GSXIX - 5/17/25 - 80 of us! Hit me up for pre-fish trip if you're interested

Registration for the Nineteenth Annual Gimme Shelter Kayakfishing Tournament is now open.  Paperwork must be received by April 20th, 2025.  No electronic payment methods are accepted.  Event documents are attached to this post.

******  ANY TROUBLE OPENING THE DOCS HERE - TRY THIS LINK:  https://app.box.com/s/yhe5je2rixt41wledfe8nmveoqewp218

The tourney format and activities are very similar to last year, with one exception being that we will go back to having the Gyotaku Extravaganza on Saturday afternoon.  Another change has to do with sponsorship.  Because there was a five year gap between the last two events (GS13 and GSXVIII), some who wished to participate had a hard time getting a response to a sponsor request on the pages of NCKA.  I'm not sure if anyone ended up not coming due to the issue, but one really cool member and his family almost didn't get signed up because I'd not anticipated the issue.  So this year, if someone has trouble finding a sponsor, I'll allow an option of posting on NCKA, pledging to follow the rules and to respect the community. 

Please read through the rules and schedule, fill out the application sheet and registration, and send in your payment and gear order soon if you plan to attend.  It may be necessary to limit the number of participants, so watch this thread for any and all developments regarding the event.

Staying at an inn, renting a VRBO or camping at the Shelter Cove RV Campground and Deli are the most popular options, and I predict that these resources will get stretched thin before the registration deadline is here.  Participants in Gimme Shelter are not allowed to camp at the launch ramp!

There's a lot of history around this event.  If you search the NCKA forums (Fishing Tournaments and Events, Members Only Fishing Reports, Public Fishing Reports), you will see that past GS threads have gotten lots of participation and they're extremely rich with information that can get even a noob up to speed on what the event is all about.  I will try to be succinct here with my own vision for what GS has meant to me and my family and what I want it to mean going forward.  Gimme Shelter is about community.  Gimme Shelter is about honoring the resources.  Gimme Shelter is about respecting the locals.  Gimme Shelter is about showing love for a bunch of like-minded people.  Gimme Shelter is about enjoying a world class fishery.  Gimme Shelter is about being at your best.

I have at times spoken to people outside of the kayak fishing community about Gimme Shelter, and I usually end up figuring that they don't really understand what it's all about.  Gimme Shelter is not just a fishing tournament.  For many, it's a multi-day vacation, where spouses, GF's/BF's, kids, the dog...etc. come along.  Shelter Cove is one of the most amazing places on the planet, and the residents there have come to value Gimme Shelter too.

If you have attended in the past, you know what I'm getting at.  And if you have not attended but you want to do so and you've followed the history of the event or been turned on to it by a friend, I am stoked that you are looking to bring your positive energy to the event.

Let's get this ball rolling, and I'll try to keep spicing this thread with reminiscing of past events along with intentions for how I hope to make this year better than ever.  If you have questions, ask them here, and if you're really hot to immerse yourself in it, give me a call - my number is under every post that I author.

Thanks so much - can't wait!   

Stoked!!!!!  Can’t wait to get up there!

I attended every Gimme Shelter event in the past and definitely not going to miss this year 

I tried to sign up for vacation time as soon as the date was published but I was too late. I was looking forward to doing another tournament. Two people are out from injury at work and another took that weekend off. I might be able to go last minute if business is slow so I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

Well written post Eric . Best wishes for a great tourney Eric !

Looking forward to it, and no dangling fish this time with the on board fish hatch.

Right on Eric!

Yamobethere

Yeah, bros!  Let's do this!   

This is how we do it.   

🤔🤔🤩🤩🤩🎣

I'm finally going to sign up and attend for the first time. I need a sponsor though.

I'm finally going to sign up and attend for the first time. I need a sponsor though.

I got you Moo! Lets link up!

And this

Can’t wait… count me in!!! Only thing that would keep me from showing is work…

Let’s GetSome!!!