By Paul Lebowitz

April 20, 2007

Plastic Navy / Western Outdoor News tournament's record-setting day produces huge limits and big payouts

SAN DIEGO - It was 6:30 a.m. on Saturday April 14, and to the powerboaters at the Dana Landing launch ramp at Mission Bay, it must have looked like kayak anglers were taking over for the day.

A long line of over 200 fishing kayaks stretched five or six wide all the way from the water’s edge out to the street. The rigged fishing machines sat poised for action, like Indy cars on the grid at the Brickyard. Meanwhile a crowd of 220 anglers anxiously gathered around Plastic Navy tournament directors Drew Clark and Paul Weintraub to receive final instructions before the pair signaled it was go time.

The pack of kayak fishers streamed into the water to stage for the shotgun start. Weintraub sounded the horn and the pack paddled furiously away, scattering themselves across the vast expanse of Mission Bay. The long-awaited Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News was underway.

Many in the record-setting field, a high for the west coast and just 10 shy of the world record for a kayak fishing contest, prefished for weeks in a quest to find the biggest bass in the bay. It’s no easy task to winnow five trophies from the mass of cookie-cutter spotted bay, sand, and calico bass that swim these waters. Bragging rights and a whole lot of cash and merchandise was up for grabs.    

Fishing started off slowly, but not for William Bowen. He weighed in a couple of big spotties before paddling out of the launch cove. Bowen lured his fish out from the marina dock pilings. The fast start would eventually propel him to a third place finish.

At Ski Beach, Tom Buckalew worked his SpinBombs and Hornets for a nice 5-fish tournament limit over 9 lbs. Today it would only be good enough for sixth.

The real action was in Quivira Basin, where Eddie Howerton, his son Brandon O’Connor, and his nephew Nick Meyer fished Berkley Frenzy crankbaits near the bait barge. The bait boat came in and the bass went on a tear. Howerton logged an incredible 13.4-lb. tournament limit. Meyer coasted in second with 11.2 lbs. and the jackpot fish, a 3.6-lb. sand bass. O’Connor finished seventh.

Howerton’s big bag limit earned the OEX and Maxima sponsored angler $2,190. Nephew Meyer outdid him, scoring $1,650 and a $400 gift certificate from Global Fish Mounts for the jackpot and another $875 for second place. Bowen’s third place winnings totaled $435. The cash payouts were the highest in kayak bass fishing history.

Howerton and Meyer were ecstatic. The pair practiced together on Wednesday, finding excellent conditions, and hoped they’d hold for the tournament. They did. “Everything was right. There was no junk in the water and the color was good. The fish were destroying the bait. It was a great day!” Howerton said.

The great day extended to the rest of the field. The weather was terrific and the fishing was solid for smaller fish although tournament-minimum 13-inch bass were hard to come by.

Back on shore, hungry anglers enjoyed a fantastic Mexican feast cooked by Janette Weintraub, Karen Clark, and the large crew of Plastic Navy volunteers. Then it was raffle time, and the prizes went on for hours.

Nearly everyone walked away smiling with Berkley Saltwater Gulp and FireLine Crystal, Rapala crankbaits, Storm plastics and VMC hooks, and lots of other great gear and tackle prizes. The luckiest raffle ticket belonged to Kevin Stafford, who took home a beautiful Hobie Mirage Revolution Fish kayak presented by Ron Lane of Fastlane Sailing and Kayaking, the tournament host.

Other highlights included an X67c color fishfinder from Lowrance Electronics; rod, reels, and tackle bags from Okuma; baits and clothing from FishTrap; Costa del Mar sunglasses; Sport Chalet gift certificates; and Xtools floating fishing tools. Dana Landing Market, Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear, Liquid Fishing, MC Swimbaits, Promar, Seairsports, Trix Jetty Worm, and WFO Sportfishing also contributed quality prizes.

First-time competitor Mike Graham summed the day up nicely. “It was an awesome, phenomenal experience. I hope it gets even bigger,” said Graham, who can scarcely wait to fish the next event. The Tournament Trail will resume at Newport Bay on June 2, during Southwind Kayak Center’s Paddlesports Expo at the Newport Dunes Resort.

Expanded placement info is available at www.plasticnavy.com.  

THE RACE IS ON! – The Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News is underway. 220 kayakers sprint to be first on the fish at Mission Bay.

BOSS BASS MAN – Eddie Howerton weighed in an incredible 13.4-lb. 5-fish tournament stringer to win Plastic Navy’s first 2007 Trail event. The victory was worth $2,190.

VICTORY DANCE ENDS UP IN THE DRINK – Eddie Howerton celebrates his impressive Trail victory with an impromptu victory dance. Moments later Howerton was swimming, but nothing could wipe the smile off the happy angler’s face. Even dripping wet, Howerton was the picture of class.

UNDERSTUDY OUTSCORES HEADLINER – Nick Meyer finished second with 11.2 lbs, but also scored the jackpot fish. His combined winnings of $2,525 and a $400 gift certificate from Global Fish Mounts outstripped those of his uncle, tournament champ Eddie Howerton.

RUNS IN THE FAMILY – Eddie Howerton with his nephew Nick Meyer. Together the two dominated Plastic Navy’s Mission Bay contest, finishing 1-2. Howerton’s son Brandon O’Connor wasn’t far behind in seventh place.

ATTENDENCE RECORDS SHATTERED – Plastic Navy’s Mission Bay Trail event attracted 220 kayak anglers, a west coast record and only ten shy of the world mark. The attendance surge generated record payouts for a kayak fishing tournament.

SPONSOR GOES BIG – Trail sponsor Rapala and sister labels VMC and Storm provided fish-catching crankbaits and plastics to most of the crowd. A VMC representative was on hand in the morning to change out hooks to the new Sure Set treble.

IN THE BAG – Tournament Trail sponsor Okuma plied the raffle crowd with quality rods, reels, and tackle storage products.

LUNCH, LET’S EAT – Paddle fishing works up an appetite. Good thing the Plastic Navy support staff whipped up a great Mexican feast for the hungry Trail anglers.