It was windy the night before but Sunday, September 25, 2016 turned out to be a beautiful day at Trinidad, the small town located on California’s scenic redwood-forested, northwest coast just 24 miles north of Eureka. It was a perfect day to go fishing!
Getting the loaner rods and reels ready
Luckily, a kids fishing derby just happened to be scheduled at the Trinidad Pier. The event was the 3nd 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), Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers, Pacific Outfitters, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Mary Patyten setting up the California Fish and Wildlife Display unit
The United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) banner
Getting the prizes and trophies ready to go
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. In response, 96 youngsters turned out to enjoy the short-sleeve weather and fishing which, although a little slow, did produce a variety of fish—cabezon, buffalo sculpin, kelp greenling, and shinerperch.
Carrie Wilson from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Ken Jones from United Pier and Shore Anglers of California helping with registration (Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts)
It was beautiful shorts and short sleeve shirt weather
As at the previous tournaments, a large group of parents and friends, estimated at 200+ people (not counting dogs) also attended making the event a true family event, one full of smiles and good-will.
The first fish of the day was a kelp greenling caught by Malaki Costa (Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts)
Getting the whole family involved.
People checking out the Fish and Wildlife information (Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts)
Either let me fish or give me that sandwich!
Are those good raspberries?
Let me show you how to hold that reel
What a grin!
It is always special when a father takes the girls out fishing!
Who’s going to catch the fish?
Looks like they are set.
Pretty nice weather for the coast.
A lot of smiles.
I think a fish is going to bite.
Officer Wells of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts)
Sitting back and enjoying life.
Nothing like taking your kid fishing.
I can’t wait for the hot dogs, I’m hungry now.
Not everyone wants their picture taken.
Dad’s teaching their daughters to fish is special!
Ed Roberts of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
The “Roberts” sisters (Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts)
Mary Patyten of the California Department of Fish and Wiildlife
The pier
Grant Rodin of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.
Dad and son!
When things got a little slow a few of the youngsters decided to check out the local family of otters. River otters I’ve been told even though these favor the salty Trinidad Harbor.
She’s got her own rod and reel.
Maybe the dog is waiting for the hot dogs to be finished?
Prisoner Rock — a name acquired during the “Gold Rush” when unruly prisoners, often drunks, would be left on the rock overnight to contemplate their misdeeds
Looking up at the Trinidad Head Lighthouse from the pier.
Each age group had a winner with each winner receiving a trophy, 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—Malaki Costa (Trinidad); 6-year-old winner—Sonny Hopper (McKinleyville); 7-year-old winner—Dylan Collart (McKinleyville); 8-year-old winner—Jasiah Wheeler (Trinidad): 9-year-old winner—Jocelyn Sundberg (McKinleyville); 10-year-old winner— Emma Sobehrad (McKinleyville); 11-year-old winner—Gabriella Davidson (Trinidad): 12-year-old winner—Andrew Leverett (Eureka); 13-year-old winner—Devon Rodriguez (Trinidad); 14-year-old winner—Alaura Romo (Eureka); 15-year-old winner—Cameron Romo (Eureka). Four of the winners were repeat winners—Malachi Costa who won in 2014, Sonny Hopper Jocelyn Sundberg and Alaura Romo who won or tied their age group divisions in 2015.
The 3-5-year-old winner—Malaki Costa (Trinidad) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 6-year-old winner—Sonny Hopper (McKinleyville) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 7-year-old winner—Dylan Collart (McKinleyville) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 8-year-old winner—Jasiah Wheeler (Trinidad) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 9-year-old winner—Jocelyn Sundberg (McKinleyville) and Kj (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 10-year-old winner— Emma Sobehrad (McKinleyville) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 11-year-old winner—Gabriella Davidson (Trinidad) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 13-year-old winner—Devon Rodriguez (Trinidad) and KJ (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 14-year-old winner—Alaura Romo (Eureka) and Kj (Photo by Carrie Wilson)
The 15-year-old winner—Cameron Romo (Eureka) and KJ
Donating money, food and gifts for the meals, insurance and prizes was a variety of different groups and businesses—Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers (HASA), Pacific Outfitters, United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC), Ken Jones—Pier Fishing in California (pierfishing.com), and Ed Roberts. A custom built rod made by Dan Troxel of BassMan Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods was raffled off with proceeds going to pay next year’s insurance costs.
The last events were the raffles of which there were two. The first was the raffle for the custom built rod made by Dan Troxel of BassMan Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods.
Dan Troxel of BassMan Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods and the lucky winner of his rod.
Last but not least was a plethora of raffle prizes for the youngsters. There were not enough gifts for every youngster to receive a prize but the majority received prizes.
Prizes donated by the Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers (HASA) — Photo courtesy of Ed Roberts
Organizers of the derby were Ed Roberts of the California Fish and Wildlife Department, Ken Jones of United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC) and pierfishing.com, and Grant Roden of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria.
Ed Roberts (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) and Ken Jones (United Pier and Shore Anglers (UPSAC) and Pier Fishing In California (pierfishing.com)
Grant Roden of the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria and Ken Jones (United Pier and Shore Anglers (UPSAC) and Pier Fishing In California (pierfishing.com)
Members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife
A big thanks to the various members of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who attended the event, helped out (in many ways) and served as educators to a future legion of anglers. Attending were: Mary Patyten, Carrie Wilson, Dan Troxel, Dustin Hixon, Matt Wells, Dave Walker, Rob Mengel and, of course, Ed Roberts.
The day was over, the crowd dispersed, and the pier now empty of anglers. A trip back up the hill, a short stop at the lighthouse to bid adieu for another year, and goodby to Trinidad, one of God’s little gifts to us all.
The Trinidad Head Lighthouse offers a great view!
The Trinidad Pier in the afternoon sun
The north woods and coastline — a world class view!
All photos by KJ (Ken Jones) unless otherwise noted.