SC Derby results:

NADA!    (just a lot of pissed-off rock fish, lings and king fish )

Still managed to have a good time at the end   Instead of having fresh caught fish to grill at the weigh-in party, we had hotdogs, chips and a soda (served to us by a cutie   at the hotdog stand) Several of us won some consolation prizes donated by various people and organizations  

I hooked-up with some of the fellas at "Camp Brian Gardner"   at New Brighton State Beach Saturday afternoon. Bill and I got to the camp site first and decided to hit the beach for some strippers....I mean stripers...we were heading down to the beach and saw plenty of pelicans diving for bait 50 / 100 yards for the shoreline  We started casting out but to no avail   We went back to camp to re-group with Mike and Erik and went back out again. Bill had the hot stick by cleaning out on the perch. He also managed to snag a little leopard shark with an attitude - As Bill was pulling him in, I jumped into waist deep water and grabbed the shark by the tail...and of course, Mr. Shark did not like this and started to aim his little mouth towards my arm   As it tried to BITE his way to freedom, I ran towards the shore  - like David Hasselhoff in a Bay Watch scene and tossed it to Bill for the release. After all the excitement, we all headed back to camp and met Brian (who always seems to be LATE when it comes to EVERYTHING   ) Threw some chicken over the grill (and burned it) for chow - over rice and had a great time talking story with Brian,EriK,Mike, and Bill over a bon fire. If we had a banjo...I think Erik would have played a few tunes for us   with Brian singing  

Sunday morning: Erik and I get up at 3:30AM ......(Erik chews my head off for snoring too loud  )  and head out to Moss Landing to meet Stuart, Chuck, Kevin, CHef Steve and Duane. Stu and I were the first one's out of the mouth of the Harbor and it looked BAD   We came back in and waited for the others to assess the situation. Stu and the others went back out to see what it was like further past the jaws as Erik and I waited inside. We all made the call to head back to safer fishing grounds. We all ended up launching at the SC and joined in with the majority. While the fishing was not favorable....the VHF chatter was very social and everyone had a good time  

Thanks to Kayak Connection, Ocean Kayaks and Allen B. (and to those who donated consolation prizes) for bringing us together - looking forward to another good time on the water  

Special thanks to Big Red Joel for giving me his lunch ticket - you cool brada