BoatUS ANGLER wants you to have a safe fishing season and in an effort to educate anglers about the importance of boating safety, we are sponsoring a "Get Hooked on Safety" Photo Contest. Send us your best photos of people fishing or holding their catch while wearing a pfd and be eligible to win a Mustang Inflatable Lifevest valued at $150.00!

• Fishing on a boat while wearing a PFD

• Holding a catch on a boat while wearing a PFD

• Family fishing on a boat while wearing PFD's

• Best Fishing Story accompanied by photo from one of the above categories

PLUS! Each month we will hold a random drawing from eligible entries for other prizes such as Fishing Tackle & Gear, and BoatUS Gift Cards.

So send in your photos today and “Get Hooked on Safety”! (Please include your Name, Address, Daytime & Evening Phone, Email, Photo Location, plus any fish info you'd like to include such as species, weight, lure used, etc.)

Click Here for Contest Photos

Click Here for Contest Winners

Click Here for complete Contest Rules

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Did You Know?

• One-fourth of all boating fatalities occur while fishing and almost half occur on a lake, pond or reservoir

• According to a recent survey of anglers, BoatUS learned that 83% of anglers list boating safety as a major concern. The safety issues of greatest concern are alcohol use, life jackets, reckless/careless boat operation and speeding.

• Approximately 70% of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Moreover, 87% of the victims who drowned were not wearing their PFD or lifejacket.

• The most common types of boats in reported accidents were open motorboats (45%). The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel. However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and accounted for the vast majority (59%) of all boating fatalities.

• Most boating fatalities occur in open boats less than 26'.

• 51% of boating fatalities occur on weekend afternoons (only 10% occur on Tuesdays, Wednesdasy, and Thursdays).

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Common Sense Safety

• Wear your lifevest at all times.

• Tell someone where you plan to fish - and then stick to that plan.

• Always hook up the kill switch. If you're not driving, make sure it's "hooked up".

• Carry your cell phone in a watertight container or bag.

• Use a weather radio and don't push your luck - storms can move in quickly and cut you off from a safe path back.

• Install a ladder on the back of your boat, especially if you fish alone - soaked clothing can add 20-30 pounds to your body weight.

• Reach-Throw-Go. If someone falls overboard your first step is to REACH out with an oar, tree limb, or other long object if the person is close to you. If you can't reach the person, then THROW them a life-saving device. Swim out to the person ONLY as a last resort.

• Look behind you before you cast.

• When transporting your equipment, remove the hook or lure from your line and store it in your tacklebox.

• Watch the load - be careful not to overload small boats with passsengers and gear.

• Wear a hat and sunglasses - it will help protect your eyes from the sun as well as a stray cast.

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Test Your Boating Knowledge

Click Here to test your boating knowledge with our Sportsman's Quiz

Click Here to take the BoatUS Online Boating Course

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Read About It

• Better Safe Than Sunk

• Types of PFD's

• Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boaters

• Safety for Kids - "Ahoy and the 3 Life Jackets" from National Safe Boating Council

• Bass on the Starboard, child on the port - from "Saved by the Jacket" by National Safe Boating Council

• Lost on the Yak, PFD saves the day! - from "Saved by the Jacket" by the National Safe Boating Council

• Does your PFD have a sunburn? (pdf file)

• Get the Story on Boating Fatalities from the BoatUS Sportsman's Forum