Official 2012 AOTY Thread

Caution! Rookie question coming.
I've seen the the term "upgrade" used frequently. Does this mean we can replace an entry with another of the same species of presumably larger size?

Absolutely!

-Allen

Couple quick questions.  I just don't want to get disqualified for my own ignorance.

1.  What if I'm out fishing and a boating friend in a PB drives up.  If we want to BS, share beer, brag, am I allowed to tie off to him and not have fish during the trip disqualified?  NO fish would be caought while tied together.

2.  If during the same day i catch a keeper sturgeon, say 46 inches and keep it, then a little later cach a 55 inch sturgeon, can i measure and count the larger fish even after I caought my keeper for the day?  The regs say you can keep fishing but you just can't keep.

I'm really looking forward to this. I just got my Hawg Trough and am only minutes away from signing up. I'm hoping to chase keeper sturgeon on the 2nd.

Good Luck All

EDIT: signed up!!!! w00t!

Ta-Da!  I'm in and I don't even have my new license yet.

At risk of wearing the A$$hat...

I'm the only one I've seen on NWKA who fishes from a Hobie Tandem Island which is as much a sailboat as a kayak. I enjoy sailing almost as much as I enjoy fishing (heresy!).

It's far too big (200 lb not including fishing and safety gear) for an old guy like me to haul across a rocky beach to surf launch. So if I had to drive several miles away to a ramp and then peddle miles to meet the beach launchers I feel like I'm the one being punished for having too big a boat.

Doesn't seem unreasonable that if I sail to where everyone else is launching and then furl my sail land on that beach, then launch again peddling only to fish with the group and then beach land with the group (to enjoy the fish tacos) that I've "cheated" anyone. Not to mention that I'll still have to do one more surf launch and peddle (or sail) the miles back to the boat ramp. Doesn't seem to me any worse than putting your kayak on the roof of your car to drive miles to launch near your favorite fishing spot or flying to Alaska and renting a kayak.

Also, to suggest that just because I've finished fishing for the day that I shouldn't be able to enjoy sailing the rest of the day is just silly. Or if I've gone sailing that day that I can't then go fishing...come on man! Would water skiing that same day be OK? Windsurfing? Banjo playing?

Bottom line: I understand the intent of the rules, I wouldn't cheat to win anything. I will "human power" my yak from launch points and back when competing.

OK, off the soap box...

I think NWKA is one of the coolest things I've ever encountered and I sincerely appreciate the generosity and camaraderie of the group. I'm particularly grateful for all the effort of PolePole and the others who make this all possible. I've learned so much from so many that thanking them individually would take too long. So I'll sign off by wishing you all a very Happy and Fish Filled 2012.

Look forward to seeing you on the water, I'll be the geezer with the sail all furled up sitting on the trampoline in the beach chair...

IslandHoppa

If targeting AOTY points you could always leave the amas, aukas (one or both) and mast/sail at home (would cut weight and transport hassle down considerably) and use it as a kayak.  Then you could launch anywhere a non-tandem island yak could.

IHop, if you can get your rig to the parking lot where others are beach launching from, I'm sure myself and others will be happy to help you get your rig down to the water and/or back to the parking lot.  Surf launching that rig with both Amas and Akas deployed would be a chore on most Oregon ocean beaches other than Sunset, and Depoe Bay.

If you have issues getting your rig down to some of the off pavement launches along the Columbia that most folks launch from, I'd be happy to help you put together a cart that will make traversing it much easier.

Or, as Pelagic Paddler described above, strip it down to a much lighter fighting machine and go get some AOTY points if you have to.

If you take the amas off and two people peddling, you could get out to halibut territory quickly.  I'll go with and sit in the back.  I promise I will peddle.

Also, at Depoe Bay, you could back the whole thing down to the water on the ramp everyone launches from.  Peddle out, catch fish, peddle back, clean fish, throw fish in cooler, and sail back out for fun.

