NorCal Kayak Anglers

Kayak Fishing Zone => Hookups and Fishing Reports (Viewable by Public) => Topic started by: mooch on September 11, 2005, 07:01:59 PM

Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 11, 2005, 07:01:59 PM
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  :smt118

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  :smt002

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 :smt011

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.....
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: SBD on September 12, 2005, 05:59:42 AM
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.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 12, 2005, 08:21:05 AM
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  :smt023
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: ChuckE on September 12, 2005, 11:10:57 AM
That's pretty cool that a kid won it all.  I bet that was humbling for the rest of you guys.
Title: thanks!
Post by: greg d on September 12, 2005, 11:15:12 AM
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
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 12, 2005, 04:57:24 PM
Quote
Good attitudes make even so-so fishing great!


amen to that!  :smt023
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: jmairey on September 12, 2005, 08:10:56 PM
mooch, great report as always, thanks so much!
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 12, 2005, 08:22:31 PM
14-year -old Dillon with his winning catch....

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0344_0028.sized.jpg)

Dillon with his prize....TRULY DESERVED!!!!
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0348_0031.sized.jpg)

Big Red Joel....with his 2nd place ling.....and his award winning "dressed to kill" outfit...
(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0347_0030.sized.jpg)

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

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0345_0029.sized.jpg)

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

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0340_0024.sized.jpg)

I could not keep these guys off my rapala  :smt011 .....one of the many jack smelt I caught when I tried trolling along the surf for stripers....

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0342_0026.sized.jpg)

a Santa Cruz local.....enjoying the sight of kayak fishermen like myself FISHING and not CATCHING :smt013

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0336_0022.sized.jpg)

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0338_0023.sized.jpg)

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

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0349_0032.sized.jpg)

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

(http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/albums/Joel/IMGP0356_0037.sized.jpg)
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: KZ on September 12, 2005, 09:12:27 PM
So... the question is... was Brian using his woman's new rod that she won in Elk... or does that cost extra GAF...

Erik
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 12, 2005, 09:16:46 PM
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  :smt017
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Travis on September 12, 2005, 09:28:41 PM
:smt038 YAY for Dillon.  That is so cool!  It is great to see a younger feller win.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Bill on September 12, 2005, 09:44:05 PM
Sweet pics Joel, the first pic of the otter looks like he is flipping you off.  :smt043
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mickfish on September 12, 2005, 09:58:13 PM
"Great pictures" Joel probably took the Otters dinner.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 12, 2005, 10:07:56 PM
.....that otter was lucky I wasn't hungry at the time  :smt002

....hmmmm...otter over rice  :smt017
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Blue Jeans on September 13, 2005, 09:24:23 AM
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
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Potato_River on September 13, 2005, 02:13:49 PM
Great Picts Joel.  Looks like a fun time.

All Dillion needs now is a car and a driver's license to get to the fishing spots.  

PS, was Mark there?  If so, did anyone ask him about COOL and the MLPA's?

Stuart
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 13, 2005, 02:16:48 PM
Quote from: Stuart
Great Picts Joel.  Looks like a fun time.

All Dillion needs now is a car and a driver's license to get to the fishing spots.  

PS, was Mark there?  If so, did anyone ask him about COOL and the MLPA's?

Stuart



I believe Brian G talked to him about it....I was too busy stuffing my face with hotdogs  :smt003
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: jmairey on September 13, 2005, 02:21:47 PM
Mooch should be promoted to GWS because those great pictures which are worth at least 1000 words each should greatly boost his post count.
Maybe each posted photo should be worth 100 posts or something?

I also think it is great that Dillon won it!

Regarding the jack smelt:

It seems like putting it on a 3 or 4 oz leadhead could catch a good ling?

Can Brian G. expand on the tournaments changing next year?
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 13, 2005, 02:30:42 PM
Quote
Regarding the jack smelt:

It seems like putting it on a 3 or 4 oz leadhead could catch a good ling?


yeah - Brian G was telling me to drop it down with some weight added to it but I was just too lazy and not confident about catching anything worth keeping ...it's been driving me mad ever since I started kayak fishing in the Santa Cruz area.....yet,...I continue to fish this place....only because my friends do :smt002
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: BigRed on September 13, 2005, 05:00:15 PM
Along these general lines...  I stinger rigged a jacksmelt about 12-inches in length with a big ole round sliding sinker rig and dropped it down to the bottom during the tourney.

