Earn More in the Costa FLW Series
Win big in FLW’s regional circuit, without the big expense
Want to see how you measure up against the best pros in the business and have a shot at a six-figure payday, without having to travel clear across the country to do it?
You can, if you fish the 2016 Costa FLW Series.
Divided into five divisions – Western, Southeastern, Southwestern, Northern and Central – the Costa FLW Series is the gateway to the Walmart FLW Tour. Some call it an “AAA” tournament series, but thanks to FLW’s new payout structure, and the consistent level of professional competition from both regional and national anglers, the FLW Series is one of the best and most affordable avenues to launch a professional bass fishing career.
How much can you win? At the Costa FLW Series opener on Lake Okeechobee in January, Tennessee pro Jason Lambert won a boat and cash prize package worth more than $100,000. Co-angler champ Mark Howard won a boat and cash prize package worth about $34,500. Their entry fees, respectively: $1,600 and $550.
Where else can you win almost 65 times your entry fee in a multi-day regional tournament?
That’s right … nowhere. Only with FLW.
Let’s look at how the payout system shakes out.
The Baseline Tournament
Payouts at Costa FLW Series regular-season events are based on a full field of 150 boats, though the tournaments can accept up to a maximum of 250 boats.
At the baseline of 150 entries, here’s what’s at stake:
Place Pro Ranger Cup Co-angler Ranger Cup
1 $40,000 Ranger Z518C Ranger Z175 $5,000
with 200 HP outboard with 90 HP outboard
2 $15,500 $5,000
3 $12,000 $4,000
4 $10,000 $3,500
5 $9,000 $3,000
6 $8,000 $2,500
7 $7,000 $2,000
8 $6,000 $1,750
9 $5,000 $1,500
10 $4,000 $1,250
11 $3,750 $1,000
12 $3,500 $1,000
13 $3,000 $1,000
14 $3,000 $1,000
15 $3,000 $1,000
16-20 $3,000 $800
21-25 $2,750 $700
26-30 $2,500 $600
31-40 $2,000 $500
The Full Field Tournament
When a tournament fills up to its 250-boat max, payouts are as follows:
Place Pro Ranger Cup
1 $60,000 Ranger Z518C with
200HP Outboard
2 $25,500
3 $17,000
4 $15,000
5 $14,000
6 $10,500
7 $9,000
8 $8,000
9 $7,000
10 $5,000
11 $4,700
12 $4,000
13-20 $3,500
21-25 $2,850
26-30 $2,600
31-40 $2,200
41-43 $2,180
44-45 $2,160
46-48 $2,140
49-53 $2,120
54-59 $2,080
60-61 $2,040
62-64 $2,020
65-67 $2,000
Place Co-angler Ranger Cup
1 Ranger Z175 with $5,000
90HP Outboard + $2,500
2 $7,500
3 $6,000
4 $4,500
5 $4,000
6 $3,500
7 $3,000
8 $2,250
9 $1,700
10 $1,450
11-15 $1,100
16-20 $900
21-25 $800
26-30 $700
31-40 $600
41-43 $590
44-45 $580
46-48 $570
49-51 $560
52-53 $550
54-56 $540
57-59 $530
60-61 $520
62-64 $510
65-67 $500
Even More Opportunities
The Championship and Cup Qualification
An additional perk of fishing the Costa FLW Series is its no-entry-fee championship. Scheduled for Nov. 3-5 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Mo., the 2016 Costa FLW Series Championship not only will pay cash and prizes to the top finishers, but will award 11 pros with slots in the 2017 Forrest Wood Cup.
The championship’s payout is $50,000 to the pro winner, with a contingency prize of a new Ranger bass boat if the winner is Ranger Cup-qualified. The co-angler champ earns a new Ranger, plus a possible $5,000 cash prize if Ranger Cup-qualified. Payouts extend through 40th place.
Costa FLW Series Championship invitations go out to all anglers who finish in the top 40 in Angler of the Year or Co-angler of the Year standings in one of the five FLW Series U.S. divisions if they fish all three events in their respective division. International Division anglers qualify via the rules established by the participating countries.
AOY and COY
It pays to be the best. For 2016, the Strike King Angler of the Year in each FLW Series Division wins a $2,000 prize package that includes entry deposits into the 2017 FLW Series.
The Strike King Co-angler of the Year in each division earns an $800 prize package that includes entry deposits into the 2017 FLW Series.
Contingency Awards
FLW and its sponsors continue to provide some of the most lucrative contingency programs in fishing, including contingencies for the Costa FLW Series. Click here for more information on how to sign up, as well as the requirements and prizes.
– Ranger Cup
– Costa FLW Rewards – an FLW exclusive program
– Leer Cover Cash
– Power-Pole Captains Cash Rewards Club
– T-H Marine Atlas Awards
– Bob’s Tournament Rewards
– Toyota Bonus Bucks
Win Big with FLW, Make the Tour
If you’re a regional stick who likes to fish near home or an aspiring pro with dreams of fishing the Walmart FLW Tour, signing up to fish the Costa FLW Series just makes sense … and dollars.
There are opportunities to win boats and major cash prizes at every stop. Plus, the top 10 anglers in each division’s AOY race earn priority entry into the following season’s Walmart FLW Tour.
So if you’re itching to fill your wallet, step up to the pro ranks or do both, the best opportunity is waiting for you in the Costa FLW Series.