RIP Brother Joel

I was thinking, if he didn't get sick, he would have been a legend in Alaska by now. Sucks.

Had a great time at the AR hook up today & thinking about you, Brother Mooch...
Thank you so much for this brotherhood!!!

I know he used to like to be called Hana Pa'a
remind me of this song...

Miss you, brother & until we will meet again...

Naoaki

Naoaki,

   What a great choice of songs.  All too true!

~Bill

Just read this sad news. I was floored.... Joel was such a genuine person. Never afraid to be himself. He was the first one to make me feel truely welcome to the NCKA family. I know he did that for so many others. He will be truely missed by our family. Wow, a man I was proud to call my friend. We'll miss you bud.

I was thinking, if he didn't get sick, he would have been a legend in Alaska by now. Sucks.

so true.

I was thinking, if he didn't get sick, he would have been a legend in Alaska by now. Sucks.

so true.

+2,  the Alaska economy would had an uplift with the amount of us going up there to fish with him...

 the best we could do to honor him, " Is to live the life we want..."

I do not know what to add to this thread. i have been looking at it for a week.  I will miss joel, I have been missing him for years actually, in the early daze before ncka we would show up at the same spots with the "rumored" hot bite. then ncka, linda mar and the bean, cabs and salmon...Monterey salmon too! op halibut..elk camping.  HIS APRON OMG, THAT WAS FUNNY!  the time i hid a banana in his tackle box at mendo...
I will not be here sunday, on my way to Baja to fish for a week "to live the life I want to live".   i will honor his memory when i fish the pacific on Monday.

joel was wicked funny yet kind. effervescent but sober...

See ya tomorrow buddy. Hardest prep I've ever had to do.

Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 4

My daughter Valentina chose Joel for her 2nd grade Dia De Los Muertos Project...

For those that don't speak Spanish, this is what she wrote:

"I want to remember Joel "Mooch" Lotilla.

He was a good friend of my Dad's.

Something that I remember about this person is that in his last months he was in a wheelchair.

One thing that I learned from this person during his life was to live a simple life and to always enjoy it.

He is also my friend."

Very proud of her...

Miss you Mooch!

Sincerely,

Jim

+1

that is great Jim.

 

Very sweet, touching.

very cool Jim! kids are the best! Valentina is a great kid!

+1