Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)

Winner = 14-year-old Dillon with a 7.3 Ling cod caught on squid. I met Dillon early at the launch and he was paddling a = http://www.wiscassettradingpost.com/item65622.ctlg  

His dad waved him goodbye as we all launched at 7AM. Dillon was only wearing shorts... his life vest and a couple of rods...... No VHF....no fish finder.....no gps....what a trooper! I paddled right next to him and told him he was a brave dude and wished him luck. I'm sure that the rest of veterans hoped that this brave kid would end up winning - cause he simply deserved it. Sure enough, he came in with the winning ling and EVERYBODY gave him high-fives. His dad was delightfully surprised and called his wife to share the great news. Dillon was standing tall and truly deserved the brand new Wilderness System 140 - fully rigged to fish. He also took first place on the junior division and won a nice paddle to go with his new ride. What a way to end a great day  

Big Red Joel came in second with a 5.7 # Ling. And Alex Velasco (last derby winner) came in 3rd with a 5.3 ling. No halibut was caught  this time around

Conditions were OK - the wind started blowing by 11:30. The Coast Guard was out in force....2 jet skis, one zodiac and a helicopter...apparently they were looking for a lost swimmer - I believe there was a triathlon going on.....do not know if the swimmer was ever found.



pics to follow.....

Nice....Jr. cleaned house!  That is a heck of a score for a so-so ling.  How many people showed?  I gotta get down there one of these days.

Sean - I think 12 to 15 showed up. I really like the new rules about everyone launching and paddling at the same time (7AM) and place (the boat launch ramp)....it just makes it more social. Too bad Santa Cruz is a tough place to fish.....IMO: being an easy access for all types of fishermen - it gets hit pretty hard. BUT - it's still fun to attend and meet the brotherhood AND donate money to a great cause  

That's pretty cool that a kid won it all.  I bet that was humbling for the rest of you guys.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support this event.
 
I really enjoyed meeting everyone, and checking out your rigs!  

Good attitudes make even so-so fishing great!

Thanks again,

Greg Didriksen
Wilderness Systems
Technical Representative

Good attitudes make even so-so fishing great!

amen to that!  

mooch, great report as always, thanks so much!

14-year -old Dillon with his winning catch....



Dillon with his prize....TRULY DESERVED!!!!


Big Red Joel....with his 2nd place ling.....and his award winning "dressed to kill" outfit...


Alex Velasco / Alien (the winner of the last derby) showing derby consistency with his 3rd place catch.....with Allen Bushnell on the background.....



the cowboy from Lodi....Brian G. working the kelp beds by the light house...



I could not keep these guys off my rapala   .....one of the many jack smelt I caught when I tried trolling along the surf for stripers....



a Santa Cruz local.....enjoying the sight of kayak fishermen like myself FISHING and not CATCHING





by 2PM...sail boats were coming into the harbor by the hundreds.....



on my way home from Hwy 1.....I saw beautifull site....nothing but rocks and water....and possibly a white shark circling the Island  

So... the question is... was Brian using his woman's new rod that she won in Elk... or does that cost extra GAF...

Erik

funny you mentioned that Erik....that's the first thing I checked on when I bumped into Brian....surprisingly, I did not see "her" rod on Brian's yak  

YAY for Dillon.  That is so cool!  It is great to see a younger feller win.

Sweet pics Joel, the first pic of the otter looks like he is flipping you off.  

"Great pictures" Joel probably took the Otters dinner.

.....that otter was lucky I wasn't hungry at the time  

....hmmmm...otter over rice  

I fear for my life if I touch 'her' pole.  I tried to bring it but I was quickly going negative on the GAF. She wants to use it first.  Good time out there. I was hoping for a last change flattie, but the action sucked. One of the few times out there that I did not get sick, which was a bonus. I was using myclizine ( spelling ) and doubled down on the dosage. Good company out there. Next year the tournaments are going to change a little bit.

-Brian