2014 Oregon Rockfish Classic Official Announcement

Use of Barbie (kiddie) poles ONLY! 

It was the largest tournament before it became a Hobie Worlds qualifier. That just pushed the numbers even higher.
I completely agree if the winner is going to represent the PNW there should be some skill invloved.

Additionally I would love to see an official power boat helping to organize things during fishing hours. With the size this is growing into I would hate to have a run in with a power boat and kayakers who may have drifted into the cannel.

I'm completely on board to revamp things a little because of it's size. As of this year it became a Hobie qualifier even! If this continues to be as big as it is or bigger, it needs to be a fishermen's tourney, not a lucky lotto drop. I watched a guy boat a 25" black this year. It's hardly a "Rockfish Classic" when that beast can't compete against even mediocre cabs. If it stays single heaviest fish, than it should be revamped to only target/allow ling and cab to compete. Otherwise we should change the scoring to allow a 20" greening to best a 33" ling.

Now, that's something I could probably support more so than an AOTD format.  In that case it would be essentially single highest scoring fish (based on AOTY points) rather than single heaviest fish. 

Winning the largest kayak tournament in the NW should mean something more than you showed up and got lucky.

I will just point out that in its current format is how it became the largest kayak tournament in the NW.  Change the format and might not be the biggest for very much longer.

IMHO - if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I'm going to have to disagree with you here .... the format/location has been changed several times.
It has become the largest through its longevity, organization and reputation of being a fun even to be a part of.

It is a $40 kayak tournament with free beer. I don't think the underlying reason most people show up is to win. It is to have fun and get out on the water.

Saying you won ORC should be a big deal.

The basic format has been the same since at least 2011 (I read heavily on that year's event after joining up here in late 2011 or early 2012).  But whatever.  If it was a bit different prior to 2011 then it was different.  I'm not going to argue that point and will happily concede it.

The rest of your post I can totally agree with.  The party is the biggest reason to go.  The fishing is fun too.  Though I will say that to me, anyway, winning even in the current format is still a big deal.  Yeah, it's more luck than an AOTD format, but the guys with skill in finding big fish (e.g. you) still have a better shot at winning than I do.

It became the largest tournament in the PNW last year for one main reason:  It was a hobie world's qualifier.  The reasons for the organic growth prior to that were the enthusiasm of a select few as far as I can tell, Jammer in particular. 

I humbly disagree.  It's always been the largest tournament in the PNW.  Making it a hobby world qualifier only served to draw in out of staters to the event.

-Mark-

I wish there were pics around of the 2008 Pacific City tourney! I looked and don't find any.  I think there were a whopping maybe 13 (is that right?) then in 2009 there were about 30 (The Kraken kept us out of Depoe Bay that year).  Every kayaker was successful at Pacific City- if you weren't in the top 3 you had a REAL good chance of being in the top 10! I was going to turn pro- but Pabst wouldn't return my phone calls for a sponsor? I like the venue as set up, but open to any ideas.  Having an open forum as this group has enjoyed keeps the ball rolling.  I do think that changes could be a put to votes, and another event would give people more angling fun (but that is ALOT of work and planning!)
-Scott

It became the largest tournament in the PNW last year for one main reason:  It was a hobie world's qualifier.  The reasons for the organic growth prior to that were the enthusiasm of a select few as far as I can tell, Jammer in particular. 

I humbly disagree.  It's always been the largest tournament in the PNW.  Making it a hobby world qualifier only served to draw in out of staters to the event.

-Mark-

+100

It became the largest tournament in the PNW last year for one main reason:  It was a hobie world's qualifier.  The reasons for the organic growth prior to that were the enthusiasm of a select few as far as I can tell, Jammer in particular. 

I humbly disagree.  It's always been the largest tournament in the PNW.  Making it a hobby world qualifier only served to draw in out of staters to the event.

-Mark-

+100

I went to 2013 and 2014, and it was at least 150% difference.  Like 80 vs 120.  So it may be that you are correct as I havent been to any other tournament in NWKA territory, if NWKA territory = PNW, that ORC has always been the largest.  For a point of comparison though, just south in Humboldt County CA we have Gimme Shelter, which has had ~200 anglers in each of the last two years.  Like ORC, GS's main popularity comes from the enthusiasm of the prior competitiors and that of the organizers.  That said, if you made GS a hobie world qualifier I think it would easily go over 300 anglers if Eric allowed it.  Of course I could be wrong, but I don't think so.  ORC was the size it was in 2014 because it was a hobie world qualifier.

