2024 Sunset Bay Angler Of The Day Kayak Fishing Challenge

About time to post this here I guess.


The Sunset Bay Angler Of The Day Kayak Fishing Challenge is an annual human powered kayak only fishing competition held on the ocean near Coos Bay Oregon. This year's 14th annual tournament is set for Saturday, August 10th, 2024.

Stephen Hatler has reserved the Bastendorff County Park group site campground. I'm not sure there's any campsites left, but let Steve know if you're interested in camping. Arriving Friday the 9th and leaving Sunday the 11th. Maybe Tuesday the 13th if at least 10 commit.

SBAOTD 2024 Rules:
We have a perfect safety record and want to keep it that way.

• Pre-registration is required to compete. All participants must have registered with the event coordinators, signed the liability waiver and receive a poker chip to participate. The entry fee is $35. The first 35 participants who sign up will receive a Captains bag. The registration cut-off will be for 50 competitors or at a date determined by the event coordinators. Contact Erik at browneyesvictim@yahoo.com to pay your entry fee to Erik's PayPal. Use PayPal "Friends & Family" mode when making payment. Alternative payment method can be arranged by emailing Erik at browneyesvictim@yahoo.com.
• Only human powered kayaks will be allowed to compete.
• Compliance with all applicable State and Federal regulations is mandatory.
• Proper immersion gear and flying a safety flag are mandatory. Competitors must wear a Coast Guard approved PFD while on water.
• Radio communication is required to participate. If you don't have a radio, fish with a buddy who does. Marine VHF Channel 69 is the designated communication channel for the event and will be monitored by event staff ashore should an emergency arise.
• Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult/guardian while on the water.
• Stay within the tournament boundaries. The launch site is at Sunset Bay State Park. The fishing area is from Baltimore Rock to the north down to the south end of Simpson Reef.
• The tournament starts at first light on August 10th. First light is 5:46 am, official sunrise is 6:14 am.
(https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/coos-bay-or/2028/8)
• The competition ends at 2:00 pm. Anyone not in line for check-in by 2:00 pm will be disqualified. Bring your fish to be measured to the check-in station at the picnic area closest to the launch. All entries must be measured to qualify. You must check-in even if you are not measuring any fish. Be on time. Don't make us call the Coast Guard to search for you! All competitors will be liable for any costs incurred for their search, rescue and/or resultant medical care.
• Point-based competition with points per inch values assigned to each species. Only the largest fish of each designated species will be counted. Bring your largest fish of each species for official measurement when you check in. The Angler with the most points wins.

Point system:
Chinook 4 points
Coho 5 points
Greenling 10 points
Halibut 4 points (https://www.dfw.state.or.us/.../halibut/management.asp)
Other Flatfish 8 points
Lingcod 5 points
Rockfish 8 points
Perch 12 points
Cabezon 7 points - retention of cabezon may be closed, regulations TBA
(https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons)

SBAOTD 2024 Agenda:
8/9 Friday, 5:30 pm - Captains meeting
• Participants- please meet at the shelter in the group camp site in the campground at Bastendorff County Park. (NOT THE GAZEBO IN THE DAY USE AREA). Be here to check in for the tournament. This is where you will sign your waiver and get a poker chip and get your captains bag (first 35). The tournament coordinators will have a few words with any last minute updates and recognize our sponsors as well as answer any questions.
• Drawing tickets will also be available for purchase. Tickets will also be available during the potluck prior to the awards ceremony. Tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. 100% of the money for this drawing will be donated to Heroes on the Water.
8/10 Saturday, 5:30 am - Be ready, tournament starts at first light.
• Sunset Bay boat launch area is officially open at sunrise. The gate will be closed and unlocked by park staff in the morning. First light is 5:46 am, official sunrise is 6:14 am.
• Radio communication is required to participate. If you don't have a radio, fish with a buddy who does. If you haven't fished Sunset Bay or the ocean before, find an experienced person with a radio and ask them to help you out and keep an eye on you.
2:00 pm - Fish measure check-in ends. Don't be late!
• Bring your fish to be measured to the check-in station at the picnic area closest to the launch. All entries must be measured to qualify.
• You must check-in even if you are not measuring in any fish.
• You must have checked in your fish or be present (standing in line) at the fish measuring station at 2 pm or you will be disqualified. This is a strict rule. I got kicked out of the competition last year for being about 5 minutes late for check in.
• Don’t forget to turn in your poker chip for the drawing.

5:00 pm - Potluck
• Bring donated fish for the fish fry to the marked cooler located at the shelter in the group camp site at Bastendorff County Park. Please bring cleaned fillets only. The earlier the better! Please remember to keep your fish on ice for food safety and the quality of the eats! Fish cleaning stations are located at Bastendorff County Park, Sunset Bay State Park and at Charleston Marina.
• The potluck and fish fry will commence in the shelter located in the group site adjacent to the restrooms at Bastendorff County Park.
• We will have a fish fry/taco feed so bring your favorite dish! We always have an awesome feast! The cooking will be coordinated and conducted by the usual crew of cooks again this year. Volunteers for food prep & setup are always welcome!
• Please bring a dish to contribute to the potluck- salad, side dish, desert, etc.
• Gluten free options are welcome will need to be clearly marked (battered fish, tortillas, etc.)
• Bring a lawn chair and your own beverages.
• Cleanup - the potluck area must be cleaned up prior to the commencement of the awards ceremony. Please take what you brought and help clean up and dispose of all trash in the appropriate bins.
6:00 pm - Awards Ceremony
• The awards ceremony will be presented by one or more of the event coordinators.
• Prizes will be called out and the contributing sponsor recognized for the contribution and a photograph taken to memorialize the award.
• The top 3 anglers will get their choice of a prize , followed by the chip drawing.
• You will receive a poker chip with a number on it when you sign the safety waiver, we will collect them after you sign. The top 3 anglers will not be eligible for a chip prize unless we have a second round of chip draws.
• We will draw tickets for prize packages until we run out of tickets. If there are prizes left after the ticket drawing, we'll have a second round of chip draws until all the prizes are depleted. Tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. 100% of the money for this drawing will be donated to Heroes on the Water. Please open up your wallets and buy a lot of tickets, it goes to a great cause!

Good luck, be safe, have fun!

Event FB link - https://fb.me/e/45qNBHr5n

You can see more related maps & such in my gallery. I'll also post them to this thread on request.
 https://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;cat=540;u=412

Launch point at Sunset Bay State Park boat ramp.




Group camp at Bastendorff Beach County Park

I’m excited about this! It would be way cooler if I still had the freedom to take a week or two off work to camp, pick summer chanterelles, spend time nailing chinook at gold beach, and pre fishing for the tournament 🤣
I’m excited to come for the weekend though