Kayak Tournaments

[MATTUSMC]

I am new to the area, so I cannot comment on previous tournaments in the area. But I would say something along the lines of what TKAA has in the Chesepeake Bay area. Multiple Divisions with several prizes to include some high dollar kayaks, rods, reels, other... Plus a large donation to HOW.

I would recommend both weight-in categories and catch-and-release (lenght based) categories to satisfy both types of fishermen.

I usually can only sneak away to fish one day a weekend, so I am partial to one day events, two or three day events are tough to fit in to a busy schedule with working 50-60 hours a week. But one day events can be tough if the bite is shut off that day for some reason or weather does not cooperate, so there are benefits to both single day and multiday events.

I have fished some monthly tournys with winners that get points for a yearly total. These can be fun because it lets those who can only fish a couple days a month still compete. The prizes for the monthly evolutions were usually smaller like lures or line for the top three places and points for the top 20 for the yearly total. The target fish for each month would vary based on what was around. Sometimes it would be a single fish or other months would be a Slam or combination of species. The top point accumulators for the year would receive higher end prizes like reels, rods, upto kayaks, paddles, and such.


But then again, there does not always need to be a prize... Sometimes a certificate and shit talking rights are a sufficent reward.

[MrM]

Wade has a pretty cool tournament he runs for different times, species, locations, etc. Makes is easy to participate for those who can't get out every week. Cheap, too.

[PAL]

Originally Posted by MATTUSMC

I am new to the area, so I cannot comment on previous tournaments in the area. But I would say something along the lines of what TKAA has in the Chesepeake Bay area. Multiple Divisions with several prizes to include some high dollar kayaks, rods, reels, other... Plus a large donation to HOW.

I'm curious Matt. With all those prizes and a big donation, what are you willing to pay for such an event? The Moyer was $60 at the end, with raffle tickets benefitting the American Cancer Society extra.

I covered the kayak fishing tournament scene for Western Outdoor News for years. I've pitched in (a little) at Plastic Navy events and the Moyer, and put together one poorly run but well supported tournament that raised something like $7000 (THANKS - that was huge!) when we were in the MLPA fight. I fished a lot of them, including the classic blowouts JAS put on and all the early Moyers.

Personally, I think any new events might need to grow up like the old ones, and start from the grassroots like the Money Between Friends events that spawned the Plastic Navy Tournament Trail. I'm pretty sure they still exist in some form. Wade tried one. It didn't draw well for some reason.

WON asked me to look into a Dana Pt tourney a few years back. Rather than the state park, the trick is to go through the harbor management and hold the get-together in the launch ramp parking lot. People can still camp at Doheny State Beach next door. It's doable, but we couldn't make the numbers work for WON. The entry fee would have had to be $100.

I think $50 is a more reasonable number, or even $35. After food, supplemental prizes, permits, insurance (a must!), weigh and safety boat gas, and jackpots, there isn't much left. Companies don't donate gear the way they used to. There has to be a return - I don't blame them.

Tournaments are a lot of work. The guys who did it out of love of the sport eventually burned out.

Back in the day, BWE managed to hold some events right at the Shores. They were outside the silly season. Were they before summer? I have no idea what the situation is now, whether it is still doable.

I haven't talked with any of the local shop owners about a tournament in some time. Convenient facilities exist. There are good reasons why the shops all pulled back a few years ago. For a shop to host a tournament, they need to generate foot traffic and sales - and not just from guys already in the sport. Novices need to be welcome too.

I've thought about it. I'm up for helping with a community effort, for instance, if we were going to bring back something like the Moyer. The magazine I edit might get into the game, but for now it's mostly a one-man shop. Maybe someday.

I'll be following this thread closely.

[YakMedic]

I love tournament fishing, I've fished both California and Florida tournaments and I'm hoping to make it to a couple in Texas next year. Most Tournaments I've been fishing have $100 entry fees, there is one out of NC right now with a $200 entry. For most people these entry fees are not too high, but the draw of a large payout is always nice.

My preferences for tournaments are two-day events. Catch and release is nice but with the species we hunt in SoCal there is not an easy way to get a good OTW measurement (except for bass). For a target species, it seems to work well when there are 2-3 targets and an aggregate weight limit wins.

[Comanche]

Maybe a local camping trip / tournament is in order...

Catalina? Channel Islands?

Tournament with money and fame or just fame =)

[rhyak]

Originally Posted by YakMedic

My preferences for tournaments are two-day events. Catch and release is nice but with the species we hunt in SoCal there is not an easy way to get a good OTW measurement (except for bass). For a target species, it seems to work well when there are 2-3 targets and an aggregate weight limit wins.

I think a two day event would be awesome, in the 5 biggest bass from each day done by length for catch and release. At least start it out like that.



Ryan

[makobob]

Originally Posted by rhyak

I think a two day event would be awesome, in the 5 biggest bass from each day done by length for catch and release. At least start it out like that.



Ryan

2X, thanks Ryan, sounds like a good format. That would be C.P.R. of course!!!!

[Dannowar]

Generally I like to relax when I fish.

Jackpots I'm fine with. Never really cared about tournaments.


I don't really think the kayak fishing community is missing out by not having structured tournaments on the regular, but that's just me

[COLDCUT]

I'm a total noob here since I just recently purchased kayaks for my boy and I. I don't really have any prior tournament kayak fishing experience either but I do know the gang down at OEX Mission Bay are a great bunch of guys. Perhaps an easy going tourney out at Mission Bay with a BBQ on Fiesta Island would be a fun, easy event to put together. Either way, I think getting my son and I involved in a few tournaments sounds like a lot of fun. I think a few of my fishing buddies up in the Temecula area would definitely be interested as well.