Saturday, August 8 saw the 35th annual “Al Pietrosilli’s Kid’s Day on the Pier” at the Marin Rod and Gun Club. As always, a large group of volunteers helped out at the event and with their efforts the day’s activities ran smoothly and efficiently.

A total of 73 youngsters fished while a few more showed up at the end of the event and though late were allowed to participate in the festivities. The kids were accompanied by a large number of adults yielding a total number of somewhere around 150 people. The weather was great, about 80 degrees with only a slight breeze, and the pier was filled with smiling faces along with hope and anticipation for a fish, maybe even a big fish.

Derby registration was handled by Michelle, PFIC member Pat Jones, and MR&G club member Rita Magdamo Jones (who’s also a PFIC member). The club’s insurance registration was handled by club members Ann Marie and Leslie.

A large group set up and organized the raffle gifts while still more people cooked, organized and served the hot dog lunch. Office secretary Marilyn provided help in many areas. As always it was a large group effort by club members.

The Marin Rod and Gun Club and Pier Fishing in California (pierfishing.com) brought free loaner tackle while the club provided the free bait. Setting up the rods and reels were club members Gary along with PFIC members   Robert Gardner and Kyle Pease.

On the pier a knowledgeable group of club members (and PFIC members Kyle Pease and Robert Gardner) worked as judges helping record and score the catches of fish while assistance for the (often) newbie anglers was available from both club and PFIC members.

As for the fishing, it was one of the best derbies. A total of 44 fish were recorded during the derby while early bird anglers who started before the official starting time caught several fish including a striped bass that was probably the largest fish of the day. Overall about 50 fish were caught by the kids. Included in the official mix were 15 striped bass, 12 jacksmelt, 7 halibut, 4 blackperch, 2 leopard shark, 1 bat ray, 1 walleye surfperch, 1 shinerperch and 1 staghorn sculpin (bullhead).

Once the fishing was completed, every youngster received a free hot dog lunch courtesy of the club followed by the announcement of the age group winners. Each individual age group winner received a 1^st Place trophy and an autographed copy of Pier Fishing in California by Ken Jones of Pier Fishing In California who was making his thirteenth appearance at the event.

Age Group Winners:

5-Year-Old Winner: Joey Giblin

6-Year-Old Winner: (friend) Eli Flores

7-Year-Old Winner: Charles McFarlan

8-Year-Old Winner: Jack O’Neil

9-Year-Old Winner: Gemma Schultz

10-Year-Old Winner: Caleb Ham

11-Year-Old Winner: Beckett Gross

12-Year-Old Winner: Audrey Madden

13-Year-Old Winner: Nicolas Barnes

15-Year-Old Winner: Jaxon Lagomarsin

Last but certainly not least was the raffle, which provided brand new rods and reels for EVERY youngster that was in the derby. It was fun watching the youngsters pick out their favorite rods and reels.

As mentioned, there are many, many volunteers to thank, too many to know all the names. But first and of upmost importance is Al Pietrosilli, the club coordinator for the event. He’s the one hitting the streets and getting the necessary donations (thousands of dollars) for the event, money that paid for everything from the food to the rods and reels. Naming the derby in his name reflects the honor he has earned for his outstanding work on the derby over the years. A special mention also goes to Joe Morrison who has for years helped coordinate our various contacts, and to Dan Nonberg who handled most of the announcing at the event.

Saturday, August 27, saw a large group of volunteers and a large group of kids and parents at the Marin Rod & Gun Club pier for the annual “Kids Day on the Pier” fishing derby.

The Marin Rod and Gun Club and Pier Fishing in California (pierfishing.com) brought free loaner tackle and people to help out at the event while the club provided the free bait. Assistance for the (often) newbie anglers was available as needed.

We had 86 youngsters on the pier with at least that many adults and fish were caught although not too many. The red tide, which unfortunately has negatively affected much of the bay, was making its presence known and only 11 bat rays, 3 leopard sharks, 1 halibut, 1 jacksmelt and 1 surfperch were caught. Typically the list is led by a large number of jacksmelt so I think their absence more than anything else reflected the red tide.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere was upbeat, the kids were smiling, and even the weather cooperated for the most part (although just a tad bit windy).

Bat Ray Time

California Halibut

Once the fishing was completed, every youngster received a free hot dog lunch courtesy of the club followed by the announcement of the age group winners. Each individual age group winner received a 1^st Place trophy and an autographed copy of Pier Fishing in California by Ken Jones of Pier Fishing In California who was making his tenth appearance at the event.

Age Group winners:

5-Year-Old Winner— Eliza Jane Mills

6-Year-Old Winner — Yahir Salanic

7-Year-Old Winner — Zach Mitchell

8-Year-Old Winner — Lily Mitchell

9-Year-Old Winner — Reed Stewart

10-Year-Old Winner — Trevor Selle

11-Year-Old Winner — Brodie Guerraro

12-Year-Old Winner — Thomas Valdez

13-Year-Old Winner — Matthew Morimoto

14-Year-Old Winner— Kaden Choi

15-Year-Old Winner — Kiana Choi

Last but certainly not least was the raffle, which provided rods and reels for EVERY youngster that was in the derby. Al Petrocelli, the club coordinator for the event, raised more than $7,000 in donations that helped pay for the rods and reels.

There were many, many club volunteers to thank, those who assisted with registration, setting up the rods, reels and bait, the judges, and all the cooks and servers for the lunch. Unfortunately I only have three names, the three ladies who registered the youngsters—Jennie Petrocelli, Ann Marie Melanephy, and Katie Shurtz.  But we are thankful for all who helped make the day a successful event.

I also want to thank the Pier Fishing in California crew that showed up—Rita Magdamo (also a club member), Kyle Pease, Dave DeJong, Robert Gardner (Redfish) and Hans Jones. They rigged (and unrigged) rods and reels, helped judge, and took pictures. It was all appreciated.

A special thanks goes to Rich Reano the webmaster for pierfishing.com who flew all the way up from San Diego to film the event. He took so much film he will probably make two films, one of the club and one of the event.