See thread on DOTY forum:

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=90621.0

 

- Matt aka mtitch12

Hey divers! Please hold off on 2020 entries until the 2019 site is archived (happening soon).

And be sure to get your entry fee paid by the end of the month if you want to submit fish!

 

- Matt

Made it out for a day at the channel islands this week and found some schools of small yellowtail mid-afternoon. An aggressive sea lion was giving us a hard time, but fortunately we were able to land all of our fish and not lose any gear.

Here's a vid of the action we caught on camera:
 

Finally put together some clips from a shore dive from last November. It was an epic day. My buddy and I landed 7 reds and a 20+ lb lingcod. I also added some drone footage that my girlfriend took just recently.

Hope you enjoy 

- Matt

DOTY 2019 is kicking off so be sure to grab your 2019 fishing license, pay your DOTY entry fee, and get out there!

I will be managing the competition this year along with Adam415 and BigJim.

RULE UPDATE: After discussing with the committee, we decided update one of the rules to assure that there is no confusion on how to properly measure fish. The addition was to rule #4 and was the following (see bold for additions):

4.) Photographic evidence of fish/scallops (total length) against a measuring device must be provided. All entries must be rounded down to the nearest quarter inch. Pictures are required to show the MOUTH CLOSED of the fish on a Hawg Trough or similar measuring board. You are not allowed to stretch or pull the lips to gain extra length. This is in accordance with DFW measuring standards. Multiple pics can be submitted to show mouth closed and touching end of trough. If need be due to rigor mortis making squeezing the mouth shut necessary, you may close the mouth of the fish using one finger in the eye socket and/or one finger on the lower jaw (do NOT place a finger on/in the upper lip of the fish or your entry will be disqualified). Refer to pinned post in the DOTY forum for examples of good and bad ways to close a mouth. Any entries not in compliance will be subject to DQ of entry at discretion of DOTY committee. Pictures of fish need to be taken BEFORE scaling/gutting etc. for both ID and accuracy of measurement purposes. Only pictures that show the ENTIRE fish will be used in judging submissions, so the measurement lines must be visible in the entire fish photo. Missing portions of the head or tail in the photograph may result in a disqualification of the submission. “Tail only” shots may be used to clarify full length pictures, but will not be used as the sole factor in determining length. Committee recommends competitors take pictures of fish from “straight up”, as this assists committee in determining the accurate length of the fish.

Let me know if there are any questions!

Please hold off on making entries for 2019 until I give the go ahead because the 2018 entries need to be archived first.

Make sure you pay your fees before you dive so you can enter any fish you get!


New participants: be sure to read all of the rules on doty.norcalkayakanglers.com and get your fees paid before you dive.

GOOD LUCK AND DIVE SAFE!

 

 Matt

As promised 5 months ago, I finally got around to editing together some footage from a killer baja trip last June   ;D

It really was an amazing trip down at Sea Sniper Baja. In 5 days of diving, I was able to land quite a few amberjack and pargo.

The biggest AJ I got was 102.5 lbs and likely will be the biggest I ever get. At the time it was also the deepest dive of my life at 105 feet (necessary to get below the thermocline).

Biggest pargo came in at 43 lbs gutted, and bent one of my Rob Allen shafts into an L shape (totally worth it  ).

All said and done, any fish I couldn't take home myself was shared with fellow divers, boat captains, and their families, though I was able to squeeze 58 lbs of vacuum packed fillets into my soft Polar Bear cooler for the trip home (tip: on Alaska Air, Polar soft cooler can pass as a "tackle box". With a sport tube, they count as one $25 bag total if you tell them it is "fishing equipment" = rod case and tackle box).

Here are some of the best pics (thanks to Alex Reynaud) and a link to the video:

Haven't posted in ages because I've been finishing up school the past 6 months but thought you all might like to see this YouTube edit I just put together of a day of diving in Monterey county with my buddy Luke in early May. My girlfriend said we needed more fish so we took it upon ourselves to fill the freezer 

We saw A LOT of sheephead for a Monterey location and I ended up taking 4 with the biggest coming in at 24 lbs, a new personal best for me, and the other 3 in the 15 pound range. Also shot some rockfish including 1 nice vermilion and a china, and a small ling.

Took me 3 trips to get gear and fish up the trail to the car, but it was well worth the effort!

Here's the link to the YouTube video: