2023 Sunset Bay Angler Of The Day Kayak Fishing Challenge

13th Annual Sunset Bay Angler Of The Day Kayak Fishing Challenge tournament is set for Saturday, August 26th, 2023.

Pre-registration is required to compete. The entry fee is $35. The registration cut-off will be for 50 competitors or at a date determined by the event coordinators. Pay your entry fee to Erik Schmidt's PayPal at browneyesvictim@yahoo.com. PayPal QR code at the end for your convenience.

The group camp is full. A big thank you to Stephen Hatler for organizing the camping reservations again this year! I'll post some updates on NWKA. If you're on FB, you can get further info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/589666766510065/

SBAOTD 2023 Rules:
We have a perfect safety record and want to keep it that way. Proper 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.

All participants must have registered with the event coordinators, signed the liability waiver and receive a poker chip to participate.
The launch site is at Sunset Bay State Park. The fishing area is from Baltimore Rock to the north down to the south end of Simpson Reef.
The tournament starts at first light. First light is 6:04 am, official sunrise is 6:34 am. (https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/coos-bay-or/2023/8)
The competition ends at 2:00 pm. Anyone not in line for check-in by 2:00 pm will be disqualified. Be on time. Don't make us call the Coast Guard to search for you!

This is a point based competition with points per inch values assigned to each species. Only the largest fish of each designated species will be counted. 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.

Point system:
Chinook 4 points
Coho 5 points
Greenling 10 points
Halibut 4 points
(https://www.dfw.state.or.us/.../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, regulations TBA
(https://myodfw.com/sport-bottomfish-seasons)

SBAOTD 2023 Agenda:
8/25 Friday, 5:30 pm - Captains meeting
• Participants- please meet at the shelter in the group camp site in the campground 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 and get a poker chip and get your captains bag (first 35). The tournament coordinators will have a few words with any last minute updates, and recognize our sponsors as well as answer any questions.
• Drawing tickets will also 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.


8/26 Saturday, 5:30 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 6:04 am, official sunrise is 6:34 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 commence in the shelter located in the group site adjacent to the restrooms at Bastendorff County Park.
• We will have a fish fry/taco feed so bring your favorite dish! We always have an awesome feast! The cooking will be coordinated and conducted by the usual crew of cooks again this year. Volunteers for food prep & setup are always welcome!
• Please bring a dish to contribute to the potluck- salad, side dish, desert, etc.
• 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 one or more of the event coordinators.
• Prizes will be called out and the contributing sponsor recognized for the contribution and a photograph taken to memorialize the award.
• The top 3 anglers will get their choice of a prize , followed by 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 3 anglers 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 will be $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!

Good luck, be safe, have fun!

Let me know how I can recompense for sleeping through the potluck last year

Let me know how I can recompense for sleeping through the potluck last year

Dana could probably use some help on the cooking crew. 

It's the least I can do.

Stephen Hatler has reserved the Bastendorff County Park group site campground. https://www.co.coos.or.us/parksrec/page/bastendorff].
The group camp sites are all reserved, but as of today, there are still some tent sites available & maybe 1 trailer site left (the green ones).

It looks like there may also still be some sites available at Sunset Bay State Park for those dates.
https://oregonstateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/sunset-bay-state-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=OR&parkId=402382#sls_a

Launch point: Sunset Bay State Park boat ramp. https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=park.profile&parkId=70
Sunset Bay boat launch area is officially open at sunrise. The gate is closed & locked until opened by park staff in the morning. First light is 6:04 am, official sunrise is 6:34 am. (https://sunrise-sunset.org/us/coos-bay-or/2023/8)
The competition ends at 2:00 pm. Be on time - in line for check-in by 2:00 pm or you will be disqualified. Don't make us call the Coast Guard to search for you!

The fishing area boundaries are from Baltimore Rock to the north down to the south end of Simpson Reef.
Be super extra careful if you decide to go all the way to the south boundary (don't ask me how I know).

Update: There are 27 paid entries to date for this kayak fishing challenge. If you can make the logistics work out for you at this point, you won't regret participating! Prizes are loaded this year and a great time to be had by all- even for those not measuring in fish! Everybody goes home with tons of schwag from raffle and poker chip draws. Remember, 100% of all revenue is donated to Heroes on the Water.

This also serves as a reminder for participants to not forget to bring something for the potluck on Saturday night. We always have a great feast of fresh fried fish, but sides, deserts and condiments are always welcome!

Check out our Facebook page to get a glimpse of prizes from our generous sponsors and more information.

See you there!
Erik

https://www.facebook.com/events/589666766510065/

Can I  still sign up? Can I  just send $35 to Eric's  PayPal? Then show up Friday night.  Sorry I don't  do facebook.

Can I  still sign up? Can I  just send $35 to Eric's  PayPal? Then show up Friday night.  Sorry I don't  do facebook.

Yes, verify at the Captain's Meeting.

Saturday forecast looking pretty good.  Time to get the rod quiver rigged up to catch all sorts of species.

I've struggled at these multi species things.  I start catching smallmouth bass (BCS) or rockfish (ORC) get distracted and forget to work all the other species you need.

I've struggled at these multi species things.  I start catching smallmouth bass (BCS) or rockfish (ORC) get distracted and forget to work all the other species you need.

After seeing all the fish you catch, I think you should stick with your attempt to see how many rockfish you can catch during a tournament.  The rest of us in the tournament would really appreciate it.

Don't want to jinx it, but if the forecast holds this will be the best fishing conditions at AOTD since I started fishing it!

That would be nice for once. I think I tied for 32nd several years ago.

Any updates from the tournament?