Shoreline Fishing Derby finishes just before the big oil spill

By Rick Ernst

BENICIA, CA / November 14, 2007, 8:15 AM    Sunday afternoon, October 28th, was the date for the 6th Annual Shoreline Fishing Derby sponsored by Benicia Bait & Tackle. Aside from the awards handed out at the event, 200 hundred or so families of all ages and backgrounds from Benicia, Vallejo and surrounding communities, enjoyed a terrific fish and rib BBQ, great music, lots of conversation, laughs and plenty of "fish stories" about the ones that got away!

Kevin Monahan won First Place for catching an 18.4# Salmon. Second Place went to Jim Noda with a 14.4#. catch. First Place Striper Bass went to Martin Pangelinan at 14.4#, 2nd Place went to Omar DelaCruz with a 13.9# catch, and 3rd Place went to Ryan Moore who caught a 12.4# Striper.

The Prize for the most total weight of Salmon is Miguel Aguilar with 19.9#s.

Catches of note include Fred Almeron (8.7#), Josh Badger (7#), Rich Chase (5#), Kevin Costillo (5#), Steven Dodge(7.14#), Richard Dellanno (6.1#), Jason Dunn (5#), Danita Donohue (6#), Bobby Donohue (7#), Aaron Fanfa (9.8#), Noel Fuentes (7#), Jason George (6.8#), John Hutchinson (7.4#), Anthony Holland (3.5#), Homer Jones (3#), Erik Korman (8#), Nick Mangiduyos (8.9#), Art Mariano (10.5#), Ben Miguel (3.5#), Scott Price (11.1#), Lauren Peterson (7#), Michael Swinyer (6.5#), William Say (9.14#), Max Tanzo (8#), Mike Wallace (5#), Robert Warner (5#), and yours truly (0#). I got skunked!

The owners of Benicia Bait & Tackle, Curtis Hayes and Pam Royal, have been catering to Benicia's weekend warriors since 1999 when, frustrated by the dearth of bait shops in the area, they set up their own shop.

Benicia has two easy access boat launches on West 9th and at the Marina off East 5th street. There are two public piers to fish on and numerous shoreline fishing areas that produce a variety of catches. Stop in and talk a while with Curtis and Pam who will send you to the best places and recommend the best bait to use.

Their hands on instruction won't hurt the novice fisherman either, and they will help you get on a charter boat if you are so inclined.

Benicia Bait & Tackle can help all anglers with sturgeon, striper, salmon, halibut, tuna, largemouth bass, and kokanee catches. Their bait selection is unsurpassed in the North Bay.

Curtis and Pam asked us to thank all those who helped make the Derby such a great success and those who donated their fish for the barbeque.

The Big Fishing Derby Barbeque occurred just before last week's oil spill that spells bad news for the region's fish and fishermen. Here is an excerpt from a report found on CNN.com, "Oil spill could threaten S.F. Bay wildlife for years" ...

"Herring, the bay's only commercially fished species, spawn at this time of year, and the spill could affect the fishing season that begins in January, said Zeke Grader, who heads the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association.

"The spill could threaten steelhead and chinook salmon that travel through the Bay and up the strait by Benicia to spawning grounds in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers during the fall, Grader said.

"Scientists also are worried about the spill's effect on the longfin smelt, the population of which has reached record low levels this year. In August, environmental groups petitioned state and federal agencies to list it as an endangered species.

"'This is exactly the kind of event that can push a species into extinction,' said Swanson, of the Bay Institute."