Shootout for Steven Green Tournament, Dana Pt, Dec 5

[PAL]

Where: Baby Beach, Dana Pt, for its central location
When: Sat Dec. 5, dawn (or sooner) to 1 pm
What: $25 entry, heaviest single largest fish (no sharks, skates, rays or bass) or longest Catch, Photo, Release bass.

*Scroll all the way down for updates*

Grab your kayaks, tackle and $25 and come out to support our friend Steven Green, AKA Landwhale, recently diagnosed with esophageal cancer.

Steve's been there for the California Kayak Fishing community for well over a decade. He's a freedom-to-fish MLPA fighter, a regular at Heroes on the Water events, an UniGoop original, and much more. He helped keep La Jolla open, often operating quietly behind the scenes. Let's help him and while we're at it, have some fun.

We're keeping this simple, with something for everyone. It's basically Money Between Friends, with most of the payout going to defray Steve's medical expenses.

Sign up via Paypal. The link goes down at 10 pm Friday Dec 4, so get on it:

We'll also take walk-ups, but please, sign up in advance. Preregistered anglers can start fishing at midnight. Walk-ups have to wait for dawn.

$5 of each entry goes to the prize pool. We'll crown two winners: single heaviest big fish (no sharks, skates, rays or bass) and Catch, Photo, Release single largest bass.

You don't have to decide which division - you can fish both, and there are no bait restrictions.

Ric Hawthorne of Ten Crows Forge is crafting unique medallions for the Big Fish and Bass winners.

Be sure to get back to the launch by 1 pm if you have a winning fish. We're working on a few prizes. Remember, this is a friendly get-together to help out our good friend in his time of need. For bass, take a clear photo of your fish against a measuring device of some kind. Don't pinch the tail.

Yanni of Fisherman's Belly, an epic cook as we've all seen in his videos, has offered to cook up a fish main course for everyone. It means a lot to him to support Steve. He asked to take over for the South Coast Chapter of Heroes on the Water cooking team, which graciously agreed. Thank you HOW for your willingness to help our, the work you do, and your generous spirits.

In the tradition of Baytubers, bring something tasty to share (if you want).

Want to help now? Donate to Steve Green's Cancer Fund: https://www.gofundme.com/g49bpjak

Update Nov 13

Prize update: We have Big Bass and Big Fish trophy medallions from Ten Crows Forge, and yesterday friends at Okuma and Hobie Fishing said they are in. More info as we get it. Whatever the prizes, however big or small, all of these generous donations are much appreciated.

The area:

Dana Pt is unique on our coast, with protected launches, a bait barge near the harbor mouth, and solid Big Fish and Bass options. I'm not going to give away too many secrets. There's still plenty of time for scouting trips.

Big Fish: Halibut historically targetable along Doheny Beach, inside a no motor zone. Watch out for the surf! White seabass and maybe a yellowtail at the kelp zones off the point and north towards Salt Creek.

Bass: Too many options. In shallow among the rocks of Capo Reef, out at the kelp, along the breakwall, etc. Please beware of surf in tight.

Launches: Event HQ at Baby Beach a mile deep inside the harbor. If you've pre-registered (you should!), launch anywhere on this picture. Options are the boat launch (bring a $10 bill for the automated gate), Doheny State Beach ($$$) and launch along the eastern breakwall, and Baby Beach. Just be sure you're back at Baby Beach by 1 pm if you want to score a fish.



Update Nov 14

Very exciting! Charles Belñavis, tattooist and epic fishing artist, is donating an original illustration for auction - something like this. We'll also have a print or two on offer at the event. Much love Charles, thank you!



Update Nov 16

See this map of Marine Protected Areas down around Dana Pt? The blue is cool - fish it up! The city of Dana Pt sided with us as we fought to keep the area open during the MLPA process. If you've been wondering if MPAs will get in the way, now you know they won't. Sign up and support our friend Steve.



Update Nov 21

I wasn't quite ready to announce this, as the final details aren't set...

Your friend and mine Yanni of Fisherman's Belly knows what Steve is going through. We've all seen the incredible food he prepares. The chef said it would mean a lot to him to cook for the event. He asked the Southern California Chapter of Heroes on the Water if he could step in for them, and they agreed. Please join me in thanking the HOW cooking team for their willingness to help and for their generosity.

Okay Yanni, you're up. What's for lunch?

Update Nov 22

Okuma goes big! They donated a Water Wolf underwater camera, powerful Komodo baitcaster, and more Savage Gear baits than I can count. 25 caps too. The Shootout for Steven Green thanks you!

If you haven't signed up, don't wait. We have more prizes on the way. Dana Pt, Dec 5, just $25.



