Have you met your 2014 goals??

Now that the year is almost over, I look back and happy to say that I've met most of my goals for this year. I attended a lot of NCKA events/tourneys, fished new bodies of water, placed in a tourney (berry slam 3rd place), and somewhat limited my tackle buying habit. My goals for 2015 would likely be the same in terms of fishing, but I would like to try and fish harder and become more active on my AOTY entries.

Hope everyone have a Merry Christmas and a productive new year!!

When I joined NCKA in May, my goal was to fish for trout in Shadow Cliffs, the Delta,  and Del Valle. I hoped to maybe meet a couple people.

I've caught Trout, Thresher Shark, Bass, Leopard Shark, Dungess Crab, Lingcod, Cabezon, Rockfish of various species.

I've fished Stillwater, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Del Valle, Shadow Cliffs, Delta, and Monterey.

I've met at least two dozen NCKA people, and regularly fish with a couple of them.

I got to reconnect with my brother and have a fantastic time fishing with him.

I was able to reconnect with my father for the first time in maybe 10 years and start repairing our relationship through fishing.

I placed 3rd at the KC Derby, but in my mind I'm #1 because the top two who got Salmon don't count  Just kidding bros, you two more than earned it with those fantastic catches.

I would say that I did not just meet my 2014 goals, but I smashed them out of the ballpark.

My goal for 2015 is to catch every species in the AOTY list, placement does not matter. And I've entered at least 6 competitions so far. And to continue making new friends in NCKA throughout the year. And to catch at least three DOTY species.

I wish you all an even better year than mine in 2015. Thanks NCKA for helping make my life this year wonderful. Thanks Bushy for getting me hopelessly addicted to Saltwater.

My goals for 2014 changed early in the year and kayak/fishing took 2nd seat to my family.

My goal for the year was my grand-baby, everything could wait until she got better....

And with the support and prayers of friends, family and my NCKA brothers, she is doing exceptionally well!!! We are just waiting for confirmation from her doctors that she will be release from home jail and rejoin the general public....

I did achieve my goal of actually going archery hunting! Thanks Chucke and the LS crew for keeping me motivated and on track; and no, none of my hunting/archery gear is going up for sales .

So, as 2015 fast approaches, i have set sights (pun) on more hunting excursions, I have already planned/booked for many of the upcoming events and of course, time with my g-baby!

All-in-all, my goals for 2014 were met and/or exceeded.... (thou I only sat in a kayak 3 times this year  ; this is a kayak community, right? )

1- be a great dad--- yep
2- get a job----yep
3- stay sane (ish)----yep
4- loose weight----mmmm, well
5- dont get hurt----  NO


not a half bad year, considering

Nope.
Totally blew it.
Oh well. there's always next year.

No, I spent since April trying to heal an infected toe. Lost 3 month of work trying to get it healed. Finally on Dec 8th had it removed the infection had entered into the bone. I go back on the 26th I hope I get the ok to get back on my feet and guess what the first thing I am going to do is?

GO FISH WISH MY LUCK

This guy see's a cooler on the side of the road and pulls over to inspect. Opens it up to find a severed toe on ice! sooo.... What does he do?         Calls a Tow Truck (toe Truck) sorry  I had to do it!

Nope, missed it...broken pelvis and recalcitrant albies did me in

Goal for 2014- stay sober.....
Goal met! Haven't smoked either.

Didn't catch as many big fish but also didn't fish as much. Only about 160 days fishing this year.
Will fish 200 plus next year. Gotta get back on track!

This guy see's a cooler on the side of the road and pulls over to inspect. Opens it up to find a severed toe on ice! sooo.... What does he do?         Calls a Tow Truck (toe Truck) sorry  I had to do it!

And the jokes begin.

Long story short, not even close. Here's to 2015 !!! 

I got plenty of lingcod and rockfish. But the best thing was catching a couple of salmon, which was totally unexpected. I guess my goals were pretty modest, but I'm more than happy with that. I'm hoping for bigger and better things in 2015...

I had some ideal goals set up for 2014, and I missed a few, but hit some good ones.

I did not land a white sea bass this year. Miss. I can't say I didn't try though!
I also did not get a new kayak, but that is really more about timing.

I had a goal of getting out more than I did last season, and I did that (21 trips vs 20 in 2013).
I' had wanted to fish Shelter Cove with Jim I., and we did that.
I had always wanted to catch squid and certainly did that!
 Finally, I had Salmon as a target species and just when I had about given up I did land a PB salmon that really capped off the year nicely.

4 outta 6 ain't bad!

highlights for me would be fishing the SMC with the best crew and coming home with a 14# ling and a 14# hali,
.....a shuttle trip where Mdoka Matt landed a 20# hali with a gaff I'd made, Jim I's battle with a 20# king at Shelter Cove,
......bringing home a ling limit and landing clean in 6' surf solo,
.....frying fresh caught calamari,
....eating salmon for days and days.

get your paddles and gear ready  as we charge on to 2015 my friends

I did, but none of them were fishing goals. I retired in March, and did a bunch of long-needed work on my house. Because of all that work, I actually fished more in 2013 than in 2014! I have 2 more projects for 2015, but they are shorter & easier than the 2014 work, so more fishing is coming up.

One interesting note: I keep track of the fish I catch, and landed more & larger stripers in 2014 than in any year since 2009. So here's hoping that keeps up. 2013 was also a good striper year. I love striper fishing!

A fishing-related 2015 goal of mine is to become more knowledgeable about CA water history, law, projects, etc. I got a good start on that in November when I went to a symposium in Sacto.

Good luck to everyone in 2015.
Bill

1. get my own yak, yep I got 2. Thanks Jed.
2. out fit it, yep, again thanks Jed.
3. fish, fish, fish... yes...
Ok so I know my goals were low but you have to start somewhere right?
I am soooo glad to have met so many folks here and on the water.