Gimme Shelter 4 - Epic as Predicted - 5/14/2010-5/16/2010

aarons other freind or was it someone else who sabataged this mole?

Just got in...

Too tired to say much tonite.  Alshobie, Sara, BanjoTad, Fishmaster1 and chris decided to stay another night and didn't head for home until around 9 a.m. this morning (monday). Dead tired after 8 hours on the road in rain the entire way.

The trip was beyond expectations, more than twice as many people as last year, we ruled the campground once again.

Eric, I can't say enough, how grateful we all are for your efforts, you are a leader of men to be sure.

BigJim, wow, we still can't believe that you actually won, I can speak for everyone I spoke to, we couldn't think of a better guy to win that boat.
Thanks to you and your family for being so kind as well. Say hello to Valentina for stoggie.

BanjoTad, another awesome time with you this weekend.

Andy (FM1) love ya brother, you and chris made the trip one to remember, or forget, there was a lot of beer and other refreshments that have me in a fog still so chances are I may never remember most of it.

I will write more tomorrow after getting everything cleaned and put away.

So many stories to tell, and not one appropriate, those later, as for the rest, there are too many stories I was sworn to secrecy, so will take those to my grave.

stay tuned

stoggie

Holy guacamole,what  a,weekend.Couldnt  wait  till Fri ,so I,took of on Thursday.I took  my time(7hrs)made lots of  stops,and  dug  the  trip up listening to Satriani ,Montrose,Peppers andVan  Halen,Then blew my hearing with Chichen foot.All along the way Im strategysing.I finally  get there and  see my  teammates and  other new  and  old  friends.I have  to  say  It felt  like  a true Spirtual  pilgrimage,to get  back to nature and hunt and gather with  my tribe.Thanx Eric you  outdid yourself,and thanx  to your family for  putting  upwith  you.Congrats  to Jim  on his  big win,Estupendo!!To my teammates It was  great  hanging  with  you ,(happy  hookers)special congrats  toJohn (bird) on  his 30 1/4 Salmon .I  had such  a great  time going  from  site  to site  and  being offered  drinks  and  food and  goodies ,and  most  of  all commeradery and  fellowship,It  was  my  pleasure to  meet you  all and hang  out with  you,my  Brothers!!! Heres  some picks  ,John on his  way  to destinyand  the  launch  on Fri,Gabe

Saturday was cool,heres some  pics

A couple  more,Boy do I  have  a lot of  stories,I think I better  keep the  to  myself.Hey Jim (salty  dog) thanx  for the  meds  first  time  on  the  blue  I  didnt  blow :smt044Gabe My best  effort and  the  morning  after

WTF go Jim!! I was rooting for you the whole time! Some quality fish there guys, congrats on the King John, thats too cool!

Gabe - it was great sharing the campsite and hanging out. Congrats on that 23" cab!
See you next time - John

Go Giants!

What a weekend. It started Thurs night with food poisoning (don't eat egg salad from work). At 4 am I was still puking. Three hours later with images of shelter in my head I figured if I can make the drive I can survive the weekend. Off I went...Had to take a nap in Willits. But made it to camp about 3ish. Pulled up and the camp was in full swing. THANK YOU #1 goes to Dr Habanero for letting me crash in the pop up. Man I needed some sleep that night! Woke up in the AM feeling 100% better! Hit the water and worked the kelp and out to deeper water had two massive take downs that had me fighting posture for 15 min each. Both broke off!!!! Hung with Dr Hab (both on the hunt for a cab). Ended the day with some nice blacks, a ling and a solid greenling.  (released two underlings and a few greenlings) I figured you'd need 4 fish to be in the running. Awards ceremony was great and I can't believe I came in 5th. THANK YOU #2 to all the peeps that didn't bother turning in fish/scorecard! Woke up the next AM fished for a few more hours for an underling and greenling upgrade. Hit the road around 1pm and home at 6pm. THE PRIMO THNAK YOU TO ERIC AND LISA for all the hard work. Considering I battled food poisoning, getting a pass from a wife that was 8 mo preg. I really felt great about the weekend. What a difference a year makes!

OH AND A MASSIVE CONGRATS TO BIG JIM!!!! Well F-ing deserved!






Oh and the final results

EWB-Nice looking fried fish dude!!!

Did you throw some spice in the slits and belly??? That will really kick it up a notch!!!

Great meeting and hanging with you and hope to see you again soon!!

THANK YOU to everybody for the congratulations and kind words...I am one lucky, happy guy!!!!
 

