Fishes for AOTY 2012?

I'm looking forward to my first "full year" of kayak angling and am wanting to join in on the AOTY.  My concern is not having very easy access to a few of the fish on the list (at least 10 of the 20). Anything in the salt will be an issue, but I'd like to go over the the coast a couple times to give it a try.  I'm not quite geared up for it though

I noticed a couple fish that were not on the list that are common targets, at least over here.  Carp and Catfish.

Scoring Scale (points per inch)

1. Lingcod 4 points per inch
2. Rockfish (Sebastes Genus) 7 pts per inch
3. Greenling 9 pts per inch
4. Cabezon 8 pts per inch
5. Surf Perch 12 pts per inch
6. Halibut 3.5 pts per inch
7. Flounder 7 pts per inch
8. Chinook 4 pts per inch
9. Coho 5 pts per inch
10. Chum 5 pts per inch
11. Sturgeon 3.5 pts per inch
12. Steelhead 5 pts per inch
13. Cutthroat trout 7 pts per inch
14. Rainbow trout 7 pts per inch
15. Smallmouth Bass 9 pts per inch
16. Largemouth Bass 8 pts per inch
17. Panfish 12 pts per inch
18. Walleye 6 pts per inch
19. Kokanee 9 pts per inch
20. Lake (Mackinaw) Trout 5 pts per inch

Are there any plans on revisions to the fish list?  Thanks all.

The current list of 20 fish is an evolution of a couple of years of work to figure out a way for folks on the East side to compete against folks on the West side and have a fair shot at winning either way.

Only your top 10 scoring fish will go towards your total score in the end.  You don't have to get all 20 fish to have a higher score than the other guy. 

We're likely not going to have any species change in 2012, although we're considering some minor points per inch tweaks.

-Allen

Here are my thoughts on point changes with reasons:

Lingcod:  Points should go up. 
Reason:  The highest scoring Lingcod this year was 132 points.  Not only is that terribly low, but these are a prized species.  Everyone loves to post pictures of their big toothy lings, then you enter the points for your personal "Lingzilla" and you get 132 points.  That's pretty lame.  2010's highest scoring Lingcod was a 42" for 169 points, that is very low for such a nice ling.  I know reasearch shows they can get up to 60", but not really from kayak reachable waters.

Cabezon:  Points should go down.
Reason:  It is the only species to score over 200 points this year.  Out of 14 total Cabbies entered, 4 of them were over 200, and almost all were over 150.

Trout (Rainbow and Cutthroat):  Points should go up.
Reason:  The highest scoring of any trout caught this year was 120 points.  With the exception of the 24" trout I got in 2010, all other trout were under 140 points for 2010. 

Walleye seem low too, but there were not many caught, so good analysis can't really be done; however, it could be implied that points should be increased because they are hard to catch, or because they are so low that nobody really targets them.

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

Steelhead, Chinook, Coho are all 4hrs of drive time if i want to fish from the kayak.

I supposed i could just take my yak to the small rivers, anchor in the middle and fish.... I might look like an idiot though

As for the coast trip, I'd love to come over but Ocean gear (safety) may be an issue for me.  Maybe if I stuck to small "protected" bays or something?  I don't have a clue where to start at on that one.

I'm looking forward to it anyways.  Who knows, i could get lucky and give you all a run for the money... Sturgeon retention opens up in 2 weeks over here

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

Steelhead, Chinook, Coho are all 4hrs of drive time if i want to fish from the kayak.

I supposed i could just take my yak to the small rivers, anchor in the middle and fish.... I might look like an idiot though

As for the coast trip, I'd love to come over but Ocean gear (safety) may be an issue for me.  Maybe if I stuck to small "protected" bays or something?  I don't have a clue where to start at on that one.

I'm looking forward to it anyways.  Who knows, i could get lucky and give you all a run for the money... Sturgeon retention opens up in 2 weeks over here

I'm sure we could get you out in the salt. What gear do you feel you're lacking? Once it gets a bit warmer I'd lend you my dry suit (I also have a wet suit).

I think all this discussion is kind of moot since I decided I am going to win anyway

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

Steelhead, Chinook, Coho are all 4hrs of drive time if i want to fish from the kayak.

I supposed i could just take my yak to the small rivers, anchor in the middle and fish.... I might look like an idiot though

As for the coast trip, I'd love to come over but Ocean gear (safety) may be an issue for me.  Maybe if I stuck to small "protected" bays or something?  I don't have a clue where to start at on that one.

I'm looking forward to it anyways.  Who knows, i could get lucky and give you all a run for the money... Sturgeon retention opens up in 2 weeks over here

Nobody said the AOTY is easy.  It takes a little work to do well.  It takes a lot of work to be in the top 5.  It takes a lot of work and some sacrifice to be in the top 3. To win, it takes all that and a healthy dose of luck.

-Spot-

I think all this discussion is kind of moot since I decided I am going to win anyway

That's the spirit

I"ll be happy if i can break 1k points.

