one fish per category; Bass (must be minimum 12 inches in length), Wiper (must be minimum 12 inches in length), Crappies (any size), Catfish (any size), and Carp (any size). Measuring will be on a flat board with mouth closed (will fan or pinch tale). Teams weighing in a short fish will be accessed a ¼ lb. penalty. Teams bringing more than one fish per category to the scales will be disqualified. A penalty of ¼ lb. per dead Bass will be deducted from total weight. You must cull your fish, no culling at the ramp. Teams returning to the checkpoint late will lose 1 lb. per minute up to fifteen minutes, after that you will be disqualified.

5. PAYOUTS – Teams will meet back at The Bobber Restaurant at Launch Pointe where prizes will be awarded on Saturday, May 18th at the Banquet following the Derby. Prize money will be contingent upon entries. Monies for prizes may increase depending upon the number of entries. There is also a side pot of $10.00 per species, or $50 for all species; overall big fish will be paid out. There will be no team weight category. All fish entered are subject to examination by fisheries, biologists, and derby officials. Weigh-in station will be provided at Launch Pointe. All teams must report with derby officials on Saturday afternoon no later than 2pm.

6. INSURANCE – Please recognize and acknowledge that boating and fishing can be dangerous. You are entering this fishing Derby at your own risk. We recommend that you have sufficient health, accident, and liability insurance to cover any bodily or property injury claim that could arise from participation in this event.

7. LIABILITY – By entering this fishing Derby, you hereby give consent to release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless City of Lake Elsinore, its officers, directors, sponsors, or hosts of any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, or rights of action, which are related to or anyway connected, to my participation in this event.

8. DISQUALIFICATION – Grounds of disqualification include any insufficient funds or violations of any Riverside County/ California fishing or boating safety regulations.

$1,000 Tagged Fish Challenge

Sponsored by Launch Pointe

1. Registration of $10 per individual angler or 2-Person Angler Team is required to be eligible.

2. The individual angler or angler team that catches specially tagged fish will need to bring the fish (tag attached) to the weigh station unaltered, to be considered a valid fish.

3. The individual angler or angler team will have the opportunity to select one of several envelopes. Each envelope will have a different cash value inside.

4. If a Tagged fish is not caught during the Derby but caught following the Derby, the fish can be brought to the General Store at Launch Pointe (32040 Riverside Drive, Lake Elsinore CA 92530), the angler will have the opportunity to select an envelope good for up to $50 in cash or Launch Pointe value.