Update November 25

Win one! Old guard kayak fishing friend Ric Hawthorne of Ten Crows Forge teamed up with Chance Hauser to make these striking and unique trophy plaques for the Steve Green Shootout. They are a full foot in diameter. Sign up now, 'cause the only way you'll get one is to win the Big Fish or Big Bass honor.

"We're all pulling for you Steve!" Ric wrote when he posted this photo. Thank you Ric and Chance for your big-hearted generosity.



Update November 28

We are just one week out! Remember, we're out to have a good time and support our old friend Steven Green in his cancer battle. Think fun, not cut-throat competition. A few helpful reminders:

We are awarding prizes for Big Fish and Longest Catch Photo Release Bass. You don't have to choose one or the other. No bait restrictions. If you catch your winning bass on a live mackerel, we might make fun of you but you'll still win.

Big Fish will be single heaviest CA legal fish by weight, no sharks, skates, rays or dead bass. Bring your fish to the scale no later than 1 pm at Baby Beach, Dana Pt.

Longest Catch Photo Release Bass: You need two items, three if you count the fish. A camera and a measuring device of some kind. A fish board such as a Hawg Trough is preferred. A tape measure held flat under the fish will work. Let's keep it light - no funny business with pinched tails or stretched mouths please. The entire fish has to be in the photo, head to tail. A 3-judge panel (me, Andy, Steve if he can make it) will make our best judgment on each of the photos. Bring your photo to Baby Beach no later than 1 pm.

In case of ties for Big Fish or Big Bass, the earliest in wins.

If you pre-registered, launch anywhere in the Dana Pt area shown on the photo in the original post as early as 0001 (1 minute after midnight) Dec 5. We'll take walk-ups at Baby Beach beginning around 5 and ending around 7.

Lunch and auction beginning around noon at Baby Beach. Award ceremony around 1:30. If you want a place to sit, bring a chair.

Yanni from Fisherman's Belly is cooking... something tasty. He hasn't said what exactly. We'll have water, soda and hot dogs too, as well as plates and plasticware. In the spirit of Baytubers, please consider bringing a dish to share.

See you soon and tight lines to everyone! Event questions? Fire away.

Update December 2

Thank you Hobie Fishing for supporting the Shootout for Steven Green Kayak Fishing Friendly tournament. Hobie kicked in a brand new in-the-box Livewell for a raffle prize. The folks in the fishing department came up through the grassroots - they are genuine kayak anglers and show it by supporting the community.

The forecast is looking great. See you Saturday!

Update December 4 - Almost Game Day!

The Shootout for Steven Green Kayak Fishing Friendly tournament starts in less than 24 hours! Here's the latest - read it for important information:

*IMPORTANT: The Dana Pt area is fairly sheltered, but we have a south-southwest swell rolling in. Surfline is predicting 3-5 foot surf at Doheny Beach. That's big for the area. It will likely blow out the Doheny Beach halibut zone and the Capo Reef bass area. If this was your gameplan, better have a Plan B ready. Please exercise extreme caution if fishing in tight. The area is dotted with reefs that could produce sneaker sets. The harbor mouth and deeper waters should be unaffected. Both the launch ramp and Baby Beach are protected launches.

*Remember, if you're pre-registered you can launch 1 minute after midnight tonight, anywhere on the aerial photo on the event post. The weigh-in, lunch and awards ceremony are at Baby Beach. The paddle to the harbor mouth is much shorter from the launch ramp. If you use it, bring two $5 bills or one $10 bill for the parking gate. We will be taking walk-up sign-ups at Baby Beach only, beginning at 0500 and ending between 0700 and 0800.

*The bait barge located just inside the harbor mouth offers kayak scoops. Pretty sure the price is $10.

*Bring extra scratch for the raffle and / or auction - we have a number of choice prizes, including a sweet Dragonfly sonar arranged by our good friends at The Kayak Fishing Show with Jim Sammons. Other highlights include an original Charles Belñavis artwork, a Hobie Livewell, Water Wolf underwater camera, and a Okuma Komodo baitcaster. THANK YOU for the donations.

*The trophies donated by Ten Crows Forge are unbelievably cool. You want one. Fish hard. We are awarding for heaviest gamefish (no sharks, skates, rays or dead bass) and longest Catch, Photo, Release bass. We are also paying out $5 from each entry, split 50/50 between Big Fish and Bass.

*Yanni is cooking up fish tacos. We'll have water, soda and some Gatorade too. Want something else? Bring it! And a chair too, if you want a place to sit.

*Even if you can't fish, join us at Baby Beach for lunch, the awards ceremony and benefit raffle. 1 pm, be there!

More prizes! Reels and combos and AFTCO apparel.

See you tomorrow. Let's make this a party for our good friend Steve Green, and help him with his cancer battle.