By Paul Lebowitz

August 31, 2005

LA JOLLA - On Saturday August 27th, 112 kayak anglers gathered at La Jolla Shores for the annual Steve Moyer Memorial Kayak Fishing Tournament presented by La Jolla Kayak Fishing (LJKF). The field was treated to an incredible day of sunny skies, glassy water, and frothing fish.

In the week leading up to the event, a strong north to south current blew out the stained, lifeless water that had been hampering fishing at La Jolla, setting the stage for a memorable event.

A day with nearly 20 yellowtail catches and a couple of white seabass was a perfect celebration of kayak fishing and the life of Steve Moyer, who according to his son would have loved the event. “It would blow my dad away to see the turnout. He wouldn’t have believed so many people had been touched by him,” said Matt Moyer said of his father, who was taken too soon by cancer.

The event raised nearly $5,000 for the American Cancer Society and the Lance Armstrong Foundation to fight the pernicious disease that seems to touch everyone. “Every little bit counts,” said Matt Moyer. “That little bit might pay for one experiment that could help your kid or my kids live.”

LA JOLLA YELLOW - The fishing at La Jolla heated up just in time for the Moyer Memorial Kayak Fishing Tournament. Nearly 20 yellowtail were landed, including this 14-pound fish caught by Ocean Kayak Fishing Crew member Jeff Krieger.

Soft-spoken Andy Allen of Team Malibu became the first repeat winner of LJKF’s offshore event. Allen launched in the dark, made a brief stop for a handful of sardines from the bait boat, and then took up position about fifty yards from the northern edge of the La Jolla kelp to wait for daylight. Before the sun could rise, his wait was interrupted when a 32-pound white seabass ambushed his fly-lined sardine. The fish took him deep into the kelp, but the experienced Allen finessed it through the tangles and onto his kayak for the eventual win.  

Second place was captured by Dana Lucas, whose 24.7-pound yellowtail fell for a greenback mackerel slow trolled along the edge of the La Jolla kelp. Keith Martin rounded out the top three with a 24-pound halibut he found somewhere north of Scripps Pier. Eleven year old Kailey Near took top honors in the Junior and Women’s divisions. She was fishing with her father John Near when a 22-pound yellowtail slurped up her live sardine.