CALIFORNIA'S ONLY SPORTSMAN'S NEWS SINCE 1953
Most Recent
Salt Report
Untitled Page
MARLIN MANIA!
IT’S TIME TO PULL OUT THE BINOCULARS AND ANTE UP FOR SOME SERIOUS MONEY EVENTS
SPECIAL TO WESTERN OUTDOOR NEWSPublished: Aug 27, 2008
AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND--Southern California’s marlin scene is in full swing and with September fast approaching that means it is tournament time. According the top team’s, this season on the tourney trail looks to be very promising with marlin already showing up in all the familiar spots.
With the cost of fuel being so high, it is a welcome sight to see these fish in close to the beach and also close to the Island. There is no better time to sign up for the trio of jackpot marlin tournament events that take place throughout September out of Avalon. With warm waters, abundant bait, and an ideal location for pre and post fishing parties you do not want to miss out on these exciting events.
The first tournament to kick off the festivities is the Contender/Yamaha Avalon Billfish Classic Pro/Am. The Captains Meeting and check in will take place in Avalon on Sunday Sept. 7, and fishing will take place on the 8th and 9th. The awards dinner will follow on the evening of the 9th in Avalon. This tournament promises to be very popular across the board as it features two separate divisions to fish in. The amateur division provides the opportunity for anyone to win money without having to compete with the “big guns.”
The pro division will be just as competitive with some well-known boats looking to uphold their fishing reputations. The amateur division of this event allows up to 6 anglers per boat to enter for the reduced entry fee of $1,500. Those fishing in the Professional division also have a 6-person max with and entry fee of $3,000. Both divisions will participate in all the same pre- and post-event parties as well as the shotgun start. This 100 percent release tournament will follow IGFA rules and non-offset circle hooks will be required for all baitfish. In 2007, the amateur division was won by the El Diablo and the Pro division saw Chiqelin take first place. Overall, there was more than $113,000 in cash awards distributed to the winners. 
Next in line is the prestigious Riviera Zane Grey Invitational which takes place Sept. 14-17. With an entry fee of $4,200, this event puts the best of the best up against each other to see who earns bragging rights. With a maximum of 40 teams allowed, this tournament features a modified release format that allows teams to score extra points for released fish as well as the fish that meet the minimum size requirement. This year the size requirement has changed for both the Riviera Zane Grey and the Mikelson Catalina Classic.
The new size minimum will require a weighed fish to be either 84 inches or 165 pounds. This new rule change allows for a much better chance of a qualifying fish to be brought in within the set tournament dates and should prevent a “rollover.” The check in will take place on the Pacific Provider, a 160-foot luxurious mother ship outside of Avalon on Sunday Sept. 14. The shot gun start from Avalon starts on Monday the 15th and the fishing days continue through the17th. The awards dinner will take place at the Catalina Country Club. As with the other events, the winners are determined from a points system based on releases and qualified fish. In the past, a team has needed to release several fish and weigh one big one to take first place. Last year, the winning team Ohana won over $51,000 and the total cash payouts with all the dailies topped $286,000!
The last event in this series is arguably also the most festive.
That’s the Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic is in its 16th year and has become known as THE event to fish in. The fun begins at the kickoff party in Descanso Beach on Sunday, Sept. 21. Berkley’s casting competition and knot tying contest are a crowd favorite as well as the tournament bags full of free goodies from the event sponsors.
For a $2,000 entry fee, all it takes is one fish to capture the first place title. Again, no more than 6 people per boat and IGFA rules apply. The non-offset circle hooks are again required for all bait fish. There will also be a modified release with optional release daily jackpots. In the past two years this event has had to endure a third day of fishing due to no qualifying fish being weighed in within the tournament set days. This resulted in a third day of fishing which was taxing to everyone involved.
Determined to prevent this from happening again, the tournament committee is implementing the new size requirement which should secure a winner by the end of the 23rd. Last year’s winner, Good Karma, took home $354,000 for first place and the overall cash payout was $455,000! The Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic wraps up the series with a fantastic awards banquet at the Casino Ballroom on the evening of Tuesday Sept. 23.
Other “fun” events: The upcoming charity and club tournaments also offer exciting and competitive opportunities for Southern California anglers. The Churchmouse Invitational is the fun, feel good tournament as all of the proceeds benefit Catalina’s youth programs, plus it is 100 percent release format. Incredible prizes are awarded to winners at the awards banquet in the Avalon Casino Ballroom. The Captain’s Meeting is Sunday, Aug. 24 with fishing days the 25th & 26th and the awards dinner the evening of the 26th. For more information go to www.churchmouse.org.
For those serious about boasting their fishing skills, the Balboa Angling Club sponsored Master Angler Tournament is the one to fish in. Points are earned based on the lightest line used to release a marlin. Technique and finesse are needed to participate in this distinguished club tournament. Dates for this year’s event are Sept. 12-13. Go to www.balboaanglingclub.org to find out more about this event.
