Suisun Bay Sturgeon

Entered the Super Bowl Sturgeon derby Saturday. The target size was 64 inches. I launched from McAvoy Harbor in Bay Point.
Trying to find that kind of water I wanted to fish was a bit difficult, but after 3.5 miles of paddling against the wind I found what I thought would be a good spot.
I fished along side of Ryer Island where there was a nice seam between fast and slow water. There was an immediate  drop off from 10 feet to 26 feet at the seam. The current was pretty fast on one side and considerably slower on the other. With the incoming tide and the flow of the current going against it made for some REALLY rough water. I anchored and fished, and fished, and fished. Got a couple of taps from bait stealer's was all.
I moved around a little, but with no luck. Listening to the radio it seemed that the day was SLOOOOOOOW all around.
I had a grueling 3.5 mile paddle back AGAINST the current and it SUCKED!
By 3 pm 3 fish were checked in. 63 7/8. 63 3/4, and 61 5/8.
My arms feel like they are about to fall off. My GF drove home while I slept the entire way.
Got home, hopped in the hot tub and went to bed. Slept for 11.5 hours SOLID!
For a while the "guy in the kayak" was all the talk on the radio. Most had never seen or thought of sturgeon fishing from a kayak.
First place will get a little over $9000. second over $4000, and so on down to seventh place. And this is for TWO days. So there is 9k given out on Saturday and $9k given on Sunday.
With this kind of $$ and only $30 to enter I was surprised more kayakers didn't enter.
The rules state you need to have a CF #, but when I was signing in and told him I had a kayak, he said just to write kayak where the cf # goes on the entry form. I think the CF # is just so shore anglers can't squeeze in.
Any of us have just as good a chance as any of them. How awesome would it be for one of use to be in the $$ next year??
Next year I will head up current so I can easily bring that big dollar dino back to have him measured.
One side note, we as kayak fisher people communicating on channel 69 RULE!! I could not believe some of the crap I was hearing on 68. This was the channel that gave hourly updates. There were a few people who deserved nothing less than a good thumping for their disgusting comments when they got back to shore.
Made me proud to be part of this kayak group. We have class and we ROCK!!!

Thanks for the report Tote. Wow I didn't know there was such a pool that payed like that, next year I will be out there too.

might finial try that depth finder out tomarrow.

Good job Tote! Way to represent!  You'll get them next year.  I was the guy (rookie) that was sitting across the table from you and your GF at the award ceremony.  It was nice chatting with you.  Anyway, I'll be going out to 'The Hole' tomorrow with Chuck E. I finally get to test out my Tarpon 140.  I can't wait!  I'll post a report tomorrow.

Eugene (Paddlefish)

Eugene,
You are almost guarenteed of hookin a big one if you are going with Chuck E...
Have fun, looking forward to the report.