Gimme Shelter Growing Pains

For the most part, GS8 went off really well.  I'm stoked about the work my Pro Staff did to assist with scoring, Gyotaku, the auction, the potluck and the rest of the fun.  The Hike and Dive was a great addition to the weekend, and I'll be thinking on how else I can enhance the event. 

In this thread I'd like to address some problems that arose:

- a local told me that the public bathroom got overused - I felt this was odd, since having enough capacity in that regard is crucial to running a fishing port that hopes to attract visitors...  In any case, I hope we can focus on how to alleviate the pressure on the restroom facilities, and I've discussed it with Jack.  Maybe a couple more portapotties...

- my local friend also told me that people were upset about kayakers speeding through the residential areas - especially coming down the last grade into town.  Please pass the word along that it's incredibly important that we respect the locals and each other by being safe and conscientious at all times.

- some people in our group apparently harvested no-take fish, and it was apparent that not everyone knew their regulations and size limits.  This is unacceptable to me, and I do plan to make changes to the tournament application for GS9 which will make it clear that DFW info must be known and followed.

- I met some locals who joined in the kayakfishing after seeing of GS on Lost Coast Kayak Anglers (FB).  I was told by the father of this father/son team that his son 'caught' a lingcod, but then he went on to describe how someone around them GAVE his son the 29" lingcod because the other angler (someone IN THE TOURNAMENT and DURING THE TOURNAMENT) was upgrading.      This is totally unacceptable.  I'll do a bit more investigation and see if I can uncover more info on this incident...

If you have thoughts about these issues please share them, and please feel free to raise other points for our review and discussion here.

Thx,

Eric

What was taken? Undersize fish? Or no take fish? Either way guys come on!!! Spend a lil time and know the rules.

I was peeing in the bushes most the time.

It was embarrassing listening to all of the regulation questions on Ch 69.

I don't know if it will help, but I can bring a few hundred copies of the ocean regs.

1.  The bathroom thing isn't on us.  It's on them.  If they can't handle the capacity crowd for opening weekend of rockfish season when they knew we were all coming that is a failure to plan on their part, and not our problem.  I wouldn't participate further in that discussion.

2.  I heard that too, but didn't see it first hand.  Can we look forward to a pop quiz at the safety meeting next year?

3.  I know who received the fish.  Good kid.  I didn't realize that the purpose was for upgrading in the tournament, which I take to mean that the person who gave the fish either intended to or actually did take more than a daily bag limit of lingcod.  Is that right?

I love Shelter Cove and what once started out as a small gathering of friends , sharing good times on the opening of rockfish has become almost too big. It is grown to the point where it is almost too many people and will need to look at next year as if I will come down. I know this sounds bad but sometimes I am not always into such a crazy time just want to relax with some good buds, beers and bros fishing and hanging out. Next year will make it interesting when as the word is opening day is in April sometime, not sure how this will change this event. I am more excited about coming up in the following fall when they are supposed to open up 180 in October , this could be exciting.
Later
Jimbo

I ended up turning my radio down to skip all the chatter. Fish ID needs to be off radio. IEither know it cold, fish next to a partner that does, or throw it back when unsure.
I also brought an ID chart & the current size & bag limits which i printed from the GS8 thread....

I caught 3 big red rockies over 20" on Friday, but they had more of an orange color and a faint white lateral line. I figured they were big Canaries not Verms. so back they went in 60FOW. I had a descender just in case. Jim caught a nice Verm and it had the more gnarly fins, dark red color,  and black tinges that make a Verm vermy.

I have to say that the number of people made me think that the launch and cleaning station would be mayhem, so we planned it to launch and land earlier and get the cleaning done ASAP. Worked like a charm. I didn't wait in a line at either spot. We did roll our boats down this year to avoid dealing with parking on the beach.
No complaints from me on the size of the event this year.....but it seems logical that there is a limit to the "fun size" the event can withstand and still provide a mainly positive experience.

I ended up turning my radio down to skip all the chatter. Fish ID needs to be off radio. IEither know it cold, fish next to a partner that does, or throw it back when unsure.
I also brought an ID chart & the current size & bag limits which i printed from the GS8 thread....

I caught 3 big red rockies over 20" on Friday, but they had more of an orange color and a faint white lateral line. I figured they were big Canaries not Verms. so back they went in 60FOW. I had a descender just in case. Jim caught a nice Verm and it had the more gnarly fins, dark red color,  and black tinges that make a Verm vermy.

I have to say that the number of people made me think that the launch and cleaning station would be mayhem, so we planned it to launch and land earlier and get the cleaning done ASAP. Worked like a charm. I didn't wait in a line at either spot. We did roll our boats down this year to avoid dealing with parking on the beach.
No complaints from me on the size of the event this year.....but it seems logical that there is a limit to the "fun size" the event can withstand and still provide a mainly positive experience.