The 2nd place ling I caught was brought up hanging onto that smelt.  It wasn't hooked or anything -- doing that classic ling thing of gripping the bait until up next to the boat.  Luckily I had a net waiting.

So, YES, you should have used the smelt as bait.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: mooch on September 13, 2005, 05:05:21 PM
....next time I'll do it ...thanks for the tip Big Red and congratulations on the 2nd place finish  :smt023
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Randy on September 13, 2005, 10:39:15 PM
Thanks for the great pics, Mooch!

 Pat & I were in San Diego, so we had to miss the derby.  Our consolation was a half day trip on a party boat on Sunday.  Pretty slow fishing (a few rocks and whitefish) most of the day.  Toward the end of the trip, a few Yellowtail were hooked (not by me) but the sea lions got every last one of them  :smt013

Congratulations to Dillon, Alex and Joel!

Randy
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Blue Jeans on September 14, 2005, 02:21:00 AM
I did talk to Mark about the MLPAs and Kool. He said that he donates to a lot of different organizations with conservation in mind. Whatever he does is with the best of intentions. ( something we should keep in mind is that a business like kayak connection, doesn't have the time to research the many, many organizations that come asking for donations and I am sure a lot of the times they have to make a judgment call, based primarily on the 'angle' that is presented to them )

He agrees that there needs to be something done about the fisheries declining. He is completely pro-fishing, thus why he holds the tournaments. I got a strong impression that he does not support a stance that would have mlpas that close major sections of the coast, rather small localized patches ( this is my interpretation)    His holding of the tournaments is to benefit the fishery and that if people don't want to come because he has donated to an organization that might have a different stance than what some of us have, he's not going to really worry about it. The tournaments will go on.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In all probability a large shop like his has donated to both sides and thus negated their impact from a financial aspect. I am sorry I don't have more specifics to clarify the situation. If you want more specifics contact the shop or email them. www.kayakconnection.com

____________________________________________________________

All proceeds from the tournaments go to the Monterrey bay trout and salmon restoration, notice me made our checks out to the MBTS, not kayak connection.
____________________________________________________________

Mark is talking about having a freshwater tournament as the early tournament (possible San Luis? ) and then after rock cod season opens, the second tournament. This is all tentative at this time. I will try and find out what dates we are talking about for the early tournament and maybe get some suggestions as to locations where we can suggest to have the tourney.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Hat Trick on September 14, 2005, 07:16:29 AM
hey brian, i am getting the feeling that you are not concerned with the mlpa, are you confident it will not affect you. this is serious business, these will be permanent closures. a kayak shop that supports the mlpa and then has a fishing tournament is playing both sides of the field.
  you say he does not research to whom he gives money, you should have hit him up yourself.  but if he was truly ignorant of the intentions of COOL perhaps he is now willing to dissolve the relationship between them and kayak connection.
   if you  believe that kayak connection has supported both sides of this issue, they are still doing us a disservice. if you have information that demonstrates kayak connection supporting anglers who oppose the mlpa, either politically or financially, please present it now.
  i know little about the MBTS so i have only one comment. this time last year there was a discussion about the irony of holding a fishing tournament to support an organization that is not pro-fishing. is the MBTS pro-fishing or are they preservationists? i will try to find this answer.
  all in all we only have two weapons with which we can effectively oppose upcoming closures and water diversions, our votes and our spending, i am saddened that you have chosen to blunt our economic power.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Blue Jeans on September 14, 2005, 11:17:38 AM
MBTS is pro fishing, but also stream restoration and such. They release salmon from the santa cruz harbor, knowing that those fish will never spawn, they are just trying increase the salmon population in the local fishing waters. To be pro-fishing you have to be a preservationist in a way. What you (not you personally, referring to groups in general) don't have to be is extremist and unreasonable.   I am sure you heard of the killing off of the steelhead fingerlings they were raising for release in to the san lorenzo and other coastal streams? Some one when to their hatchery and added bleach to the water to kill the steelhead that would have been put back in to local waters.

