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34th Annual MDR Halibut Derby an
Outstanding Success
The 34th Annual Marina Del Rey Halibut Derby held
April 5th and 6th was an outstanding success.
Five hundred thirty anglers competed for $60,000+ in cash and prizes
including a shot at a brand new Toyota Tundra Truck and exotic fishing
trips to Mexico and Alaska.
Halibut Derby anglers enjoyed slightly overcast
skies and slightly bumpy water but there was certainly great excitement
about finding and catching the trophy, prize winning halibut. The fish
had a completely different program and tried their hardest to hide and
fast during the weekend. High gasoline prices, an uncertain economy,
concern of spring time rains and all the negative press about MLPA’s
may have kept some anglers away, but the ones who did compete were as
enthusiastic and joyous as ever. Only 17 halibut were weighed in and
many more fish were released due to the conservation mindset of so many
anglers or they did not meet the 26” minimum for derby weigh in or the
22” DFG minimum legal size.
The number of large fish on the leader board is
great news for the continued healthy stock of halibut in Santa Monica
Bay. Most important was the feeling of camaraderie and excitement of
anglers and marine conservationists who love the ocean, participating in
their common passion and knowledge that they are helping thousands of
at-risk kids and promoting marine restoration projects critical to all
of us.
Day One of Derby
Several nice halibut were brought to the scales
Saturday afternoon. Proud anglers posed for pictures and gave telephone
interviews to 976TUNA.com and SportfishingReport.com. The leader board
was filling with big halibut and the leaders were hoping their big fish
would maintain their position, while others were hoping Sunday would
bring them good luck and the tournament winning giant halibut.
A party atmosphere prevailed in the Marina Del Rey
launch area parking lot Saturday night as derby revelers and campers
tail gated and shared stories of the fish landed and the monsters that
got away. The leader board at the end of Saturday was very impressive,
with Dominic Gonzalez on top with a 37.3 pound halibut. Just
barely behind, Kayaker Mark Pierpont, riding his company's
Wilderness Systems Kayak, brought a 37 pound class halibut to challenge
the first place spot just after the weigh in station had been closed and
dismantled. This meant the official weight of Mark’s fish would be
determined on Sunday causing much speculation for all and an anxious
sleep for at least two tough competitors. Tom Brooks weighed in
a 28 pound beauty and his team mate, Mike Eckardt caught a nice
25.6 pound fish putting them 3rd and 4th on the leader board and number
1 so far in the cash rich team jackpot competition. Derek Gray
rounded out the day 1 leader board with his 12 pound flattie.
Day Two of Derby
You could slice the tension with a knife on Sunday
afternoon as more big fish were brought to the weigh in scales and
rumors of a 54 pound Toyota Truck winning halibut created an electric
atmosphere and people scanning the horizon to see the huge fish. Every
time a big fish came to the tables there were cheers from the crowd and
high fives all around. Every second toward the 3:00 PM deadline for
final weigh in the excitement increased. The then current leader was on
his knees praying, as were family members of anglers still on the water
to hurry in time for the final weigh in. All eyes were on the leader
board and the last boats arriving to weigh in their fish for the grand
prize, top honors and a full year of bragging rights.
1st
Place
Dominic Gonzalez
prevailed from wire to wire and captured 1st place
with his 37.3 pound giant halibut. Dominic wins a fishing vacation
for two people to Baja California’s East Cape, the Rooster Fish capital
of the world, including seven days and six nights at the exotic Hotel
Punta Colorada , all meals, 3 days of fishing, freezing and packing
the catch, plus a check for $1,000 to help pay for air fare between LAX
and Los Cabos and transfers between the airport and hotel. Gonzales also
won the 1st place jack pot and took home another check for
$2,625. Congratulations Dominic!
There were lots of winners and a mountain of prizes
presented at the awards party which followed a well deserved and tasty
barbeque feast. Of course, the biggest winners will be the thousand
kids from at risk environments who will be hosted by Marina Del Rey
Anglers’ Youth Fishing Program aboard the Betty-O out of Marina Del
Rey. Proceeds from the event go to support not only the Marina Del Rey
Anglers’ Youth Fishing Program but also its Ocean Resources Enhancement
Program which has raised and released 105,000 juvenile white seabass
into Santa Monica Bay since its founding in 1994. These fish were
nearly extinct just 20 years ago and efforts to restore the fishery have
been extremely successful with trophy white seabass exceeding 30 pounds
being routinely caught off our local beaches and at local islands.
Congratulations also go out to all the other big
winners:
2nd Place:
Ruben Valdez with a 35.8 pound halibut wins a fishing trip for 7
days and 6 nights for two people at the luxurious Inn at Mazatlan,
including 2 days of fishing with Heimpel's Star Fleet, plus a
check for $1,700 to help pay for meals and air fare between LAX and
Mazatlan.
