What did you Experience at the Moyer?

[Chuck D]

This would be my second year fishing in the Moyer tournament. I absolutely love the cause that it supports as well as being out in La Jolla with a hundred fellow kayak fisherman. My day started with a very long paddle out. While everyone decided to stick close to shore I just went out as far as I could. For the life of me I couldn't find a bait all day so with desperate measures in place I used some old squid I brought out and eventually a Rapala (which I never use unless it a dire circumstance). I ended up catching myself a barely legal bass and kept it, thinking that it could be the winning fish if no one else catching caught a fish that day, lol, wishful thinking. It was cold, cloudy and I was starting to feel that it was time to call it quits. Off in the distance was one clearing in the clouds and a patch of blue sky. I decided this would be my last hope, at least I could warm up for a bit before giving in. Off I paddled to a depth of 140feet at 11am. I sat for bout 10 minutes when literally out of nowhere an eruption of over 100 yellowtail blew up all around my kayak. I have never seen them come out of the water like this I almost had 2 or 3 three literally jump into the kayak. Frantically I grab the jig stick and launch a perfect shot. If the middle of the eruption I got a taker within about .2 seconds, he was mine. Great fight, lasted about 15-20 min. Got this guy in the kayak with the jig barely hanging on to the lip of this beauty. What a day! Ended up with a 4th place finish! The YT weighted in at the tourney at 21.93, however at my house it weighed in at 24.5 so I am not sure how this came to be, at least everyone used the same scale at the tourney so everyone must of had the same skewed numbers. Either way thank you so much for holding this very special event! Jim if you ever are considering holding this event again put me on the list to help out wherever I can. I am a teacher and feel that our young generation of people need events like this to gain interest in the sport, learn to protect our ocean environment and help out others in need! Thanks for another wonderful year!
IRONS ALL THE WAY! TIGHT LINES!

[sharonkayak]

My day started off not prepared. slept thru alarm, no rods ready to be fished with. got doused with water on way out.. soaking wet with just a sweatshirt to change into. left my waders in the truck I wasnt going to get a late start...

thank you guys for doing breakfast!!
whizz bang that stuff your wife made was awesome!

I just paddled out past most people to my secret way point.
got my secret way point fish and thought I might be the 1st to land one.

start peddling and paddling and ask fellow yaker if hes seen anything caught. well he tells me to turn around and of course its Eric. (deepdiver) right behind me with a grin on his face.

Well we know how that story ends.. congrats Tom...

and jasmin for 1st place...

and thank you deepdiver for that great shot of me chillaxing with my 5th place victory beer!

Great contest. So fun to be around fellow yakers. what a great community we have!

[lamb]

Originally Posted by yani

wandered around like homeless protons after a nuclear explosion.

It sux to be in the middle of the bite and not get any love from the situation.


How did my day go?


Loved it. Didn't see any fish caught, but I saw a lot of fresh fish, all green flapping on decks.


I was bummed when the wind kicked up the afternoon before, and blew throughout the night. I was sure we were going to see much worse conditions. I was stoked when I rfealised I was wrong - it was descent out there! The surf was a cake, nice conditions to fish. The wind just kicked up as the real action started.


And c'mon Yani, stop spreading disinformation.


The guy on the yellow kayak was John, not Tom. I'm glad John chipped in and set the record straight. The seal didn't pick up the yellowtail he was fighting. YT was landed, done and over with; game over. It was safely secured with game clip and hooked up to his kayak. No user errors, all tight. John is experienced kayak fisherman. He just had the tail sticking little overboard on his side, next to his butt. I didn't see it happen, but it must have been quick - one moment I see him sitting, all cool. Next thing, he's in the water.

Andy and I were the closest. We starting charging his way to give him a hand. We're trying to figure out what's going on. As I see John somewhat urgently trying to get back up on the back of his flipped kayak, not trying to flip it back up...

...I'm thinking,
you know what I'm thinking.

I pull right on the side of his flipped kayak, and I see a healthy young seal down below 3 ft wanting to tug on his hanging yellowtail. Relief! About 4 rods, all dangling down below the kayak, nicely leashed. I think the dog was intimidated with those sticks around the fish. t pulled my gaff, but I only had a short 2 fter - I couldn't reach down below to hit the fish. I finally manage to stick the fish almost in the lip. Pulled up the fish, then rods, kayak back up, John is back in biz. Sweet!


So I guess I get to gaff a fish, but couldn't catch one.

On my way back in, Gabe paddles up behind me with a green YT flapping... WTH, I don't know where I've been.


As far as Jasmin... Hail the king! NICE JOB!

It is no accident - Jasmin has always been a mighty fishy force on the water. He knows what he's doing, he's been fishing LJ for a long time. He is out there often enough to be in tune with the LJ pulse. I am stoked that he got to put Moyer Tourney win under his belt - very cool!!!

Thanks Matt, Jim and their families for all your work.
Thanks to the crew on bait boats, thanks to sponsors,
thanks to everyone who has helped with this year's tournament.
Thanks to all who came to support the event. I sure hope this won't be the last one. I was stoked to see so many new faces.


Eric, you're a class act - way to go with letting your tourney winning $$ go in to help the cause. You're setting a great example.

Congrats to all who scored this year
Hopefully, the rest of us get a chance September next year.

Here's some pics I took:
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[jasmin]

Thanks to everyone who helped with this year's event - Matt, Jim, all others. Thanks to all that came to support it.

I am stoked I happen to get the biggest YT. I was just the luckiest guy out there, that's all.

Tight lines.

[lambadmin]

and BTW,
I just wanted to say that Jasmin has always been big on inovating...
He loves spending time in his garage messing with things - changing the layout of his deck, the way he ties things - he is always coming up with something new.

It may as well be what it takes - the winning fish has been caught on Jasmin's "almost home made" jig - surface Salas, which looks like it was green mac pattern, that he painted white during the WSB craze....

[deepdvr]

Originally Posted by sharonkayak

and thank you deepdiver for that great shot of me chillaxing with my 5th place victory beer!

Can't take credit for the photo. Paul Leibowitz (PAL) took a bunch of great photos throughout the day: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...8961000&type=1