3RD Annual NCKA Half Moon Bay Kayak Fishing Derby - June 10, 2007

Last years conditions were not for the faint of heart.
It was my first time at HMB. CHUB, Alfredo and I followed the jetty north. Fog kept us from seeing out into the ocean. Since we were getting nothing and the fog lifted I decided to head out. It looked very intimidating to say the least.
Being Alfredo's first time on the big blue he decided to stay along the calmer jetty and then fish the protected harbor. I feel he made the right call. It had absolutely nothing to do with being a 'wussie' or having a lack of testerone. That mentality is what always gets people into trouble. He realized his limits and chose not to exceed them.
CHUB and I, both of whom have a lot of experience in all kinds of conditions paddled straight through the nasty stuff to the fishing grounds. With the breakers and the boilers it took a tremendous amount of concentration and experience to safely navigate it. And yea, it was still scary.
I was VERY happy Al made the call that he made.
As much as I LOVE this sport, remember, it is just fishing.
Please do not feel pressured into taking risks you normally would not take.
If you end up in harms way because you were somewhere you shouldn't have been then you are putting those who will assist you in harms way as well.
Be smart, be safe and have fun!!!!!
Wish I could join ya all this weekend but it is the GF's B-day weekend and I definitely want to fish this year.

Tote.... Excellent story and great advice.  We'll miss you guys!

chuck you and I both know you have a better chance of catching a yellowtail at NB than a Striper in the harbor or even a halibut. Just being honest.  Maybe come July and August the Halibut may show up.  A big MAYBE.
Jason

chuck you and I both know you have a better chance of catching a yellowtail at NB than a Striper in the harbor or even a halibut. Just being honest.  Maybe come July and August the Halibut may show up.  A big MAYBE.
Jason

True.... but ya never know.  A couple years ago, I lost my surf rod when it and my sand spike got ripped right off the beach inside the harbor.  It could have been a big shark, ray, or halibut.  No one will ever know for sure.

   Chuckie didn't say we would catch those fish in the harbor. He meant closer to the beach on the outside. As I posted earlier on this thread, last saturday I saw pelicans diving at bait there. I know it could have been other birds, but something was chasing them up to the top. And, if birds were working like that inside the harbor, I'd fish there with optomism too.

    last saturday I saw pelicans diving at bait there. I know it could have been other birds, but something was chasing them up to the top.

SHHHH!!   thats where I'm gonna be......

Hey, I was just wondering if there are any preliminary numbers for people that have pre-reged for the tourney.  Curious about how many more there will be from last years record of 50.  I may be imagining things, but thinking there will be like 100 yaks out there this time.  Kinda like critical mass yaking   Should be fun out there!

We currently have 47 people registered. I would expect to at least break 60 this year with the onsite registration.

Halibut in harbor, stripers on the beach.  Every year pelicans dive near the beaches.  I would be surprised if someone caught a striper, not impossible but not likely. Don't want to be the voice of doom but I wouldn't put my chances of winning the derby in the hands of a beach run HMB striper.  I would honestly bet a nice cabbie or ling is parked close to a jetty.  Watch, I troll the shoreline and hook a striper.  what do I know. Always prepared to eat my words.



Jason

I was VERY happy Al made the call that he made.

Al was also happy with the call he made!

I didn't catch anything, but I had a great time with everyone anyway.

I was VERY happy Al made the call that he made.

Al was also happy with the call he made!

I didn't catch anything, but I had a great time with everyone anyway.

Yeh.......wut Al says.         bring your sails 

i am getting excited for the derby!  not only to fish, but to see our membership, new and old.  also, this is not just fun and games, this is a fundraiser for the ASA.  they are very important to all anglers who desire to fish for rockfish in the future.  it will be expensive to have a meaningful impact on the mlpa process.  they have contributed significant funds to our cause; we (ncka,cfc,uasc and others) are attempting to raise matching funds.  it is very special that a small grassroots club like ncka is in position to make a difference, we should all be proud/

In case you're still wondering..... the derby is ON!

I spoke to Doug at the HMB Kayak Company and he says conditions have been very nice until noon the last two days -- despite NOAA forecasts for 20 miles out.

Please bring yourself a chair.

The BBQ menu will likely include burgers, hotdogs, sausages, salads, chips, and drinks.  Feel free to bring and share whatever you like.  Some desert would be nice.

i am getting excited for the derby!  not only to fish, but to see our membership, new and old.  also, this is not just fun and games, this is a fundraiser for the ASA.  they are very important to all anglers who desire to fish for rockfish in the future.  it will be expensive to have a meaningful impact on the mlpa process.  they have contributed significant funds to our cause; we (ncka,cfc,uasc and others) are attempting to raise matching funds.  it is very special that a small grassroots club like ncka is in position to make a difference, we should all be proud/

If you have anything you would like to add to our raffle, just bring it to the derby.   It's all very much appreciated and goes to a very worthy cause -- the future of our sport.

I am hearing the harbor is loaded with bait.  I don't know if this is in the harbor or outside the wall.  Anyways this means there should be predators in the vacinity but they may be full?  Just a thought for those trying to stratergize for Sunday.

Luis

Boosted this from the sniffer boards, this is simply to give people who haven't been there a heads up, ignore the unmentioned letters....this is by no means a tutorial, sole navigational tool, or secret fishing spots....if I mention your honey hole its because its a common spot and not secret at all.

 



The reported bait is inside the harbor walls.  Halibut (slim chance still a little early) will be in the channel at wall F to G, inside.  Try and fish the NE edge as the drop off is more defined. Word of cation.....BEWARE OF BOAT TRAFFIC BEWARE OF BOAT TRAFFIC BEWARE OF BOAT TRAFFIC.  It doesn't matter who has the right of way, you are a smaller craft so get out of the way.  Surfer Beach is just east of spot J, probably the last place I'd fish but very protected.  Spot G occasionally breaks, doesn't sound like it'll be a problem with the current conditions.  Between D & E is very shallow, probably not the best place to be.  Most fish will come from the SW of the DEFG area because the structure/kelp is there.  Its also the place that sleepers will sneak out of nowhere and break on high points so be cautious.  Mavericks is south of D, slightly SW of the rock outcroppings, don't know what the weather was like the day of the photo but its usually not that bad out there.  Green can is slightly further sw of Mav reef.  If you want to err on the side of caution there is usually kelp and rock beds close to the wall on the outside of the EFG area that you can poke around in.  There's various markers to the south east of the jaws where there's high spots as well but use caution there as well.