By Paul LebowitzSeptember 19, 2004 KING HARBOR –“A little bumpy,” is how one participant of the 8th annual Jerry Esten’s Kayak Fishing Derby wryly described conditions. On September 19, 2004 the seas outside of Redondo Beach King Harbor were whipped to a froth by an incoming front. The high winds and looming swells challenged those kayak anglers who dared venture out of the shelter of the harbor. Most of the 73 tournament participants sensibly kept to the quiet waters inside. Jim Salazar and Chris DeSantis were among the few willing to take on the punishing conditions. The two, like most of those who fished outside, were hunting halibut. Reports preceding the derby suggested the fish were in tight to the beaches. Did the rough water push the halibut into deeper water? Salazar answered the question when he boated a legal “flatty” while fishing in 55 feet of water north of the harbor off Hermosa Beach. Salazar waved DeSantis over to the spot. It wasn't long before DeSantis landed his derby winner, a 15 pound 2 ounce halibut. The fish bit a sardine. Apparently it is good luck to fish near Salazar, as a similar scenario unfolded last year. Or maybe DeSantis was due after a second place finish last year. DeSantis took home most of the jackpot and a new Ocean Kayak Prowler 13. Keith Martin took second place with his 4 pound 15 ounce halibut. Martin was heading back to the harbor and shelter when he stopped for one final drift. Third place went to Bill Clarke for a 4 pound 2 ounce halibut. All of the winning halibut were taken from the rough water outside the harbor. There was one other notable fish. Mark Pierpont and a few other intrepid kayak anglers paddled far to the south to Rocky Point in search of yellowtail. Pierpont brought in a white sea bass that weighed close to 8 pounds. Unfortunately for Pierpont the distant point turned out to be too far from derby headquarters so he did not make it to the weigh-in in time. Pierpont ’s achievement in paddling over 8 miles round trip in awful paddling conditions and somehow bringing in a fish was recognized and rewarded with a special prize. Kayakers who stayed inside the harbor did not miss out on the fish catching fun. Scrappy little bonito were the chief catch. Jerry Esten’s derby was the first of its kind, the original kayak fishing competition. With the increasing popularity of the sport, many kayak fishing events now have the numbers to give something back to the community. This year Esten ’s Derby is supporting 976 Tuna’s youth fishing program. The derby would not be possible without the contributions of its many sponsors and volunteers such as Camille Cerullo. Kayak anglers interested in the modern evolution of the sport might be surprised just how far back the roots of this derby stretch. Jerry Esten, the tournament organizer, is one of the pioneers of the sport of kayak fishing. He hungered to fish inshore spots the sportfishing boats could not reach. Esten started launching through the surf, first in a small dory, and then later a canoe. He says getting through the breakers was not too tough, but “landing was usually a disaster.” In the late 1970s Esten met Tim Neimier, the founder and designer of the Ocean Kayak line of sit-on-top kayaks. In those early years, Esten rarely saw other kayak anglers. Esten says he started his derby for fun and to meet other kayak anglers. That first year there were 12 entrants. How times have changed. Among the 73 participants this year were several children, the next generation of kayak anglers. |