If your looking for a tournament that is not so much about competition as it is about fun then the renowned “Pesky” is the one to fish in. Part party, part fishing tournament this one is unlike any other. Fishing days for this year’s festivities are Sept. 19th & 20th with the awards banquet the evening of the 20th at Descanso Beach in Avalon. This club tournament offers some of the best raffle prizes and winnings from top of the line sponsors. To get more information on this fun-filled tournament go to www.wavecrestweb.com/pesky.
|
||||
|
AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND--Southern California’s marlin scene is in full swing and with September fast approaching that means it is tournament time. According the top team’s, this season on the tourney trail looks to be very promising with marlin already showing up in all the familiar spots.
With the cost of fuel being so high, it is a welcome sight to see these fish in close to the beach and also close to the Island. There is no better time to sign up for the trio of jackpot marlin tournament events that take place throughout September out of Avalon. With warm waters, abundant bait, and an ideal location for pre and post fishing parties you do not want to miss out on these exciting events. The first tournament to kick off the festivities is the Contender/Yamaha Avalon Billfish Classic Pro/Am. The Captains Meeting and check in will take place in Avalon on Sunday Sept. 7, and fishing will take place on the 8th and 9th. The awards dinner will follow on the evening of the 9th in Avalon. This tournament promises to be very popular across the board as it features two separate divisions to fish in. The amateur division provides the opportunity for anyone to win money without having to compete with the “big guns.” The pro division will be just as competitive with some well-known boats looking to uphold their fishing reputations. The amateur division of this event allows up to 6 anglers per boat to enter for the reduced entry fee of $1,500. Those fishing in the Professional division also have a 6-person max with and entry fee of $3,000. Both divisions will participate in all the same pre- and post-event parties as well as the shotgun start. This 100 percent release tournament will follow IGFA rules and non-offset circle hooks will be required for all baitfish. In 2007, the amateur division was won by the El Diablo and the Pro division saw Chiqelin take first place. Overall, there was more than $113,000 in cash awards distributed to the winners. Next in line is the prestigious Riviera Zane Grey Invitational which takes place Sept. 14-17. With an entry fee of $4,200, this event puts the best of the best up against each other to see who earns bragging rights. With a maximum of 40 teams allowed, this tournament features a modified release format that allows teams to score extra points for released fish as well as the fish that meet the minimum size requirement. This year the size requirement has changed for both the Riviera Zane Grey and the Mikelson Catalina Classic. The new size minimum will require a weighed fish to be either 84 inches or 165 pounds. This new rule change allows for a much better chance of a qualifying fish to be brought in within the set tournament dates and should prevent a “rollover.” The check in will take place on the Pacific Provider, a 160-foot luxurious mother ship outside of Avalon on Sunday Sept. 14. The shot gun start from Avalon starts on Monday the 15th and the fishing days continue through the17th. The awards dinner will take place at the Catalina Country Club. As with the other events, the winners are determined from a points system based on releases and qualified fish. In the past, a team has needed to release several fish and weigh one big one to take first place. Last year, the winning team Ohana won over $51,000 and the total cash payouts with all the dailies topped $286,000! The last event in this series is arguably also the most festive. That’s the Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic is in its 16th year and has become known as THE event to fish in. The fun begins at the kickoff party in Descanso Beach on Sunday, Sept. 21. Berkley’s casting competition and knot tying contest are a crowd favorite as well as the tournament bags full of free goodies from the event sponsors. For a $2,000 entry fee, all it takes is one fish to capture the first place title. Again, no more than 6 people per boat and IGFA rules apply. The non-offset circle hooks are again required for all bait fish. There will also be a modified release with optional release daily jackpots. In the past two years this event has had to endure a third day of fishing due to no qualifying fish being weighed in within the tournament set days. This resulted in a third day of fishing which was taxing to everyone involved. Determined to prevent this from happening again, the tournament committee is implementing the new size requirement which should secure a winner by the end of the 23rd. Last year’s winner, Good Karma, took home $354,000 for first place and the overall cash payout was $455,000! The Mikelson Yachts Catalina Classic wraps up the series with a fantastic awards banquet at the Casino Ballroom on the evening of Tuesday Sept. 23. Other “fun” events: The upcoming charity and club tournaments also offer exciting and competitive opportunities for Southern California anglers. The Churchmouse Invitational is the fun, feel good tournament as all of the proceeds benefit Catalina’s youth programs, plus it is 100 percent release format. Incredible prizes are awarded to winners at the awards banquet in the Avalon Casino Ballroom. The Captain’s Meeting is Sunday, Aug. 24 with fishing days the 25th & 26th and the awards dinner the evening of the 26th. For more information go to www.churchmouse.org. For those serious about boasting their fishing skills, the Balboa Angling Club sponsored Master Angler Tournament is the one to fish in. Points are earned based on the lightest line used to release a marlin. Technique and finesse are needed to participate in this distinguished club tournament. Dates for this year’s event are Sept. 12-13. Go to www.balboaanglingclub.org to find out more about this event. If your looking for a tournament that is not so much about competition as it is about fun then the renowned “Pesky” is the one to fish in. Part party, part fishing tournament this one is unlike any other. Fishing days for this year’s festivities are Sept. 19th & 20th with the awards banquet the evening of the 20th at Descanso Beach in Avalon. This club tournament offers some of the best raffle prizes and winnings from top of the line sponsors. To get more information on this fun-filled tournament go to www.wavecrestweb.com/pesky. |
||||
Digg This Article