I cam across a few people that didn't know how to descend a fish, and I ended up doing it for them (huge copper, and ancient China).  I applaud the anglers wish to let the old fish go, I think everyone participating should have some way to descend fish.  I would be happy to give a pre-safety meeting rundown of regs and fish descending.

I cam across a few people that didn't know how to descend a fish, and I ended up doing it for them (huge copper, and ancient China).  I applaud the anglers wish to let the old fish go, I think everyone participating should have some way to descend fish.  I would be happy to give a pre-safety meeting rundown of regs and fish descending.

In my eyes, that would be an excellent addition. I still haven't used the descender I have.

I discussed with my fishing partner while on the water that if someone comes on the radio for fish ID or size it will be instant DQ.

I agree on the restroom issue.   There just isn't enough of them, let alone close to the launch area. 
Maybe have two or three on a trailer down near the launch on game day.

Speeding.....I'm not saying kayakers are not guilty, but do the locals not notice the other locals?
Those kids are NUTZ?

Regs and things.......I understand your view on everyone knowing the regs and adhering to them. 
But, this is not on you, it is totally on them if they get it wrong.  Honestly I'm not sure if a pop quiz is necessary or going to be too effective.  However if we had a representative from Fish and Game be at the safety meeting go over the tell tell differences of specific fish and specific size limits, this may be more beneficial.  You could also (if you wanted), put the jist of it on the back of the Hawg Trough extension you already provide every participant. 

Nutz and bolz of it......Eric, you run an absolutely awesome event and a lot of work goes into it to make it what it is.  You are the man!
It may be time to raise or even double the entry fee next year to provide additional $$$ to help rent more porta-poopers, pay off some locals to act as speed patrol, and maybe provide on the water cheat sheets (many of us already make and use).

I met a real nice local with a small stick boat.  I told him how to trap his gophers and he told me about the best salmon tactics for this part of the season.  He also sings really nicely at the local restaurant and seemed about as mellow as could be. 
Another NCKA guy who was staying at the Oceanfront told me that as he was driving by the fisherman who was walking to his singing gig,  he got cursed out as a "damn kayaks".
Perhaps some fence mending and slowing down is called for.
However the most dangerous part of GS8 is trying not to get run off the road by the local would be grand prix drivers on the road in and out.
Also what a fantastic event Eric provided us with.  Thank you so much.

the person who gave the fish either intended to or actually did take more than a daily bag limit of lingcod.  Is that right?

That's how it was explained to me.  The father/son duo (not a team since they weren't in the tourney) isn't even on NCKA, so they were unaware of our culture of conscience and accountability.  As the father told the story he was laughing at how someone gifted them a ling and was upgrading - like he didn't disapprove.  I didn't want to hit him with "that's not cool", but that's of course what I was thinking.  I'm going to send him a FB message asking for more detail.

Thank you, Adam, for offering the reg talk - I think that's lowering our standards too much though.  People need to know it, and if they don't then they're not wanted at GS.

I discussed with my fishing partner while on the water that if someone comes on the radio for fish ID or size it will be instant DQ.

Yes - this, but that's not practical.  Instead I'll qualify all applicants in the registration process.

Something that bugs me about some GS participants is that they show up clueless to stuff that has been discussed thoroughly on NCKA and in the tournament thread.  I'm not obsessed with having the longest threads - I just like to have everything in one place.  It's a fact that GS is about knowing the culture of NCKA, and if people want to join without staying apprised of pertinent information then they'll be out of luck.  I intend to make it harder to get in and will be thinking on how I'll do that.

The bottom line:  participants at GS will be expected to know the program.

...and another thing!  There were several people who got scored and then returned to the scoring area to make corrections or additions to their scores.  That's grounds for DQ, and people need to understand that rules are made to assist the process and provide fairness to all.  There will always be some who don't 'get it', and some who are oblivious to anyone's needs but their own.  I tried hard not to be such a dick about it this year!   

I discussed with my fishing partner while on the water that if someone comes on the radio for fish ID or size it will be instant DQ.

Rob, I understand what you are suggesting and I'm not against it.  I do however see it possibly being counter productive in folks keeping the wrong sized fish, or wrong colored fish to avoid getting DQ'd for calling out.  The end result would just less radio traffic.

Maybe make a quiz sheet on the waiver lingcod length limit quantity of take. 22"/2

What fish cant be kept?

How long must a greenling be.

I find it very annouying when people target animals they dont know the regulation to. That to me is intent to poach. Youre ignorance wont be takin into consideration when youre in court.