Gimme Shelter Growing Pains

Porta-potties at the launch is impossible, for sanitation reasons, pulling them up and down that steep hill will be a mess. This was my best year there, and I am very glad to have seen it go off without an altercation, and nobody injured. My son and I are counting the days until next year! I think raising the fees is a great idea to help with offsetting some of the costs. Limiting the participants is another idea, but again, it is a public location, and we cannot stop people from coming and joining in on the event, they just won't be in the tournament. Designating ends of the group area for family-ish camping, and A-Hull parking is the best idea since sliced bread and canned beer!

So I'm kind of rubbed the wrong way by seeing folks not pay the registration fee and then utilize the group perks...Quote from Piscean .. I did not pay the registration fee because I don't like to compete. But I like to come up fish and have A great time.Just my 2 cents.

You don't like to compete cause you suck at fishing Andy... . Just kidding Bro!! Hey, I still got the shirt for Cochino..

Alex

For as many people that were at GS8 I would say that the growing pain is minimal. We had closer to 300 with friends, family members, and non-competitors and there was no fighting or serious altercations that I was made aware of. Yes we could use a few more porta potties but that about it. As far as showers in the camp go yes there are only 2 but I never had to wait more than 10 minutes to use one.

I also think your format is awesome the way it is. You encourage CPR with point bonuses and it takes a bit more skill to target multiple species. This means being the AOTD is harder to attain as it should be. I agree that if you sponsor someone they should know the regs or fish closely with their sponsor to help answer their questions. I carry a fish ID for verm/canary/yellow eye and I always use it if in doubt. If I still can't figure it out than back it goes.

Eric you have done an amazing job at creating a positive experience for not only the participants but their families as well. I look forward to GS9 no matter the format. Thanks for all you do.

+1 and +1 on Martins post!! I would also say that it is the campground that should supply the proper number of porta-pottys; its the law and their responsibility. CPR points can really have a big impact on the image of NCKA and on "The Cove." I didn't keep any fish the entire weekend, but my son did and I was fine with his decision.

I think it would be cool to give some of every entry fee to the local fire dept. You know, give back.
Imo, raise entry fee, get more shitters and give back to the locals. Don't limit entrants cause if you don't take my money, I'm coming anyways.

For as many people that were at GS8 I would say that the growing pain is minimal. We had closer to 300 with friends, family members, and non-competitors and there was no fighting or serious altercations that I was made aware of. Yes we could use a few more porta potties but that about it. As far as showers in the camp go yes there are only 2 but I never had to wait more than 10 minutes to use one.

I also think your format is awesome the way it is. You encourage CPR with point bonuses and it takes a bit more skill to target multiple species. This means being the AOTD is harder to attain as it should be. I agree that if you sponsor someone they should know the regs or fish closely with their sponsor to help answer their questions. I carry a fish ID for verm/canary/yellow eye and I always use it if in doubt. If I still can't figure it out than back it goes.

Eric you have done an amazing job at creating a positive experience for not only the participants but their families as well. I look forward to GS9 no matter the format. Thanks for all you do.

+2, nothing to add.....

I think the format was perfect this year and wouldn't change a thing. +1 to Rider's comments for sure! So many ways to win!  I think it was an outstanding prize format!  The detailed scoring looks to be a huge task, but I really love hearing the full stats at the end.  Thanks to all that help Eric with GS!!!

YELLOWEYES HAVE SMOOTH CHINS.   

I think the format was perfect this year and wouldn't change a thing. +1 to Rider's comments for sure! So many ways to win!  I think it was an outstanding prize format!  The detailed scoring looks to be a huge task, but I really love hearing the full stats at the end.  Thanks to all that help Eric with GS!!!

+1

 keep the format.  I think a  pre-tourney ID  and regs  seminar would help.  We were all noobs  at one point,  and I think it is the responsibility off the more experienced anglers to help the noobs who want to follow the rules. Who wants to help me out on the seminar  next year? ( with  Eric's  blessing  of course)

Who wants to help me out on the seminar  next year? ( with  Eric's  blessing  of course)

+

YELLOWEYES HAVE SMOOTH CHINS.   

= 

I just did!

YELLOWEYES HAVE SMOOTH CHINS.   

AND YELLOW EYES.

I will help you out next year, ATD.

YELLOWEYES HAVE SMOOTH CHINS.   

AND YELLOW EYES.

I will help you out next year, ATD.

Also has Round Edge Tail.

As an outsider who's never been to a GS gathering I just wanted to say this. Just by posting something like this and getting input on how you can improve the experience not just for members, but the locals as well show's what a class act this gathering is. It makes me pretty proud to be an NCKA member (although I'm actually a CCKF guy). I hope to make it up there one day for this event.

That being said, I personally am not a CA native. I have some troubles with the fish identification but I'm trying to learn them. I caught a nice Starry Flounder last weekend down here outside of Cayucos. Now I've read the fish and game ID page for flatfish probably 20 times but out on the water I was so excited I not only forgot everything I had studied but the minimum size limit for Halibut (which is what I thought it was). Luckily one of the guys I was out with had his smartphone and looked up the legal size for a halibut and it qualified as legal for Halibut (he didn't ID the fish correctly either).

I'm glad it turned out to be a legal catch, but I'm disappointed in myself for forgetting things that I know I researched and read. Please try and remember that not everybody was brought up fishing, or in my case isn't native to this area and these species. The guys asking for help were at least asking rather than just sticking them on a stringer. Sometimes it's easy to get excited and forget things you do know in the heat of the moment if it's not ingrained into you. CA regs are pretty complicated and it's a lot to take in, just something to think about.

PS: I ordered ID cards after the flounder incident and I have read the entire fishing reg booklet at least 4 times from cover to cover in the past week. I'm not excusing anyone's ignorance, just trying to point out it's a lot to remember and take in even for an experienced fisherman if you weren't brought up with the local knowledge.

No need to confuse people with more details.

They have smooth chins. That's all you need to know.

I've admittedly kept a giant yelloweye in the past.

When I caught it it was bright red with barely any yellow in its eyes and no visible black tipped fins. I asked a friend if yelloweyes had smooth or rough chins. He told me rough, and the fish had a smooth chin so I bashed it. Maybe 20 minutes later I was throwing a ling in my tankwell to join my "vermillion" and it was no longer red - it was bright orange with big, black tipped fins and a big, bright yellow eye.

If I had just known that yelloweyes have smooth chins that fish would still be swimming around.

Im calling Caltip!

Im calling Caltip!

I already did...

"yes, first name ROCK, last name HOPPER."

 

 

 

Sincerely,

Jim