2025 Sunset Bay Kayak Fishing Challenge

A month until the 15th Annual SBAOTD, so now that the other events are a wrap, I'll post the info about this one.
As most of you know, the Sunset Bay Angler of the Day Kayak Fishing Challenge (SBAOTD) is an annual ocean fishing competition held at Sunset Bay State Park, Coos Bay, Oregon. The 15th annual SBAOTD will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BDaeTMz2u/
Pre-registration is required to compete. The entry fee is $35. The registration cut-off will be at a date determined by the event coordinators. For tournament registration through PayPal, contact Erik Schmidt's  PayPal account: [email protected] to pay your entry fee (NWKA handle: browneyesvictim). Use PayPal "Friends & Family" mode when making payment. Alternative payment method can be arranged by emailing Erik at [email protected]. As of August 10, there are 40 registered anglers for the tournament.
Stephen Hatler has reserved the Bastendorff County Park Group Camping Area, 63377 Bastendorff Beach Road, Coos Bay, OR 97420. Let Steve or me know if you're interested in camping (available Wednesday the 10th through Sunday the 14th). Five Campsites are available in the Bastendorff Group Camping Area due to cancellations. Contact Stephen Hatler if you want one. If you can't contact Steve, tell me & I'll get you in touch with him. You can find my email address on my NWKA profile. The last time I checked there were 3 RV sites (77 is in D Loop, just below the Group Camping Area) & 16 tent campsites (A Loop) available https://properties.camping.com/Bastendorff-County-Park-Coos-County/Reservations.

SBAOTD 2025 Rules: All participants must register with the event coordinators, sign the liability waiver and receive a poker chip to participate.

Compliance with all State and Federal game regulations is mandatory. Any participant who fails to follow all tournament rules will be disqualified.

We have a perfect safety record and want to keep it that way. A US Coast Guard approved PFD, suitable immersion gear and flying a safety flag are mandatory. If you show up in street clothes you will be disqualified.

Radio communications are required. Marine VHF Channel 69 is the designated communication channel for the event and will be monitored by event staff ashore should an emergency arise. 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.

The launch site is at Sunset Bay State Park. The tournament boundaries are from Baltimore Rock to the north down to the south end of Simpson Reef. The west boundary is out one mile offshore (depth of about 100 to 120 feet). If you can't make out landmarks, you're out too far.

The tournament starts at first light. First light is 6:26 am, official sunrise is 6:53 am. https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/coos-bay-or/2025/9
The competition ends at 2:00 pm. 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 and stay in radio communication. Don't make us call the Coast Guard to search for you. Anyone not in line for check-in by 2:00 pm will be disqualified.

This is a point based competition with points per inch values assigned to each species. Bring your largest fish of each species for official measurement when you check in. The angler with the most points wins! This competition will test your skill as an angler as you have to target different species with different techniques to be successful. https://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/marine-zone/

Point system:
Chinook 4 points https://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/salmon
Coho 5 points
Greenling 10 points
Halibut 4 points https://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/finfish/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, so check the regulations https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons]]https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons

There are three winner categories:
1. Multi-species category: 1st, 2nd & 3rd place anglers with the most cumulative points.
2. Angler with the largest single fish.
3. Tournament of Champions: Anglers who have placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in previous year's multi-species contest will be eligible to compete in this category. Cumulative points for the largest perch and greenling will determine the winner of this category.

Good luck, be safe, have fun!

SBAOTD 2025 Agenda:
9/12 Friday, 5:00 pm - Captains meeting: Participants meet at the shelter in the Group Camp Gazebo 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, get a poker chip and get your captain's bag. The tournament coordinators will have a few words with any last minute updates, and recognize our sponsors as well as answer any questions.
• There will be a gear swap before & after the Captains Meeting on Friday in the Group Camp Gazebo.
• Drawing tickets will 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.

9/13 Saturday, 6:30 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 6:26 am, official sunrise is 6:53 am.
• Radio communication is required to participate. If you don't have a radio, fish with a buddy who does.
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.
• 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 be in the Bastendorff County Park group camp shelter adjacent to the restrooms.

• This is a fish fry/taco feed. Bring a dish to contribute to the potluck- salad, side dish, desert, etc. The cooking will be coordinated and conducted by the usual crew of cooks. Volunteers for food prep & setup are welcome!
• 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 the event coordinators.
• The top 3 multi-species anglers will get their choice of a prize, then the angler with the largest fish, followed by the Tournament of Champions winner. After that, we start 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 5 anglers in the 3 categories 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 are $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!
• Winners will be announced, contributing sponsors recognized for their donation & award photographs taken.

We have a lot of great sponsors who donated a lot of great prizes.


Here's a picture of this year's winner's trophies.

#sunsetbaykayakanglers

Update: Five Campsites are available in the Bastendorff Group Camping Area due to cancellations. Contact Stephen Hatler if you want one. If you can't contact Steve, tell me & I'll get you in touch with him.
As of August 14, there are 41 registered anglers for the tournament.
Thanks to Ray & Shannon Zimmerman, Heroes on the Water - North Oregon Coast Chapter, who made a whole bunch of HOW car coasters, SBAOTD fridge magnets & kayak stickers for the Captain's Bags.