The Trinidad Pier aka Seascape Pier
On Saturday, October 3, 2015, the wind at Trinidad was blowing at a 30-40 mile per hour clip with gusts hitting 50-60 mph. On the beach, visitors were greeted with gusts of sand and “watch your hat” conditions. The main question was would the wind continue AND would we be able to have the scheduled kids fishing derby Sunday morning? There really wasn’t much of a “Plan B” so fingers were crossed and perhaps a few prayers were said along the way. The question was answered early the next morning when arrival at the pier saw little if any wind and a beautiful sky. As it turned out it would be mostly shirtsleeve weather and just about perfect conditions for the 56 kids and the crowd of roughly 125 people who attended the derby.
The pier before the derby
The event was the 2nd Annual Trinidad Pier Youth Fishing Derby sponsored by United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC), the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), and Ed Roberts from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife in Eureka.
The front of the pier is sided by a cliff and rocky shoreline on one side and two large rocks on the other side.
Free loaner rods and reels, free terminal tackle, free bait, free hot dog lunches, raffle prizes, and a winner in each age group helped generate excitement, as did the opportunity to catch a fish (although the fishing was a little slow). As at the inaugural tournament in 2014, a large group of parents and friends also attended making the event a true family event.
Ready for registration
Checking out the registration table — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
Each age group had a winner with each winner receiving a trophy from United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC), a beautiful certificate from the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), and an autographed copy of Pier Fishing in California by Ken Jones.
Age group winners: 3-5-year-old winner—(tie) Sunny Hopper (McKinleyville) and Thomas White (Trinidad); 6-year-old winner—Bryce Gruetzmacher (McKinleyville); 7-year-old winner—(tie) Nolan Sefcik (McKinleyville) and Dean Savieo (Trinidad); 8-year-old winner—Jocelyn Sundberg (McKinleyville); 9-year-old winner—Ryenne Kile (Eureka); 10-year-old winner—Caden Vance (Eureka); 11-year-old winner—Julian Sundberg (McKinleyville); 12-year-old winner—Nate Ferguson (Trinidad); 13-year-old winner—Alaura Romo (Eureka); 14-year-old winner—Cory Soll (Trinidad); 16-year-old winner—Callie Roberts (Loleta).
The Pier
The pier was quickly crowded
United Pier and Shore Anglers of California was one of the main sponsors
Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers donated money to buy many of the raffle prizes
As usual, it takes many people to put on an event of this size. Helping out at the derby were Kevin Butler from the Trinidad Rancheria, “Big Rich” McIntosh from Pier Fishing In California (pierfishing.com), Scott McBain and Casey Allen from the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers (HASA), John “Grondo” Grondalski from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Natural Resource Volunteer Program (NRVP), Dan Troxel from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Vanessa Jenkins.
Mary Patyten from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife office in Fort Bragg distributed information to the kids while Ed Roberts from the Eureka office was one of the main sponsors
There were a lot of smiles on the pier
This youngster was happy with his small greenling
The Thiesfeld family
A small greenling — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
Molly Roberts
Lucas Janak
Dan Troxel of the CDFW holding up a small rock greenling — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
The McTigues
Wardens Chase (left) and Alfaro (right) from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife provided information and “Junior Warden” stickers to the youngsters
The Romo Family
“Grondo” Grondalski of the CDFW NRVP and a young angler holding up buffalo sculpin — Picture courtesy of “Grondo” Grondalski
Warden Alfaro from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
A young angler with a striped seaperch — Picture courtesy of “Grondo” Grondalski
Callie and Molly Roberts
Laysha and Callie Roberts
A small greenling — Picture courtesy of Casey Allen of the Humboldt Salt Water Anglers
Another greenling — Picture courtesy of Casey Allen of Humboldt Salt Water Anglers)
A baby cabezon —Picture courtesy of Casey Allen of Humboldt Salt Water Anglers)
It was a nice crowd
“Big Rich” from the Pier Fishing In California Message Board drove all the way up from Vallejo to help out at the derby (with Mary Patyten)
Callie and Laysha Roberts
Fishing lasted from 10:30 until 12:30 at which time the kids were presented a hot dog lunch.
Ed Roberts cooking the hot dogs — Picture courtesy of Patricia Ornelas
Following lunch, the raffle was held with each participant receiving a gift. Raffle prizes were donated by a number of different groups and businesses—Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers (HASA), Pacific Outfitters, Mad River Tackle, Costco of Eureka, and Pier Fishing in California (pierfishing.com)
Ed Roberts — “How many are ready for the raffle?”
The number is…
The perfect prize!
This youngster won a “First Edition” of Pier Fishing In California but might be too young to read it
You can never have too many tackle boxes — right?
Each youngster also received a “Goody Bag” of gifts. Items were donated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, the San Diego Sportfishing Council, and United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC).
Age Group Winners
KJ and an Age Group Winner — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
KJ and an Age Group Winner — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
KJ and an Age Group Winner — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
KJ and 12-Year-Old Age Group Winner Nate Ferguson — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
KJ and 16-Year-Old Age Group Winner Callie Roberts — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
Ed Roberts, Ken Jones (KJ) and Mary Patyten
Organizers for the event were Ed Roberts of the California Fish and Wildlife Department, Ken Jones, President of United Pier and Shore Anglers of California, and Grant Roden of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.
An IGFA certificate for Ed Roberts — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
IGFA certificates for Grant Roden and the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
An IGFA certificate for Mary Patyten — Picture courtesy of Ed Roberts
Later that day, after the kids and their families had returned to their homes, and the tables, BBQ, boxes, and supplies had been put away, the pier returned to its normal, more quiet nature. Tourists and locals wanting one final walk out onto the pier would be greeted by a pretty sunset and one of the most beautiful vistas confronting any visitor to a California pier.
All non-attributed pictures by Ken Jones