It became the largest tournament in the PNW last year for one main reason:  It was a hobie world's qualifier.  The reasons for the organic growth prior to that were the enthusiasm of a select few as far as I can tell, Jammer in particular. 

I humbly disagree.  It's always been the largest tournament in the PNW.  Making it a hobby world qualifier only served to draw in out of staters to the event.

-Mark-

+100

I went to 2013 and 2014, and it was at least 150% difference.  Like 80 vs 120.  So it may be that you are correct as I havent been to any other tournament in NWKA territory, if NWKA territory = PNW, that ORC has always been the largest.  For a point of comparison though, just south in Humboldt County CA we have Gimme Shelter, which has had ~200 anglers in each of the last two years.  Like ORC, GS's main popularity comes from the enthusiasm of the prior competitiors and that of the organizers.  That said, if you made GS a hobie world qualifier I think it would easily go over 300 anglers if Eric allowed it.  Of course I could be wrong, but I don't think so.  ORC was the size it was in 2014 because it was a hobie world qualifier.

ORC has grown at a 50-100% growth year on year since its inception.  While I think the Hobie thing did pull a few more competitors in, in all honesty, it was really down played, and I think maybe it added 10 participants.

-Allen

Please don't expect the format or much else to change about this tournament for at least the foreseeable future. There are still plenty of growing pains that need to be worked out aside from the actual formula for winning. Those closest to the planning and development of this event are still trying to get going with the details and this is a tough time to get things done for many reasons.

This debate has been going on since I started going. One thing worth considering is doing BOTH single largest and by species awards!There is always TONS of gear that is raffled and given away that is not part of the prizes that could be used for such. So my guess is its not a matter of covering the prizes but the administration of it.  Recognizing there is a lot of gears at work in this kind of thing, would it really be so much trouble to track both weights and measurements by species at the weigh in?

IMO that doesn't change much. The 10# 25" cab still takes a higher overall rating over a 25" rockfish or 20" greenling. Your essentially giving consolation prizes for catching a bigger fish that just doesn't weigh as much because of it's flavor. An 8# rockfish is a far more impressive fish than a 10# cab.

Does it really take a higher skill set to catch more species? None of the fish we target at these events are hard to find. The challenge I have found is getting them all to bite. I know it has been said many times before me, but heaviest fish is luck of the draw. It's just a cool way to raffle off a new kayak and/or a trip over seas to compete in something much bigger.
Why does this competition have to be so newb friendly? You might as well hand out a trophy to everyone and invite them all to a pizza party...you know, just like Little League.

As has been said before, the party is fun, the people are great and it's just good to be out on the water. I'd love to see this event evolve into something more challenging, though.
The current format isn't going to keep me from participating but the win would feel so much sweeter if it were more of a challenge.

It became the largest tournament in the PNW last year for one main reason:  It was a hobie world's qualifier.  The reasons for the organic growth prior to that were the enthusiasm of a select few as far as I can tell, Jammer in particular. 

I humbly disagree.  It's always been the largest tournament in the PNW.  Making it a hobby world qualifier only served to draw in out of staters to the event.

-Mark-

+100

I went to 2013 and 2014, and it was at least 150% difference.  Like 80 vs 120.  So it may be that you are correct as I havent been to any other tournament in NWKA territory, if NWKA territory = PNW, that ORC has always been the largest.  For a point of comparison though, just south in Humboldt County CA we have Gimme Shelter, which has had ~200 anglers in each of the last two years.  Like ORC, GS's main popularity comes from the enthusiasm of the prior competitiors and that of the organizers.  That said, if you made GS a hobie world qualifier I think it would easily go over 300 anglers if Eric allowed it.  Of course I could be wrong, but I don't think so.  ORC was the size it was in 2014 because it was a hobie world qualifier.

ORC has grown at a 50-100% growth year on year since its inception.  While I think the Hobie thing did pull a few more competitors in, in all honesty, it was really down played, and I think maybe it added 10 participants.

-Allen

Not the first time I've been wrong. I'm curious to see how many competitors in 2015 if it isn't a hobie qualifier.

Im looking forward to the event either way. My family had a great time in 2014 and I'm not sure I could keep them away next year.

Use of Barbie (kiddie) poles ONLY!   

I think that's a whole other tournament too.[emoji12]

IMO that doesn't change much. The 10# 25" cab still takes a higher overall rating over a 25" rockfish or 20" greenling. Your essentially giving consolation prizes for catching a bigger fish that just doesn't weigh as much because of it's flavor. An 8# rockfish is a far more impressive fish than a 10# cab.

Interestingly, under AOTY points, the 25" cab and 25" rockfish would have the same score.  Both are 8 points per inch.