NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2026
A LETTER FROM OUR FOUNDER
This September, our nation marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001.
For those of us who lived through that day, the memories have never faded, the disbelief, the profound loss, and the remarkable courage shown by first responders and ordinary Americans will live in our hearts forever. In the days and months that followed, we were reminded of the strength of our country and what can happen when Americans stand together.
September 11 also strengthened my resolve that every Contender boat would carry the American flag. It was a personal decision and a lasting expression of gratitude for our country, our freedoms, and the people who defend them. From September 12, 2001 to now, our flag remains proudly displayed on every boat we build.
Our commitment to American craftsmanship runs just as deep. Contender Boats operates two factories in Florida, where every one of our boats is built by skilled American hands. We are proud of the people behind our boats, proud to manufacture them here at home, and proud that each Contender leaves our factory bearing the flag of the country where it was built.
As we commemorate this anniversary, we remember those who lost their lives, the families who continue to carry their loss, and the first responders and service members whose courage and sacrifice have protected our nation.
The American flag on every Contender represents more than our heritage. It reflects our belief in this country, our commitment to building in America, and our promise never to forget.
Joe Neber
President and Owner, Contender Boats
WINNING ON CONTENDERS AND WINNING CONTENDERS—ALL WE DO IS WIN.​
The tournament winner and junior angler winner of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament were both onboard Donnie Sikorski’s Contender for their wins. Congratulations to Aaron Gunter on his 43.79lb Kingfish in the Jr. Angler division, and Donnie Sikorski with his 52.72lb kingfish, and his top prize: a brand new Contender 28T.
The 93rd Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo took place July 17-19 in Dauphin Island, attracting over 4,000 anglers and 100,000 spectators. As President’s Sponsor of the Rodeo, Contender gave away a brand-new Contender 26BAY. Every angler who weighed in a legal fish in any of the Rodeo’s 33 categories with a valid 93rd ADSFR Open Ticket was entered to win. Congrats to the winner, Mike Jones!
Conservation Partner Spotlight
FOURTEEN ANGLERS MEET IN A TACKLE SHOP, AND IT BECOMES A NATIONAL MOVEMENT: FIVE DECADES FIGHTING FOR THE FISH.
In 1977, commercial overfishing had all but wiped out redfish and speckled trout along the Texas coast. Fourteen concerned anglers met in a local tackle shop and launched the “Save the Redfish” campaign. Four years later, gill nets were outlawed along the Texas coast and both species were declared game fish.
Today, the Coastal Conservation Association has grown to more than 125,000 members across the Gulf, Atlantic, and Pacific coasts, fighting the same fight state by state, including a statewide gill net ban in Florida, game fish protections for sailfish and marlin, and a 2020 lawsuit against North Carolina over shrimp trawling practices that’s still working its way through the courts.
Beyond the courtroom, CCA helps rebuild the water by funding reef restoration projects like Big Man’s Reef off Galveston, protecting 5,236 acres of seagrass and coastal habitat in Texas’s Redfish Bay, training the next generation of marine scientists, and teaching anglers how to release fish so they survive.
Contender is proud of its partnership with CCA Florida, and the work the Coastal Conservation Association is doing throughout the US. Read the full story.
39ST UPDATES EXTEND TO THE 35ST & 32ST
Last fall, the 39ST got its biggest upgrade in more than a decade—a new console, hardtop, and leaning post shaped by direct feedback from captains and tournament anglers. Earlier this year at MIBS, that same thinking carried over to the 35ST.
Now it’s the 32ST’s turn, extending the same wider, more ergonomic helm, fully integrated hardtop, and long-day-ready leaning post down to the next model in the ST line. Get all the details.
