2016 Goals and DOTY placement

What a year.  I got home at 1 am and had a lot of time to think about 2016 on the long drive home. 

I wanted to finish DOTY in the top 5 and I still have a shot at it.  I met new people and was able to dive new locations.  I broke several of my personal best records.  I tried two other dive competitions and got biggest ling for one and 2nd place overall for the other. 

This year had many challenges with rougher water and smaller windows of opportunities to get out.  I saw many of the top placement divers putting in the time and getting their fish.  Some put in days on a species and never got their target.  Not for a lack of trying.  We all know how hard this can be. 

It was very rare for me to dive two days in a row as my body needed more time to recover in between dives and long drives. 

Wherever I end up I am ok with it as I had fun participating and gave it what I could without staying out to long or going into dangerous waters. 

For being a newer diver I am still amazed with this sport and my personal improvements I continue to make on every dive.  DOTY has been a great way to catalog my fish and keep track of my progress.  I wanted to thank all of the guys keeping this Comp going and recommend it for newer divers as a way to improve your species identifications and skills. 

I know some are diving today so some of the rankings are going to change.  Thanks for playing and good luck for those participating in 2017. 

http://doty.norcalkayakanglers.com/leaderboard/list

DG, Congrats on your what appears to be one of Top 5  DOTY placement, you earned it. Thanks for sharing your adventures, reports and vids. You area great example of what DOTY is all about in my opinion.   Due to injuries last year I was unable to dive for 10 months and did not put a single fish on the DOTY Board. About drove me crazy..... but reading reports and watching vids sure helped. This coming 2017 DOTY I hope to dive with you and some of the other heros and legends of DOTY have some Fun and put a couple fish on the board.

congrats on a great year! it definitely was a challenging year on several different levels but everyone did great out there and i sure had a lot of fun watching and participating!

steve

Cheers and congrats to all participants. That was a long haul and really intense at the end. Great to meet some folks in person.  Be safe and see you out there.

I'd bet you someone is out there right now still trying to upgrade. 

Hats off to everyone that participated in this year long event.

Congrats to all and Happy New Year!

I'd bet you someone is out there right now still trying to upgrade. 

Hats off to everyone that participated in this year long event.

Congrats to all and Happy New Year!

I am back now.  It was crazy diving in the dark.  I saw a salmon and a striper and a crap load of crabs.  Then coast guard came and started doing grid searches.  They didn't bother me but I later found out a boat capsized near there and one of the passengers is missing.  I think they thought I was part of the rescue crew.  Crazy night.

All that AND becoming a new home owner is quite an achievement. Congrats!

All that AND becoming a new home owner is quite an achievement. Congrats!

Yeah I have owned several homes over the years and this has been the most challenging one.  Still living in the RV as we now need a new roof in addition to all the other issues.  Some day we will be able to enjoy it. 

Dozer and Tiny Home...easy peasy. 

Dozer and Tiny Home...easy peasy. 

We will just stay in the RV for now.  It's like camping every day. 

Congrats and Happy New Year!
I had a good year despite what seemed like a summer of the worst ocean conditions I can remember. Not enough good dives north of San Fran. But I was fortunate to get out to Catalina and also did kayak, boat, and shore diving in NZ for a bunch of species. As we say in the Bay Area, hella dope, even when I was getting schooled by local friends (I figured out the fish I was shooting were basically bait for the ones they were shooting!)
Wish everyone good conditions, solid stringers, and safe diving in the New Year!

So are the current standings final?

So are the current standings final?

They are final when Jim says they are final.  And yes I know I suck because you told me I should have upgraded my Perch.  But my broken body only has so many dive hours on it and I already voided all warranties with misuse. 

So are the current standings final?

They are final when Jim says they are final.  And yes I know I suck because you told me I should have upgraded my Perch.  But my broken body only has so many dive hours on it and I already voided all warranties with misuse.

You'll always be number 2 to me 

Congrats and Happy New Year!
I had a good year despite what seemed like a summer of the worst ocean conditions I can remember. Not enough good dives north of San Fran. But I was fortunate to get out to Catalina and also did kayak, boat, and shore diving in NZ for a bunch of species. As we say in the Bay Area, hella dope, even when I was getting schooled by local friends (I figured out the fish I was shooting were basically bait for the ones they were shooting!)
Wish everyone good conditions, solid stringers, and safe diving in the New Year!

You had a productive year and were able to dive some cool spots.  See you out there in 2017.