Getting ready

It starts

Sign here!

The sign-up tables

Sponsored by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), United Pier and Shore Anglers of California (UPSAC), NOAA, and the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle, the event was declared a rousing success by all.Loaner rods

Getting the “Goody Bags” ready

Free loaner rods and reels, free bait, free lunches (more than 300 served), and help from more than 25 volunteers greeted the 109 young anglers and their parents.

Heading out!

UPSAC President Ken Jones giving tournament instructions

Ed and Pam Gonsalves, co-sponsors from the Oceanside Pier Bait shop

You might as well be comfortable when you are fishing

UPSAC’s Hashem Nahid offers assistance to a young angler

Hook up?

The Bait Shop stayed busy

UPSAC’s Eugene Kim and Hashem Nahid 

NOAA’s Marty Golden

NOAA’s Marty Golden and UPSAC’s Ken Jones talking to the mayor of Oceanside — “Wow, isn’t this a great event?”

The IGFA’s Mike Farrior and members of the Oceanside Senior Anglers Club

Although the fishing was a little slow, the anglers, many who were fishing for the first time, managed to pull in a nice variety of SoCal species that included halibut, kelp bass, barred surfperch, walleye surfperch, spotfin croaker, yellowfin croaker, white croaker, queenfish, sargo, jacksmelt, mackerel, and a baby bat ray.

A spotfin croaker

A nice catch of spotfin croaker

 The capture of the fish yielded ten age-group winners.The winners were: 6-year-old Carlos Cruz, 7-year-old Emily Dipitro, 8-year-old Kathryn Oh, 9-year-old Riley Bryant, 10-year-old Angel Flores, 11-year-old Elvis Rivera, 12-year-old Claire Christy, 13-year-old Mikey Pugh, 14-year-old Edward Dizon, and 15-year-old David Hernandez (who was the grand champion in 2010). The Grand Champion this year was Mikey Pugh. Each of the winners received a new rod and reel, an autographed copy of Pier Fishing in California, and a beautiful IGFA certificate. The grand champion also had his name engraved on a perpetual trophy that stays at the pier.

Waiting for the results and the raffle

IGFA’s Mike Farrior and a young lady with a yellowfin croaker

It looks like a queenfish

Two yellowfin croaker

Ken Jones announcing the winners

6-Year-Old Winner Carlos Cruz

8-Year-Old Winner Kathryn Oh

9-Year-Old Winner Riley Bryant

10-Year-Old Winner Angel Flores

11-Year-Old Winner Elvis Rivera

12-Year-Old Winner Claire Christy

13-Year-Old Winner Mikey Pugh

14-Year-Old Winner Edward Dizon

15-Year-Old Winner David Hernandez

13-Year-Old Winner and Grand Champion Mikey Pugh with IGFA’s Mike Farrior

Next up was the raffle!

Waiting for the tickets to be drawn

A winner

Twenty youngsters won free raffle prizes and all of the participants received “goody bags” filled with a plethora of gifts.

Pam Gonsalves handing out “Goody Bags”

The main coordinators were Ed and Pam Gonsalves of the Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle shop and Ken Jones, President of UPSAC. They were ably assisted by IGFA’s Mike Farrior and Gary Graham, UPSAC Board members Eugene Kim and Hashim Nahid, Marty Golden from NOAA, and a large group of volunteers including the judges from the Oceanside Senior Anglers Club – Lee Wood, Dan Ontiveros, Manuel Ontiveros, Hal Reeser, Ray Wilkerson, Fred Kazzmerek, Jim Swartz. Joining the crowd was the Mayor of Oceanside Jim Woods and Councilman Jack Fuller. Filming the event for KCOT TV was Video-Photographer Bill Stromberg.

Local helpers included Betty Sanchez, Konnie Newland, Joy Koepke, Willie Stevens, Don Dotson, Mountain Man Mark Lewis, Chris Monsale, Larry Snell, Wayne Kogow, Ted Gillespie, Chris Rivas, and Johnny Aggrange.

Among the groups and businesses donating prizes were Oceanside Pier Bait and Tackle, Anglers Bait and Tackle, Arcadia Tackle, Charles Belñavis T-Shirts, Danielson Mfg., Helgren’s Sportfishing, IGFA, J&M Bait Distributors, NOAA, Pacific Coast Bait and Tackle, Pat’s Bait and Tackle, Pierfishing.com, Promar, and Ruby’s Restaurant.

Some of the wonderful people who helped put on the tournament