Guess I'll Start: GS5 Report

I did.

Dude you got problem you wrote more than when you dunk last year

I think this was taken prior to the balut.

(why do they call it what the aftermath sounds like?)

Some camp life pics....

more..

More food and alcohol consumption....

Big thanks to Eric & family and anyone else who had a hand in organizing this kick awesome event. 

Gimme shelter is a special event for me, as it was at GS3 that I got my first taste of kayak fishing in the ocean (thanks to Great Bass2). 

Great time all around. I am a little late get into this post since I was spending the last few days "sledging".  Reaaly didn't get much of a chance to hang out and party with everyone but was able to spend some quality time with a fwe freinds. My mission was to get in as much fishing as I could and was able to accomplish that.

18 total lingcods 29.5 biggest
8 cabby  24" biggest
6 greenlings 15.5 biggest (none in tourney)
way to many rockfish  19.5" biggest
3 sur perches 10.5 biggest
one whale breach within 15 feet of me in 30' of water   
one blown head gasket on buddies motor ( that is the guy paddling the zodiac during the potluck)


well I am glad everyone made it safe off the water once again and hopefully everyone has thawed out from sunday fsihing bynow 

I'm very sorry for the late reply, as I've been busy catching up on work and trying to make time to clean my stuff and spend time with my gf. Now, I need to catch up on sleep/rest lol!!

Anyways, I want to thank Eric, his daughter and others who contributed in making GS5 a great success! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!

This was my first GS event and definitely will not be my last It was great to meet many of our brothers/sisters and to share many wonderful moments together. I just wish I had more time to meet everyone, spend more time with y'all, as well as spend more time fishing there.

One thing I learned is that fishing is tough to do after spending time with the A-Hulls, they sure know how to party lol!! Waking up on tourney day was tough, esp with a lil hangover  I even forgot my camera, messing up my game plan of c&ring all my fish. With 5 species caught, I decided to come back in to get my camera and try to upgrade for the last 1.5 hrs left. I have to admit though, it was tough to get back out once you're back on land lol!  Once I heard that Terry caught that Pacific, I knew it was game over and decided to paddle back in to get warm and dry 

Congrats to Terry for taking first  (and well-deserved to win )and to all the others that placed, wtf'ng!!! It was a great honor to place in the top 10 with elite anglers, as I knew it would be a difficult challenge to win the tourney. However I was hoping to win the yak so that I could donate that to next month's PIF, as the A-Hulls made the pact to do so if any of us won. What I really wanted more was that sweet hawg trough Well, there's always next year

Craig: congrats and taking sportsman on the tourney, as you truly deserved that title my brother! Your generous donation to the PIF just shows the big heart you have  You and many others here have shown great sportsmanship through many c&r;  thank you all for molding me to become a better sportsman and fisherman

Nothing but love to y'all!!!

Great report! Looks like everyone had a good time.

Al

WOW...    What a great PARTY    Sara and I got back yesterday, so sorry for the late post.  I'm beat, and have to do some work tonight, so aside from thanking Eric for such an awesome time up at GS5, the A-HULLS for being the most fun crew to be a part of, and all the A-Hull groupies that make it so much fun to party with     I guess pics will have to do for now, but I'm going to try and squeeze out a video soon as possible too.    

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"A-Hull groupies" LOL! o hell naw!

WOW!!! This event gets better every year. Thanks so much Eric. Your work and planning are very much appreciated. I had a great time.

Congrats to the winners and anyone who got on the board. The display of fishing skill and determination was nothing short of amazing. It is an honor and privilege to fish with such skilled anglers. I think the Sonoma and North Coast boys should start a pro circuit and have it out with each other like clash of the titans.  For me it was a slow day of fishing for many reasons but I had a great time. I was so deep into hypothermia that Etienne was talking to me and I didn't know he was.  I did my best to pull off Jack's taco bar vision with Baja fish tacos and Korean pulled pork tacos but next time I will print out assembly directions because people seemed be confused on the assembly.  It was fun throwing the chili marinated fish on the grill and gassing out the garage. May challenge Jack and Andy for a taco shack throw down at Albion.

Monday Etienne went ab picking and I launched solo in a very confused sea at 630 AM. Had the whole ocean to myself and hooked a nice verm. Then the swell layed down and the sun came out and illuminated the Lost coast. It was one of those religious moments on the the ocean where you feel blessed to be alive and out there. Then the Big Hammer team, Craig and Darius showed up and ruined it.  Just kidding, it was good fishing with you guys and was really happy when Darius called in the pac butt. I had to hit the road to beat the rush hour traffic and got home in time to cook up some fresh fish for Karen. Life is good.

Scott

Back to work today, still cleaning and stowing gear this morning and this evening, busy with the kids, still beat from the weekend, longing to be out on the water trolling...  I just got a breather and watched BigJim's video.  That brought a smile to my face and allowed me to take a deep breath and appreciate it all for a minute.  When you build up to something like this event, and you focus really intensely on getting it all done, and you pull it off and see all the happiness and brotherhood, and your family had fun and is proud of you, and you know that you've really done something good - that's when you might experience something very unique, a moment in life where even though you're physically and emotionally worked over you feel like you can achieve anything you set your mind to.  There are tears that come to me at these times, and they are a manifestation of the best things that life has to offer.  If I can ever manage to get over myself and my obsession with the conquests of fishing it is these moments of raw emotion and pure Love that I will continue to strive to find and savor.  Thanks, everyone, for letting me experience the wonders of life with you.   

...There are tears that come to me at these times, and they are a manifestation of the best things that life has to offer....

Amen brother!  Thanks for all of your hard work.  I sat at home tonight thinking about where I can get out fishing this weekend due to the long lasting stoke from GS5.