Mud Marlin Kayak Derby - May 21st

Hey Guys!

In an effort to spread the word of our group and sport in NorCal, I would like to organize a Mud Marlin Kayak Derby - May 21st, near the Berkeley Pier area.

This would coincide w/ Pier Fishing.com's 4th Annual MMD.

Many of us started as shore fishermen, looking to bump it up a notch and try kayak fishing, only to find that it is the ULTIMATE in fishing methods!

I've already turned many PFCr's onto kayak fishing and this would be a fun and friendly way to get our sport more exposure.

I was thinking we could have our event during the day and then show off our vessels on the pier at night and even join in PF.Cs MMD2005

It'll be a full day of fishing and an excellent way to REPRESENT and get some Derbies started of our own in NorCal, with prizes and picnics.

Let me know if anyone is interested in helping in this endeavor.

Hey Elric good idea, the only possible downside is if the May salmon derby gets pushed to that date (i hope not).

I have never tangled with a Mud Marlin, sounds like fun.

Long as I get to hang an anchovie over my squid for the halibut.  IME the rays bite best at night, maybe we should have a late-night albany bulb yak-in for that kind of fishing.

Wasn't there some sort of hoo ha over shark fishing from boats in the bay?  Does DFG see rays as sharks?

MolBasser

Everythings unchanged except that soupfin are now a federally managed groundfish and were not given a groundfish season exemption in the bay like leopard sharks were.

Nobody's going to keep a ray anyway.

Rays are tastey.

MolBasser

I have never tangled with a Mud Marlin, sounds like fun.

Bring heavy gear.  I've been broken off by rays more than any other species of fish.

20# minimum, and that is minimum.

MolBasser

MMKD I

Will be a unique "NorCal" Kayak Derby that will gather alot of exposure to Pier fisherman, especially as it coincides w/ their 5th Annual MMD.

Such exposure will gain alot of converts and may also draw sponsorship from manufacturers for prizes as well as media attention.

Though fishing for rays is usually better at night, due to bay fishing regulations and safety concerns, it'll probably be better that the derby be held during the day.

At night, I envision that some of us may haul their kayaks toward the end of BP and "show off" our fishing vessels. Maybe w/an advertising "stipend" if kayak manufacturers were approached with such an idea.

Anyway, there's a festive mood during PF.C's MMD and we can bring our own food and drinks and partake in the commaraderie.

For those who aren't thrilled by getting towed around the bay by a 35lb Mud Marlin, attach a live bait leader above your MM rig and you can be fishing for dinner as well.

I'm sure that I can get some friends on the pier to act as judges, official weigh-in and photographers.  Though I'm not sure how difficult it would be to get a MM positioned in a crabnet for weigh-in.

Anyway, this MMKD is in its formative stage, any other ideas are welcome and appreciated.