Was talking with a buddy today that has fished the Costa's for several years with good success and asked him why he wasn't down there. I didn't know this, they have raised the entry fees by $200 per event, for the last 2 years, (From $1500 to $1900) with no increase in payout. I checked his numbers, he knows what he's talking about. They have 6 Costa divisions, 3 tournaments per division, figure 150 boaters per field, that's an increase of entry fees of $1,080,000 per year....and no increase in payout (they did same on a smaller scale to the co's). Maybe this is why everybody left the two big circuits,

I just went through the boater payout at Amistad, they had 130 pro's at $1,900 per = $247,000 in entry fees. They paid out $168,432....that is a 68% payout. Not the guy I talked to, but I think Jim Tutt has fished every Costa/Stren since they started, and he bailed....

4 "pro's" got checks less than their entry fees

Hey FLW...I think your customers are trying to tell you something with 130 boats at Amistad

Yup, FLW has increased entries with no payout change. BASS kept the same entry for the opens and lowered the payouts.

Yes, I believe the low turnout at Amistad was a huge stance against flw. But I know guys that would pay $4000 if thats what it cost.

Same with BFLs. Dont know where the money goes but doesnt sound like a great way to drum up participants. The saving grace might be all the hype that's been created by the high school stuff. Once those kids start pouring out into this stuff that might keep entries up. Atleast until they go broke

Best way to make a million fishing is to start with 2 million

there seem to be a new crop of donators each year if you look at some of the larger venues some of these guys havent cashed a check in years.

Maybe some of the BFL guys will quite drinking the coolaid and fish the ABA Open Series. Payouts are weigh better and the tournaments are top notch.

Maybe they had an increase in liability insurance after the guy in Florida drowned last year? Increase in airing the weigh-in maybe? (That coverage pretty much sucked by the way). Maybe guys who work for them wanted raises?


Guess we�ll have to see if all the tournaments are down or if it was just Amistad.

I�m sure the dates of the Amistad tournament had something to do with turn out as well.

Why, because they are a business trying to make money.

I�ve never understood how they draw any boats wiith the payouts.

Nobody wants to go to amistad except the guys who fish no matter the venue. It's not exactly great fishing

FLW sucks plain and simple. Can�t wait to see what some of their new youngner anglers can do... but besides that I�m not interested in their product

The entries and payout were ridiculous. LIke posted above it could be a 5k entry to win 10k for first and plenty would sign up.

I've been amazed for years at the number of people that fish these things. Entry fee vs payout is just insane. I don't get the appeal of the Costa events.