Just a couple of thoughts.......

Be aware that you do need a permit to hold a fishing contest. I am not sure if it is free or not, but f&g likes to know when this type of stuff goes on. Call Long Beach to find out.

I would be willing to do it if Kayakers were allowed. I also have two other bodyboaters who would do it. I am not sure of the disadvantage that bodyboaters would have over kayakers, halibut are such a hit and miss thing......

Point system Idea, Spearfishing tourneys have rules that are on a point system, one point per fish, one point per pound. They also have a certain fish limit (below that of f&g's) ie only 5 of each species.... If it is an all day thing, you can get your halibut, then bass then WSB. Another factor to consider.... Do we want to take out 30 or 40 or 50 calicos from an area. Granted, any party boat would gladly take that amount or more from a couple of rocks, but keep in mind, we will be fishing structure much smaller than where they are able to go, and therefore may have a much larger impact on the resource. I am not sure of the catch and release capabilites of everyone, but I am sure that you don't plan to cart around a 30 gallon tub to keep the bass in.

What is the point of a fishing contest. who is the best fisherman on that given day, given the conditions, bait, lure choice and (LUCK). Does the fact that you can go out and get 5 halibut make you a better fisherman than "Frank" who gets a couple of halibut, a nice WSB and three calicos? I think that the best fisherman is one that can change his game plan to catch the most amount of different species of fish. Maybe here is where the kayakers might have a little advantage, but the area is so spread out, the structure is all over the place, and you have just about as much chance of getting a 8 lb hali as a 8 lb wsb in the shallows. I know because I have speared them both in the same zone out there.

I am all for a limited quota, ie 3 sand bass, 3 calicos, 3 wsb and 3 halibut, or maybe five flatties, but I want to avoid culling fish at all costs. Keep in mind that this should be a fun event.

I used to fish in Glen's Fishing Station's bodyboat tourneys in the mid and late 80's, THEY WERE A BLAST!!!! and I miss them. The comraderie of ten or twenty guys meeting at haskells and charging the surf is great. then the weigh in and the prizes, and you can even do a raffle. I always drop a 20 spot in any raffle, hold on gotta check my lotto numbers...... DAMN, gotta got to work tomorrow.... : )

Other logistical things to think about, securing a table and BBQ at Goleta beach means that a wife/girlfriend/parent ( the ones who are classicly drafted into this job) gets to sit at an empty table all day and watch the waves break.

I would also be interested in doing an informal contest once a month at different spots, ie carp reef, refugio, haskells, gaviota....... maybe every second saturday of the month?


Any thoughts.... sorry to be so long.

MoonDoggie