Noyo Harbor Kayak Fishing Tournament (Pacific Coast Outdoors)

Call one of the sponsors. They have Old Town on the ad but not on the list. Lol. Totally legit. Maybe it’s total weight of three individual species. That’s how I ran Albion.

It definitely is billed as total weight of three species.  It’s not an uncommon format for an ocean tournament.  ORC ran a 4 species kill tournament earlier this month. You ran Albion like that.  There’s nothing wrong with the kill tournament.  Spear fishing tournaments aren’t catch and release, but nobody complains about those around here. 

This tournament is last minute, in NCKA’s territory where this forum is far and away the largest pool of potential participants, but nobody seems to know these folks.  They have an Instagram page and a store with a few clothing items, but there is an apparently much larger and unaffiliated outfit with the same name in Washington State.  There is a prize pool announced of $1750, which appears to be regardless of the number of entries.  Weigh ins are at a shop in town and not on the beach.

It may well be legit, but like I said there’s just enough that’s slightly off about this that I’d want someone I know to vouch for the organizers before I head down for this one.

Call one of the sponsors. They have Old Town on the ad but not on the list. Lol. Totally legit. Maybe it’s total weight of three individual species. That’s how I ran Albion.

It definitely is billed as total weight of three species.  It’s not an uncommon format for an ocean tournament.  ORC ran a 4 species kill tournament earlier this month. You ran Albion like that.  There’s nothing wrong with the kill tournament.  Spear fishing tournaments aren’t catch and release, but nobody complains about those around here. 


Exactly Doug. It felt sketch to me as well.

This tournament is last minute, in NCKA’s territory where this forum is far and away the largest pool of potential participants, but nobody seems to know these folks.  They have an Instagram page and a store with a few clothing items, but there is an apparently much larger and unaffiliated outfit with the same name in Washington State.  There is a prize pool announced of $1750, which appears to be regardless of the number of entries.  Weigh ins are at a shop in town and not on the beach.

It may well be legit, but like I said there’s just enough that’s slightly off about this that I’d want someone I know to vouch for the organizers before I head down for this one.

I’ll be up there a few days before it starts and will get more info. I’m not going to even get started with the catch and release vs kill to eat because I don’t want to hurt any of your feeling and it’s a waste of time.

I can vouch for Epic Graphics and Noyo Kayak rentals as I've seen them on the north harbour for a at least 10 years. They are legit businesses. I've never been inside but they do exist and are definitely local. They are right next door to a Ca fish and wildlife office

yah, seems sketch, though maybe someone just trying to make some good happen.

The phone number does work (cell phone), though I got voice mail - I'll call again later today and leave a message if no one picks up.

@dan916 - agree - fish are delicious!

I can vouch for Epic Graphics and Noyo Kayak rentals as I've seen them on the north harbour for a at least 10 years. They are legit businesses. I've never been inside but they do exist and are definitely local. They are right next door to a Ca fish and wildlife office

Yes, the companies listed as sponsors are legit, but it's the company running the tournament that is mysterious. I had not heard of "Pacific Coast Outdoors" and cannot find anything about a business with that name in Fort Bragg. Even if I wanted to enter such a tournament, I'd be more than a little leery of giving them $50 without knowing more about them.

The larger issue is still the ethics of offering large cash prizes for keeping the largest fish. Someone with $1000 on their mind might make different decisions than someone just out to enjoy a day of fishing.

I believe we as sportsmen who feel some sense of stewardship for the resources we enjoy so much, should advocate for better practices.

yah, seems sketch, though maybe someone just trying to make some good happen.

I'm missing something. What "good" happens when people are offered significant amounts of cash to catch and keep the largest fish?

I thought we went fishing because we enjoyed the whole experience. Who needs a financial incentive to get out on the water and drop a line?

called the phone number given on the announcement for the tournament. Still have not received any return calls. Trying to decide whether or not to go.

I totally agree with Tim. I thought we here on NCKA were stewards of the fishing community ? No one is advocating that people our not allowed their limit of fish on a personal level.

But there has to be a better way to hold a tournament with less of a footprint.

I correct myself as i shouldn't speak for NCKA as a whole.

Honestly believe it is a worthy discussion for some of the sites we hold dear. Albion, shelter cove and places we cherish.

Alex

I'm a fan of CPR tourneys for the reason echoed, I don't always release, but it's nice to have that option when you want too.  But it's not as easy as just weighing fish in the end and seeing who came out on top.  It definitely adds some difficulty to the hosts of a tournament to validate pictures, needing to hand out something unique to put in the pictures so you know they are not cheating, and can be a pain in the sunlight to view, etc.  Many tournaments have this format, your choice to go or not. 

Eventbrite ... https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pacific-coast-outdoors-ocean-kayak-fishing-tournament-tickets-164031744363

About this event
PCO is proud to present our 1st Annual Ocean Kayak Fishing Tournament.

Launch times begin at 8am. Weigh- In begins at 2 pm.

Launching and weigh-ins will be done at 32350 N. Harbor Drive Fort Bragg, CA.

For additional information contact Dwight at 707-357-3650.

Thank you to our sponsors :

Epic Graphics

Kayak Noyo

Noyo Fish Company

Family Tree Service, Inc.

Fort Bragg Diesel

Raudio Embroidery

State Farm Jason Cimolino

Pacific Coast Outdoors is just some guy's blog on facebook and instagram.  His name is Dwight Raudio.

-Allen

yah, seems sketch, though maybe someone just trying to make some good happen.

I'm missing something. What "good" happens when people are offered significant amounts of cash to catch and keep the largest fish?

I thought we went fishing because we enjoyed the whole experience. Who needs a financial incentive to get out on the water and drop a line?

That's fine if tournaments aren't your jam, but a lot of us do enjoy the tournament atmosphere.  I'd say that the good that comes out of ocean fishing tournaments are lifelong friendships and a place/reason/excuse to gather around good food, good friends and great times.

Of course there are multiple formats for fishing tournaments, but kill tournaments are still very popular and there is no shame in holding or participating in them.  They aren't illegal, hell they aren't even regulated and don't require a permit in salt water.

This idea that NCKA is some sort of beacon of catch and release ethical fishing is pretty obnoxious.  It's the ocean.  We catch fish, keep fish, and eat fish.  We like to hang out with our friends who do the same thing.  We follow all the rules and regulations and call out people who don't.  But we don't impose on others some sanctimonious crap about the resource and try to guilt trip folks into some unwritten set of approved conduct.  If you don't like the tournament format, don't go.  Or do.  I don't care.  There have been many dozens of tournaments announced here over the years and attended by many of the folks on this site.  Some of them are kill tournaments.  Some of them are spear fishing tournaments.  We kill fish, we eat fish, and we hang out and talk about killing and eating fish over a campfire and a cold beer.  It's a lot of fun.

+1

If you think tournaments are chaotic at Albion, just imagine how chaotic it will be on the dead end Harbor Drive at weigh in time (2 pm) with all the other weekend traffic from vacationers and fire & heat refugees. 

It will be a fun time watching all the craziness! I’ll be in no hurry and if I get off the water early I can just go back to my house and clean up then walk the 8 min back down there lol. Make it nice having a home close to the harbor!