By Paul Lebowitz

June 29, 2007

The Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News hits California’s premier kayak fishing destination on July 14. The productive La Jolla kelp beds just south of submarine Scripps Canyon are legendary for kicking out jumbo yellowtail and white seabass for the stealthy kayakers who ‘brave’ the normally small surf of La Jolla Shores.

There are calicos here too, big ones with the potential of rewriting the race for Lowrance Electronics Angler of the Year and prime candidates for the largest bass of the series and the Okuma Jackpot of the Year’s bonus $1,500 bounty.

For Tournament Trail competitors the mission is the same as always: weigh in the heaviest 5-fish tournament limit. Calicos are sure to be the stars of the show.

“La Jolla will be a game changer,” said Plastic Navy tournament director Drew Clark as he pointed out the first two tour stops were spotted bay bass havens. Tournament weights should double.

“It could upset the apple cart on the overall points race. A lot of guys are looking at La Jolla as a place to considerably upgrade their scores. La Jolla is known to turn out some very large calico bass,” Clark said.

The bass action is moving to the big water, but otherwise nothing else in the catch and release contest is changing. Boats will patrol the fishing area to weigh and release tournament legal bass, minimum 13-in length. Anglers should be prepared to keep their fish alive and well until they can reach a boat.

With summer on the way, the launch time has been moved up to 6 am. The final weigh-in opportunity will be on the water at 1 pm for Trail anglers; big fish division competitors must take their fish to the off-site awards ceremony at nearby Kate Sessions Park. Their cut-off time is 2 pm.

BIG WATER, BIG CALICOS – Tournament Trail action slides on down to La Jolla on July 14. The productive kelp south of La Jolla submarine canyon produces quality checkers. It could take over 20 lbs to win. PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS FIERRO

STROLL THROUGH THE SURF – The La Jolla Trail stop is the first of the year to require a surf launch. The summer surf at La Jolla Shores is usually small, like the pictured ankle slappers.

Naturally, Plastic Navy and Western Outdoor News will give away a glittering array of raffle and placement prizes from the big names in the fishing business. Okuma will be on hand with quality rods and reels, possibly even with their revolutionary new Baidarka kayak rods to show off. Also look for electronics from Lowrance; an array of superior fishing lines and tackle products from Berkley, including that kayak staple Gulp!; floating fishing tools from Xtools; fish-holding hooks from VMC; deadly effective lures from Rapala; excellent swimbaits from FishTrap; Promar nets, the kayak ideal; WFO Sportfishing tackle systems; super Costa del Mar sunglasses, so useful for fishing inshore; and gift cards from Sport Chalet.