I am concerning with the MLPAs because I love to fish big sur. I only get a couple trips a year, but I would not give them up for the world.

I would be more than happy to swing some supporters but I don't have the knowledge base on KOOL and the MLPAs to effectively educate and teach people. I have a larger concern of the water exports in my backyard.

This is the reason I asked one of the knowledgable people in this issue to show up.  

I am sorry that you feel my donation to a program that puts more salmon and steelhead in to the waters I fish is blunting the economic sword that we are using to fight the permant closures and MLPAs.


-Brian
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Bill on September 14, 2005, 06:37:21 PM
I think we are mixing issues here:

1. MBTS project is a great bunch of people.

2. Mark from Kayak Connection is a cool guy.

3. The people that run COOL do not seem so cool when it comes to kayak fishing.

4. It appears Kayak Connection donated funds to COOL, therefore supporting the Uncool implementation of the MLPA.

5. MBTS project has nothing to do with our fight against the MLPA, they do not have a position on it (at least publicly that I can find) nor will any funds given to MBTS project help us fight the MLPA.

6. By running an event the gives money to MBTS project no help is given to fight the MLPA.

7. Mark needs to understand who he is donating money to and what they support. Ignorance is not an excuse. Having more derbies that give more money to MBTS project does not help anyone fight the MLPA. Kayak Connection has not donated to "both sides" on this issue.

8. You do not have to participate in the derby to give money to the MBTS project, just go to there web site (http://www.mbstp.org/help.html) and send them money. I will be sending them money on behalf of NCKA.

9. Being pro-fishing and pro-COOL MLPA implementation does not compute.

10. Giving money to MBTS project does not blunt the sword, giving Kayak Connection a pass because they are cool/pro fishing/ignorant of who they donated to, does blunt the sword.

I am sorry I was not able to make it over the hill to speak with Mark about the issue Sunday. I am sorry I sound like an angry nut case as well  :smt003 Mark sounds like he had a pretty "I don't really care what others think" response which, while cool in a punk rock sorta way, does not really help him nor MBTS project.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Seabreeze on September 14, 2005, 07:09:24 PM
My impression is that Mark's current passion is kayak surfing.  However, his tournaments demonstrate he "supports" kayak fishing.  His tournaments increase our numbers and the positive community interactions that we all enjoy.  
Do we have a specific action that we would like to see Mark implement?  
Should we, NCKA, make our own poster and promotion touting our interests and ask Mark and others to post it?
Pat
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Bill on September 14, 2005, 09:48:33 PM
I would be happy to see Mark,

1. Not donate more money to COOL

2. Donate the proceeds from a tournament to Coastside as they are leading the fight on the MLPA.
Title: Santa Cruz - Kayak Connection Derby - Sept. 11 '05 (PICS)
Post by: Seabreeze on September 14, 2005, 10:29:08 PM
Thanks for the simple response, Bill.  It is good to have a "best approach" in mind if I have a chance to visit with one of these folks.
Pat
Title: I protested the Derby by not attending
Post by: Hobi-Wan Kenobi on September 14, 2005, 11:42:05 PM
I protested the Derby by not attending, but it was a close call. Went all the way down w/ my yak but at the very end, decided to go on a skiff w/ some friends.
I've been attending all of the SC Kayak Derbies because it was the ONLY NorCal Derby and is the oldest at the time, but the idea of contributing money to someone who also donates to a group that can adversly affect my fishing rights stinks.
Sure, I'll write to congressmen when asked to by Coastside, it's the very least I can do.
I realized that w/ this issue on the line, that there may not be as many entries, thus the chance of "winning" a kayak is greater, but at what price?
What's the point of raising money for fisheries if you can't fish for them?
If we wrote to each manufacturer to raise our objections, I'm sure there'll be no more free kayaks for future SC Derbies!
Why don't we hold our own derby? Why do we need MarK? I'm sure we could find another kayak dealer to front a derby to support our interests.
k, nuff ranting...