You can back down to the water at Pacific City, too. They launch dory boats from the beach there.

Like I said, this is the greatest group of guys on the planet! You are all too kind.

I'd love to fish with you Craig. My crew seat is always open to you!

iHop


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Insayn, that is an incredible offer! Hope to see you at the meetup Thursday.

I've never taken the TI out 'naked' but guess I should give it a try. Could open up new vistas. The hull weight is 89 lb and it's 18.5' long so I need to pump some iron to get ready to launch it.

iHop


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

At risk of wearing the A$$hat...

I'm the only one I've seen on NWKA who fishes from a Hobie Tandem Island which is as much a sailboat as a kayak. I enjoy sailing almost as much as I enjoy fishing (heresy!).

It's far too big (200 lb not including fishing and safety gear) for an old guy like me to haul across a rocky beach to surf launch. So if I had to drive several miles away to a ramp and then peddle miles to meet the beach launchers I feel like I'm the one being punished for having too big a boat.

Doesn't seem unreasonable that if I sail to where everyone else is launching and then furl my sail land on that beach, then launch again peddling only to fish with the group and then beach land with the group (to enjoy the fish tacos) that I've "cheated" anyone. Not to mention that I'll still have to do one more surf launch and peddle (or sail) the miles back to the boat ramp. Doesn't seem to me any worse than putting your kayak on the roof of your car to drive miles to launch near your favorite fishing spot or flying to Alaska and renting a kayak.

Also, to suggest that just because I've finished fishing for the day that I shouldn't be able to enjoy sailing the rest of the day is just silly. Or if I've gone sailing that day that I can't then go fishing...come on man! Would water skiing that same day be OK? Windsurfing? Banjo playing?

Bottom line: I understand the intent of the rules, I wouldn't cheat to win anything. I will "human power" my yak from launch points and back when competing.

OK, off the soap box...

Hi Mr. Hoppa!

I think you understand the intent of the rule and why it is important to have clear and precise rules.  The rules need to be black and white so there is no possibility of confusion.  They are not meant to give anyone an unfair advantage, just like they are not meant to give anyone and unfair disadvantage.  They are meant to level the field and let the individuals fishing skills determine the best of the best.

I think NWKA is one of the coolest things I've ever encountered and I sincerely appreciate the generosity and camaraderie of the group. I'm particularly grateful for all the effort of PolePole and the others who make this all possible. I've learned so much from so many that thanking them individually would take too long. So I'll sign off by wishing you all a very Happy and Fish Filled 2012.

Thanks for that.  You've made my year (so far!).

-Allen

I've never taken the TI out 'naked' but guess I should give it a try. Could open up new vistas. The hull weight is 89 lb and it's 18.5' long so I need to pump some iron to get ready to launch it.

My first couple of years kayak fishing were out of a Cobra Triple, most of that solo.  16'6" and 80# of kayak fishing joy.  That beast made me a stronger paddler.

-Allen

Just a few points.

AOTY 2011 will be locked down shortly, so if you have any entries from before the new year, please enter them so we can finalize the results.  We will do a review of the top finishers before declaring the official results.

For those of you that are new to the game in 2012, if you haven't already done so, you need to signup at the aoty site at http://aoty.northwestkayakanglers.com/signup .  The user database there is separate from the main one here.  Please try to use the same login name that you use here here and the email that you paid with so it makes is easier for me to figure out who is who and enable your account.  If you've participated in previous years, you already have an account.  We'll get all the accounts enabled shortly, so don't worry if you have a fish to enter and it's not enabled yet.  It'll count.

-Allen

Must be intimidated by the new guys chance. I mean skill.

Sign up link doesn't work for me. Says no such place exist.

Must be intimidated by the new guys chance. I mean skill.

Sign up link doesn't work for me. Says no such place exist.

Try now.  Thanks.

-Allen

Yeah Baby! I'm in and signed up.
Thanks for the work polepole. And all others involved. Have a great year and an exciting AOTY.