The 2023 tournament season has been quite the coming out party for Major League Fishing pro Dakota Ebare. Though Ebare has consistently knocked on the door of bass fishing superstardom throughout his young career, a ’major’ win eluded him until this year.
After starting the season off with a Toyota Series victory close to home on Sam Rayburn, Ebare backed that up with an MLF Invitational win on Clarks Hill Lake and has since posted three runner-up finishes on the Bass Pro Tour. Fishing fans have gotten used to seeing his name at or near the top of the leaderboard.
The 31-year-old east Texas pro has accumulated an impressive amount of tournament winnings, hardware, and accolades during his 2023 campaign including a boatload of bonus money from contingency programs like Costa Compete + Conserve.
Ebare has earned over $10,000 this year alone for being the highest finishing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in supported tournaments, donating $2,500 to freshwater conservation efforts in the process. Costa makes a corresponding cash donation to the conservation partner of the winning anglers’ choice for each of its 329 supported tournaments, something Ebare is a huge advocate of.
“I’ve worn Costas my whole career because they make great sunglasses, but more than that I enjoy being a part of a company who supports and protects our fisheries,” Ebare explained. “Conservation is something all of us as bass anglers need to keep top of mind. I want to keep catching healthy bass, and Lord willing one day I want my kids to have the same opportunities, so protecting and improving our lakes, reservoirs, and rivers is super important to me.”
Ebare was getting ready to hit the water with two high school anglers when I called for a couple quotes, doing his part to help inspire the next crop of bass obsessed teenagers. The Strike King pro is a proud product of college fishing, and his experience with the explosion of youth tournament fishing has aided in driving home his views on outdoor stewardship.
“It seems like tournament fishing is only growing every year,” Ebare said. “You look at high school and college tournaments – they are constantly maxing out their fields with 200 to 300 boats. It’s awesome. It’s amazing, and it means now more than ever we need to educate the next generation on our natural resources and raise awareness for conservation efforts. As fishing pressure increases it’s only going to get more important.”
Compete + Conserve sanctions bass tournaments of all degrees; including high school and college events, select team tournament trails, and up through the ranks to the professional level. All you have to do is own a pair of Costa Sunglasses, fish in a supported tournament, and it’s completely free to join. Ebare weighed in on what frames he has relied on this year.
“I’ve worn Jose PROs for the vast majority of this season, but I will say I can’t wait to get my hands on the new King Tide frames I just saw at ICAST,” Ebare said. “I switch between Sunrise Silver Mirror and Green Mirror lens colors depending on the conditions and the clarity I’m dealing with. I find myself wearing Sunrise Silver more and more. Everyone knows they are the deal for low-light, but I think they make bass beds pop like nothing else, even in bright sun.”
For more information on Costa’s Compete + Conserve program, a full list of events and payouts, or to get registered before your next tournament visit: https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/
