Saturday, October 5, 2019 saw youth assemble at the Trinidad Pier in the beautiful redwoods north of Eureka to participate in the 6th Annual Trinidad Pier Youth Fishing Derby.
Free loaner rods and reels, free terminal tackle, free bait, free hot dog lunches and drinks, raffle prizes, and a winner in each age group helped generate excitement.
Although the wind picked up a little in the afternoon, the day’s overall weather was gorgeous and the 40 young anglers and the crowd estimated at about a hundred people agreed it was a fun day at the pier.
Ruby Broese with a small cabezon
Of course catching some fish also helps and though the fishing was a little slower than the prior year (no lingcod this time), the mix still included kelp greenling, cabezon, buffalo sculpin, brown rockfish, walleye surfperch and jacksmelt. When a nice school of jacksmelt showed out at the end of the pier toward the end of the day, it provided a nice finishing touch to the tournament.
Ruby Broese with a kelp greenling
David Shigematsu with a small brown rockfish
Buffalo sculpin
Joe Polos, a retired member of the USFWS, set up a touch tank with specimens he collected before the tourney, and put a couple of fish in the tanks for the kids to look at.
Jonathan Pitcher with a buffalo sculpin
Jack Broese with a kelp greenling
What is this?
Is it a starfish? No, a sea star.
A baby cabezon
A little larger kelp greenling
CDFW Wildlife Officer Norris
Everybody ready for some hot dogs?
There was a fundraiser for the custom rod made by Daniel Troxel of “Bass Man Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods”
Dan Troxel and a rod
Next up was the announcement of the individual age group winners.
Ed Roberts of the CFGD and some of the prizes for the winners
The 6-year-old (and under) winner was Ruby Broese, of Eureka who caught two kelp greenling and a cabezon.
The 7-year-old winner was Taylor Holt of Arcata.
The 8-year-old winner was Mannie Guerrero of Trinidad.
The 9-year-old winner was Daniel Galan of Arcata.
The 10-year-old winner was Lucie Bertrand of Arcata.
The 11-year-old winner was Jovani Galan of Arcata.
The 12-year-old winner was Kieryn Wolfe of Trinidad.
The 13-year-old winner was David Shigematsu of Davis who caught a kelp greenling, buffalo sculpin, brown rockfish, large walleye surfperch, and three jacksmelt. David was the overall winner of the tournament, and this is his third victory in a row.
The 14-year-old winner was Jonathan Pitcher of Arcata who caught a buffalo sculpin.
Last but not least was the raffle with prizes for all contestants.
The sponsors of the derby were the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria, Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers, Pacific Outfitters, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC), Pier Fishing In California (pierfishing.com) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The main organizer was Edgar W. Roberts of the CDFW (California Fish and Wildlife Department). 
Volunteers included CDFW’s Natural Resource Volunteers John “Grondo” Grondalski and Patricia Figeroa, and from HASA (Humboldt Area Saltwater Anglers) Joe Polos. Other volunteers: Daniel Troxel, Russell Janak, Lucas Janak, and Daniel Roberts. CDFW Wildlife Officer Norris kept watch over the proceedings.
Special thanks goes to Grant Roden of the Rancheria, Scott McBain and Joe Polos of HASA, Daniel Troxel of “Bass Man Dan’s Custom Fishing Rods,” and Aaron Ostrom of Pacific Outfitters for making this happen.
