Homer Winter King Derby March 22, 2014- Organization Thread

Ok.  Gotta start sometime and now that we are into February, we might as well begin.

Location:
The last three times I have been skunked.  Have only seen a few boats in the area and the intel tells me they are at the buffs or out by Seldovia.  The bluffs are awfully exposed though we did get out last year.  With enough advanced planning, I want to try Seldovia.  The typical report is there are more fish in that area but maybe smaller in size.  My goal this year is to get a group of kayakers and just enter a bunch of fish.  I think that'll get some attention for sure.

So, I have called up water taxis and my main man at Ashore Water taxi considers this day a play day.  I should be getting a call back from Mako Taxi tomorrow.  He thought round trip would be $500 for one person or six.  That's not a bad deal.  Of course the derby is $100 to enter so its $200 total plus any other extras. 

I've told him we want to leave as early as possible on Saturday and he MUST be back to pick us up in plenty of time to get back to the weigh ins on time.  He didn't seem to think it would be a problem.

So???  Who is in.  I'm okay to split $500 four ways or even three if the other two don't mind forking out a few extra bucks.  Because of everyone's schedule, I am going to open it up first to all of those that fished the inaugural Whiskey Gulch Yak Classic last year.  Then I will open it up to first come first serve for the rest.  I'd be awful impressed if we can max out the boat at 6 people.

Let's say that that fails.  Then I am still fishing it though I may just cross over to the other side if the weather allows and stay near the spit if it doesn't.  Unless some crazy work or family issues come into play, I plan on being there.   

So mark your calendars and post here if you plan to participate.  Once I start collecting money, if we go the water taxi route, I will set deadlines for payment.  Once you have paid, you are committed.  Of course you can sell your seat to someone else and let me know.  Please no games.  Selling the seat is only an absolutely necessary out clause.  I really want to give those that participated in last years Whiskey Gulch tournament first crack. 

I will repost here once I hear from Mako.  Even that is still not guaranteed. 

Time to start getting in shape!!!!

Here is the post on a another forum from the Homer Chamber Director.  Note the winner last year with side bets grossed over $36,700!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This tournament is for real!!!!!!!

==============================

It may seem like a long way off, but March 22, 2014 is the 21st annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament. The only one-day winter king tournament in the state, Homer’s Kachemak Bay thrives with these feeder kings that come north from British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest rivers to feed in bait-rich waters. Because they’re nowhere close to spawning, these kings are super fatty, and a great grilling fish.

The 2013 Tournament saw 732 anglers on 206 boats catch 162 fish. Leszek Kuligowski of Anchorage won with a 35.1 lbs. salmon. He took home $15,372 for his winning fish and another $21,375 in Side Boat Bets. Total cash prizes were a whopping $91,487.

Keep your boats clear of snow and come down to Homer for the weekend. The Port of Homer generously donates a free launch and harbor overnight moorage. Also included in your $100 entry fee is a beer and chowder during the awards ceremonies. New this year: a shortened awards event, and closed circuit video feed of the weight-in.

Homer residents are excited to put together one of the best fishing events of the year. More details available in January by going to www.homerwinterking.com

Homer Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center
907-235-7140
[email protected]

I'll be in town then.  I'll PM you with details

Nice. And I an not wed to any plan. I just wanted to make sure we had options. So if anyone has intel or any other input, speak up now!!!! 

Ok.  Just got a quote from Mako Water Taxi.  $500 round trip.  So with 6 that's less less than $100 round trip.  Money doesn't grow on trees for me either, but given the investment of time and money to just enter the derby, I think this is a much higher catching probability strategy.

So I have the reservation, they don't have any type of cancellation policy.  I have NOT paid.  So let's hear who is in!!!  Even the folks who didn't fish last year's Whiskey Gulch should chime in.  I'm in at 3 people and $167 per person round trip.  I think that's still a pretty good deal. 

Last year and last time I was in Homer,  I heard that most of the fish being caught were around the islands.

Last year and last time I was in Homer,  I heard that most of the fish being caught were around the islands.

Ok good intel.  I will say I have never heard of the charters fishing the ISlands unless the weather forces them too.  It always Pt Pogibishi area or the bluffs.  Let's keep trying to get some good info!!

The water taxi would be cheaper and the waters definitely likely to be more fishable so its not a bad choice at all.

Well I'm on the reservation list for the water taxi. I figure the most expensive place is Seldovia so any other place should be cheaper. Keep gathering the intel!!! 

So Andy's a maybe. No one else? Even if you didn't fish the whiskey gulch tournament, chine in. We will set the crew if we come close to maxing out in early March. But the bigger Shane would be if we didn't get six. I'm still in at a higher smaller group but it could limit others. We are almost mid way through February!!!

I'm in. 

I'm a strong possible -- always contingent on caregiving responsibilities of course.

I'll probably not make it.     The chance at $36,000 is very tempting, but just can't justify the expense to myself at the moment.   Plus work may get in the way, depending on when a aircraft contract starts.

Oh well, I get the next one......

Great Akfishergal,  hope you can make it!  Will Carlos Danger be with you if you can make it?  So far I have me, Andy is a maybe, michiluttiq and partner, and Pam and potentially carlos as a maybe.  So that's sort of six. 

No huge hurry for commitment.  Right now Matt aka RimfireMatt would be the only person other than Xanfly since CRV83 can't make it. I think that would bump a spot.  I will give the folks another week or so before we start firming up the commitments. Once again if the group is too small but at least two of us, we can take the water taxi over to the Islands and that should be less than $100 each.

I've actually had a pretty serious commitment come up but I think I can work around it.  Let's just say cancer really is a FU)K3R!!! My Dad just got the diagnosis and treatment is set for Seattle in the next month.  I will be accompanying him.

So sorry to learn of your father's cancer diagnosis. Will add his successful treatment to an ever-growing prayer litany.

Carlos? He thinks I'm mad crazy!

Ok. Got my dad's appointment in Seattle so I'll be there probably March 4th to the 9th. So that's a relief.

Ok as of right now I have michiluriq and spouse, rimfirematt, and me with Akfishergal a strong maybe (I hope) Matt says he might be able to get another. Kenai guy gets the last spot if he is able but looking iffy.

Keep in mind this is pretty hard core. If we can enter a couple of fish, I'd be ultra psyched.

I'll keep gathering intel but it's a toss up between the islands and out by Seldovia. The current plan is if we get 5 or 6, and the weather is good, I'd vote for Seldovia. But if weather isn't perfect or the intel changes, the islands it is.

Not wed to anything, so if you here anything...speak up!!!!

Did get a new set up I may run.
http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dHynEclMYkY/UwQmu6LLv5I/AAAAAAAAEYQ/GN5tNlAhpHc/s1024-no/IMAGE_517.jpg

Here's their YouTube clip.

I leave for home in a few days, so I should know in the next 2 weeks if I can go or not.

I have nothing to offer in terms of where to go. This will be my first time from Homer.

Did the organizers include a no-motor class for prizes--or are each of us on our own from that regard?