BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When Kayla Nevius caught an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass one morning before work, she was excited, but she didn’t realize it would be a life-changing moment. The video she shot of her catch made her the grand-prize winner in the GoPro Best Catch Contest Powered by Bassmaster.
“I think about it a hundred times a day,” said Nevius, 24, “and it makes me smile every time!”
For her win, Nevius will receive a boat and motor package worth $57,989. She gets a 2015 Nitro Z-21 boat, a Mercury 250 horsepower ProXS motor, two Humminbird 1199 electronics, a Minn Kota Fortrex trolling motor and two 12-foot Talon Shallow Water Anchors.
“I already have a boat, but it’s a 1994 model,” said Nevius, who bought the used boat just more than a year ago. “Now I get a 20-year upgrade!”
Nevius, who lives in Bodfish, Calif., has been bass fishing since she was 6 years old, and she spends all of her free time hunting and fishing. And now that she has discovered GoPro cameras, she doesn’t go anywhere without one.
“My GoPro has been my best friend since I bought one a year ago,” Nevius said. “I keep it in my purse, and I take it every time I go hunting, hiking, snowboarding or fishing.
“Every time I take a video, I just can’t wait to watch it,” she continued, “and with the GoPro HERO4, I can see it right now and post it right now. I don’t even have to wait until I get home!
“Usually, when I’m in the woods or on the water, I’m by myself. It’s so great being able to take a picture of myself in this beautiful place where I’m doing what I love.”
Nevius got even more GoPro gear as part of winning the contest. In the contest, entrants uploaded raw, unedited video of their bass fishing catches. One winner was chosen each month of the five-month contest, and the winners received a prize package of GoPro products valued at $2,469.43. The package includes a GoPro HERO4 Camera Black Edition — Adventure, 21 mounts/clamps/straps for holding a GoPro at the perfect angle, filters, batteries, replacement kits and more.
Each monthly winner was chosen based on cinematography/composition, perspective/degree of difficulty, character and catch, and overall beauty and lighting. Then, the five monthly winners were judged against each other for the grand prize.
Nevius was one of the monthly winners in contention for the grand prize. Other monthly winners were Tyler Anderson of Lakeway, Texas; Jim Moretti of Howell, N.J.; Wilfredo Lugo-Sanchez of Pottstown, Pa.; and Hiroaki Tada of Irvine, Calif.
You can see all of the winning videos here.
“This contest was a great opportunity for us to see more of the amazing footage bass anglers were capturing with their GoPros,” said Todd Ballard, senior director of lifestyle marketing for GoPro. “With entries from all over the U.S. and tons of creativity and epic catches, getting to one winner wasn’t easy.
“Kayla nailed it, and we love her passion for capturing and sharing great content. We look forward to seeing what she captures in her new Nitro boat,” Ballard said.
Nevius can’t wait for the new boat and all her new GoPro equipment, either.
“It’s going to be great,” Nevius said. “This gives me an opportunity to take even more people out fishing.”
Nevius, who has a degree in child, adolescent and family services from California State University-Bakersfield, dedicates her life to helping children who are struggling socially, academically and psychologically. She is currently seeking a job in that field, but she has served as a child mentor in the past, and she is passionate about getting children outdoors.
“I love working with kids,” Nevius said, “and I totally believe in getting them outside. The outdoors is a great place to bond, connect and de-stress.
“I wish I could take them all fishing with me!”
The GoPro Best Catch Contest Powered by Bassmaster ran from March 15 to Aug. 15. The judges included seven-time Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam, B.A.S.S. co-owner Jerry McKinnis, and Bassmaster emcees Dave Mercer and Tommy Sanders.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by TNT Fireworks, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
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