I also have a belly that is VERY full of blackened ab, ab fried in zatarains, ab mi pueblo (baitnbeer/dr fectavious style), blackened ling filets, and whole fried Verm and Black!!!! 
 

Sincerely,

Jim

Sometimes pictures > words, so here ya go.

First off, let me give a big thank you to Erik for putting on a great event!  I had a great time at GS4, when I signed up I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  Having attended, I am definitely going to try and make it next year as well.  Great company, decent fishing, and a great potluck!  What more an you ask for?  I did okay fishing-wise, I don't have pictures but I had a ling and an assortment of blacks, gophers, greenlings and chinas.  It was great meeting everyone and I can't wait until next time!

Michael 

Great reports so far, and thanks for the thanks!  I learned alot about how I can make next year even better.  Running the event was definitely challenging, but it has opened up a whole new aspect of my kayak life, and that feels great.  Thanks so much to everyone for being such an awesome group of positive and sharing people.  I often find myself describing kayakfisherpeople as being particularly conscientious and warm - this event was such an excellent representation of that.  Even the few participants who aren't regular NCKA'ers were taken up by the vibe we create as a group - well done, everyone!!  I was very touched by the special gift presented to me by the group.  

Last year we had 45 kayaks on the water for the free tourney.  This year we hit 85 participants and there were 5 other paddlers there with our group - 90 boats OTW!!!  It was a sight to see, and our group represented the community well.  There were a few rough spots at the campground (this "spooner" character is on my list...   ), so I've pledged to Jack, the owner there, that next year I'll put campground regulations in the tourney info and will staunchly support him and his business - all that means is that people will pay their share and not create any bad blood through their actions.  Enough on that.  

Big Jim - I had referred to him as "Rookie of the Year" a few months back because of his reports showing obvious fishing skill, his plating skills (and accompanying photos  ), his way cool friendship vibe, and, without pushing anything heavy, his admirable devotion to charitable causes.  When I met him and shook his hand (that should be more accurately described...  how about, "when I put my hand in the vice"  ) I was instantly validated in my assessment of this man.  It's one thing for me to root for a guy for being nice and having great reports, but when Jim won the tourney I was very pleased to see what seemed to be a universal agreement among the group - he deserved it, and not just because he needed a bigger boat.  Bravo, Jim - you are tops in my book, sincerely, Brother, sincerely.  

The bite was off, so many of us had trouble scratching out more than a few fish - what was cool though is that didn't seem to dampen the overall festive atmosphere.  John/Bird's salmon on Friday was a beauty, and it was an important confirmation of the potential we all had.  Unfortunately the salmon didn't cooperate and the water was too muddy for spearfishing, but we made the most out of what we had and all appeared to have fun.

I'm pretty beat, so I'll get back later with some more photos.  Hopefully I can come up with a good video, but I didn't get as much footage as I usually do - I'm sure others got some good stuff to share.  Keep the pics and stories coming.  

Good Times.  

Jim, you are a class act, and nobody was more deserving of that new boat than you are.  I really enjoyed meeting you and your family, and look forward to fishing with you again soon.

Eric, you are the man!  Thank you.

So True, So Stoked for ya!!!  ConGrats!!!!!

 So tired....  more later...  Thanks AbKing!!!  Off The Hook!!!!!    

 Got this nice one of Jonesz trying to remember his High School Biology in Identifying this Fin......  

More pics:

Big Jim - I had referred to him as "Rookie of the Year" a few months back because of his reports showing obvious fishing skill, his plating skills (and accompanying photos  ), his way cool friendship vibe, and, without pushing anything heavy, his admirable devotion to charitable causes.  When I met him and shook his hand (that should be more accurately described...  how about, "when I put my hand in the vice"  ) I was instantly validated in my assessment of this man.  It's one thing for me to root for a guy for being nice and having great reports, but when Jim won the tourney I was very pleased to see what seemed to be a universal agreement among the group - he deserved it, and not just because he needed a bigger boat.  Bravo, Jim - you are tops in my book, sincerely, Brother, sincerely.  

Thanks Eric...means a lot to hear everybody's words of support and encouragement...I really appreciate it.

Here are some pics of the Fish Feast we just threw down at our place back here in Capitola...my Watsonville buddies were blown away by how tasty Abalone was and how big they grow those RockFish up in Humboldt!!!

More pics at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=440260&id=677140191&l=b3e8ca9e44

Thanks again!!!!!!

Sincerely,

Jim