Here are my thoughts on point changes with reasons:

Lingcod:  Points should go up. 
Reason:  The highest scoring Lingcod this year was 132 points.  Not only is that terribly low, but these are a prized species.  Everyone loves to post pictures of their big toothy lings, then you enter the points for your personal "Lingzilla" and you get 132 points.  That's pretty lame.  2010's highest scoring Lingcod was a 42" for 169 points, that is very low for such a nice ling.  I know reasearch shows they can get up to 60", but not really from kayak reachable waters.

Cabezon:  Points should go down.
Reason:  It is the only species to score over 200 points this year.  Out of 14 total Cabbies entered, 4 of them were over 200, and almost all were over 150.

Trout (Rainbow and Cutthroat):  Points should go up.
Reason:  The highest scoring of any trout caught this year was 120 points.  With the exception of the 24" trout I got in 2010, all other trout were under 140 points for 2010. 

Walleye seem low too, but there were not many caught, so good analysis can't really be done; however, it could be implied that points should be increased because they are hard to catch, or because they are so low that nobody really targets them.

+1
 

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

+1 i think he goes by EOB now. you really should talk to him. 

Steelhead, Chinook, Coho are all 4hrs of drive time if i want to fish from the kayak.

I supposed i could just take my yak to the small rivers, anchor in the middle and fish.... I might look like an idiot though

The 1st kayak doing anything always looks like an idiot.  You can trust me on this one.  I've been that idiot plenty of times.....until I caught a fish.  Then suddenly my idiocy started to make sense.

You wouldn't be the 1st person to take a yak to a small river in search of salmon.

As for the coast trip, I'd love to come over but Ocean gear (safety) may be an issue for me.  Maybe if I stuck to small "protected" bays or something?  I don't have a clue where to start at on that one.

Take advantage of the ORC this year.  You'll have a huge flotilla of kayaks to fish with and you couldn't ask for an easier launch and landing.
Wetsuit and drysuit rentals are relatively cheap.

-Spot-

Here are my thoughts on point changes with reasons:

Lingcod:  Points should go up. 
Reason:  The highest scoring Lingcod this year was 132 points.  Not only is that terribly low, but these are a prized species.  Everyone loves to post pictures of their big toothy lings, then you enter the points for your personal "Lingzilla" and you get 132 points.  That's pretty lame.  2010's highest scoring Lingcod was a 42" for 169 points, that is very low for such a nice ling.  I know reasearch shows they can get up to 60", but not really from kayak reachable waters.

Cabezon:  Points should go down.
Reason:  It is the only species to score over 200 points this year.  Out of 14 total Cabbies entered, 4 of them were over 200, and almost all were over 150.

Trout (Rainbow and Cutthroat):  Points should go up.
Reason:  The highest scoring of any trout caught this year was 120 points.  With the exception of the 24" trout I got in 2010, all other trout were under 140 points for 2010. 

Walleye seem low too, but there were not many caught, so good analysis can't really be done; however, it could be implied that points should be increased because they are hard to catch, or because they are so low that nobody really targets them.

Having looked through the results as part of new OCD    I would agree with all that.  On the ling cod, given the slot limit for then in the Sound Straights it's impossible to even get 150 points on them unless you get out to MA 1-4.  Seems like 4.5 or 5 points per inch would be a better representation of what's out there to catch and retain.

Hey Joe,  I know from experience that the dryer side of the state has an edge in big panfish, big trout, big Walleye and abundant Steelhead and Chinook.  With a good strategy and one trip to the coast, you can be extremely competitive from your location.  Just ask EOBasser.

-Spot-

Steelhead, Chinook, Coho are all 4hrs of drive time if i want to fish from the kayak.

I supposed i could just take my yak to the small rivers, anchor in the middle and fish.... I might look like an idiot though

As for the coast trip, I'd love to come over but Ocean gear (safety) may be an issue for me.  Maybe if I stuck to small "protected" bays or something?  I don't have a clue where to start at on that one.

I'm looking forward to it anyways.  Who knows, i could get lucky and give you all a run for the money... Sturgeon retention opens up in 2 weeks over here

As Spot mentioned, take advantage of the ORC.  You have an easy shot at three saltwater fish species.  In one weekend you should be able to get all three.  You may even be able to score some surf perch and, if you are lucky, a flounder or halibut.

Having looked through the results as part of new OCD    I would agree with all that.  On the ling cod, given the slot limit for then in the Sound Straights it's impossible to even get 150 points on them unless you get out to MA 1-4.  Seems like 4.5 or 5 points per inch would be a better representation of what's out there to catch and retain.

Then, by all means, go to MA 1-4. I can tell you from a guy that has to work way too much, this AOTY is not easy.  But, it has been worth every minute I have spent chasing these fishies. If it wasn't for the AOTY, there have been a few days that I would probably not have fished, and those days were some of the most memorable fishing days of my life.  If Ndogg and I can drive 180 miles round trip for a large mouth that we just put back in the water (unfortunately, mine put himself into the water before I could measure him ), a trip to MA 1-4 to catch some yummy ling and score points should be well worth it.    

I do have to agree that Cabezon may be a little high and Ling could be a little higher.   But, I would be much more interested in seeing sturgeon CNR count towards the AOTY, since it is a fish most people have access to, and there is a season dedicated to CNR sturgeon. But then you could argue that for any fish I guess.