3rd Place:
Mark Pierpont with a 35.6 pound halibut wins a 5 day/4 night
fishing vacation for 2 people to the deluxe El Cid Hotel in
Mazatlan, including 2 days of fishing with Aries Fleet, plus a
$1,500 check to help pay for meals and airfare between LAX and Mazatlan.
4th Place:
Tom Brooks with a 28.0 pound halibut won a 5 day and 4 night
fishing vacation for 2 people at the beautiful Las Flores Hotel
in Mazatlan, including 2 days of fishing with Heimpel's Star Fleet,
plus a check for $1,500 to help pay for meals and air fare between LAX
and Mazatlan.
5th Place: Mike Eckardt with a 25.6 pound
halibut wins a 5 day/ 4 night vacation for 2 people at the San
Nicolas Hotel in Ensenada including 3 days of fishing with
Sergio’s Sportfishing and an allowance for meals and highway tolls.
The derby also presented quality rods and reels to
the top 6th – 15th places donated by West Marine,
Shimano, Avet and Seeker and other generous sponsors.
The 2nd and 3rd place fish
could have easily been in a different order. Kayaker Mark Pierpont
caught his fish on Saturday but came in too late to weigh it. His fish
likely lost at least 0.2 pounds overnight, but “rules are rules” and
Mark seemed to take it in stride.
Kayakers
Congratulations kayakers!!! The Kayak anglers
proved the effectiveness of their plastic navy and the special skills.
The top kayak angler was Mark Pierpont for his 35.6 pound
halibut. Paul Quirk, AKA Pablo Joe, placed 2nd for
his 9.1 pound halibut. Mark picked up an additional $151 check for top
honors and Paul collected $95 plus they both received a high quality rod
and reel outfit. Two kayakers placed in the top 15 places for the first
time in the 34 years of this MDR Halibut Derby. The kayakers proved
anybody can enter the MDR Halibut Derby, receive big prizes, cash and a
year of bragging rights. Kayaks are an inexpensive and extremely
effective way to begin your private boating and tournament fishing
career. Thanks to Wilderness Systems for providing the kayak
for the First Prize in the Youth Division and 2nd place
winner Pablo Joe for donating a guided kayaking trip as a raffle prize.
Jackpots
The jackpots produced some big money winners.
Dominic Gonzalez walked off with another big check of $2,625 for the 1st
place jack pot. Ruben Valdez received $1,575 for his 2nd
place jack pot position. Kayaker Mark Pierpont, who had already
collected a big fishing trip to Mexico and a $1,500 check for 3rd
prize in the general competition and $151 for the 1st place
kayak jackpot, picked up another big check for $1,050 for placing 3rd
in the general jack pot.
Unfortunately there were no halibut caught in the
ladies or youth divisions and the high performance kayak donated
generously by Wilderness Systems was unawarded to a youth.
The Team Jackpot also had fierce competition for
big bucks for the three teams scoring the most points. Tom Brooks,
Mike Eckardt and Alma Cadero earned $1,867 for their 1st
place team jack pot. The Zamora brothers, Miguel and
Ed picked up $1,120 for 2nd place and Dominic Gonzalez
and Michael Thompson walked away with 3rd place in the
team competition and pocketed $747.
The big 50 pound halibut got away this year and we
were not able to award the new Toyota Tundra Truck from the Super Grand
Prize sponsor, Marina del Rey Toyota, however they are still
offering any Halibut Derby contestant with proof of registration, a
special fleet price on any new Toyota through June 30, 2008. Be sure to
visit the Fleet Manager. Dominic’s winning halibut barely missed
the 40 pound mark to win the Bonus Prize to Sitka Point Lodge in
Alaska, so this prize will roll over to next year.
More the photos from the derby will be posted on
this site and
www.halibutderby.com. Also you can log in on our
message board and share your photos too. Feel free to send
links to the photos on this site with family and friends. We all do
this for the fun of it and to enjoy the outdoors. Tell others
about this terrific event.
Congratulations to all participants and to the many
dedicated volunteers from MDR Anglers, Hubbs Seaworld and the California
DFG for a great event. MDRA President Ken Raymond noted the incredible
support and generosity of all of the sponsors who make this event
possible. Derby Chairman Stan Zisser wants to remind all participants
that our generous sponsors are in business to sell products, and the
best and most appropriate way to show our appreciation is to copy the
list of donors from your derby brochure or from
www.halibutderby.com, and to
use this as a guide when planning your Father’s Day, Mother’s Day,
birthday and Christmas shopping.
2008
Halibut Derby Winners page -
Photo
Gallery All photos
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