Fishing devotees will cast their lines in Dorchester Bay and other bodies of water in the Commonwealth starting this week in hopes of catching the largest trout, striped bass, bluefish, and freshwater bass as a part of the three-week-long Boston Bonanza Fishing Tournament. 

The tournament officially starts on Thursday this week (May 23) at 6 a.m. A kickoff party for the tournament was held at the Dorchester Yacht Club the day before, where competitors received captain’s bags with official tournament measuring tape, an event shirt, a sticker, and a ticket to an awards ceremony on June 14. 

All proceeds from the tournament will be given to Elevate Youth, a Boston-based nonprofit that connects children in underserved neighborhoods with nature. Founded in 2017, the organization aims to remove systematic barriers and diversify outdoor spaces.

“It’s all about Elevate Youth, it’s a great cause,” said Boston Bonanza founder John Foster. “To show a kid what’s accessible to them in their backyard, in Boston Harbor or the nearby parks, showing a kid the beauty of nature is invaluable. It could really change a kid’s life for the better.” 

The 29-year-old Foster grew up living and fishing in Scituate and said that as a child there was nothing more exciting than feeling a fish on the end of his line. Through his partnership with Elevate Youth, he hopes children from Boston will share in his joy.

 “I feel very fortunate to grow up where I was able to fish and go outside and do awesome things that maybe a lot of these kids have never done,” said Foster, who now lives in Savin Hill. “So, to put that in front of their eyes and have them experience, it is such a big win.”

For $65 participants can register for the catch-and-release tournament, which will end at 6 p.m. on June 12. “It’s a good easy way to contribute to such a great cause. We’re giving away a bunch of merch and t-shirts and free stuff from the sponsors. You get way more than the value alone just from joining the tournament,” Foster said.

Prizes from sponsors including Costa, Postfly, Yeti, Patagonia, and more, will be given to whoever catches the biggest fish in each category and awarded to the individual with the greatest array of species. 

Foster hopes to reach 75 participants but is happy to make a difference in even just one child’s life. “If we have two participants and that gives us enough money to help one kid from Boston who’s never fished before, that would be a huge win. Even if people don’t like to fish or they miss the tournament to be able to get eyes on Elevate Youth and have people understand who they are, what they do, and support them in any way they can,” he said, “is huge. Elevate Youth is a perfect partner. We’re hoping to get good traction for this year and then have the tourney be an annual thing.”