By Paul Lebowitz

May 23, 2008

Hobie Kayaks Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Hits the OC on June 21

NEWPORT BAY - Fun and furious kayak fishing competition will return to Newport Bay on June 21, when the Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News makes it’s most northerly visit. The second stand-alone event in this year’s points race for the coveted Lowrance Angler of the Year title is dubbed the Southwind Kayaks Bass Attack.  

Once again the field of my-bass-is-bigger competitors will vie to weigh (then release) the heaviest 5-fish tournament stringers. Spotties, calicos and sandies are all eligible, but anglers have to fool their fish using all-artificial tricks. No natural bait is allowed.

First place will earn a cool $1,001 in cash. Go big! The optional jackpot comes with a certificate good for a lifelike replica from Global Fish Mounts. Placement prizes pay down to fifth place, plus the new Blind Bogey jackpots mean any legal fish could earn a windfall. 

The action will kick off at 7:00 am. Competitors will check-in and launch at the Southwind Kayaks rental base under the PCH bridge. Lines out at 1:00 pm, and then its see you at Southwind’s beautiful retail headquarters in Irvine for Plastic Navy’s traditional barbecue, awards ceremony, and prize-filled angler raffle.

The sponsor list is a long and lucrative one: American Battery, Berkley, Costa del Mar, Hook 1 Kayak Fishing Gear, Lowrance, Okuma, Premier Kayak, Seaguar, Sport Chalet, SPOT Satellite Messenger, and Western Outdoor News with gift subscriptions. New and noteworthy for Newport is American Eagle Rods, producer of fine quality graphite bass sticks.

The grand raffle prize will be a great one. Tournament Trail title sponsor Hobie Kayaks will give away a premium hands-free fishing machine, a Mirage Outback Fish, to one lucky entrant. Another will take home one of Hobie’s slick new live wells. Bass get so comfy in there they don’t want to leave.

Plastic Navy regulars know Newport fished tough last year. In separate events, a float tuber and a long boarder (just about any human-powered craft is welcome at this kayak tournament) won by pitching tiny baits under dock pilings. Only time will tell if that pattern holds. The early word has it Newport is fishing well in 2008.

“Newport is not only having a terrific year for numbers, but for quality. There are some really good repots coming in,” tournament director Drew Clark said.

John Upchurch, general manager of tournament host Southwind Kayak Center, is telling the guys who stop by the full-service kayak shop to gear up to expect a different outcome than 2007’s. “That’s the nature of Newport. Every year the winning strategy is different. It’s definitely a challenge. If you do well here you’ve got some bragging rights coming to you,” Upchurch said.

And what winning strategy will emerge? Chances are it will be trolling past structure, scouring the docks, or combing the weeds – not that saying so narrows anything down.  

Newport is the second contest in the 2008 Tournament Trail, a 4-event points race to crown a Kayak Angler of the Year. Brian Sanner was best on a tough day at Mission Bay, giving him the early edge. After Newport the Trail takes on Dana Pt (Aug 16) before crossing the finish line at the Oct 11 San Diego Bay finale.

For rules, event times, to sign up, and for other important information please visit the Plastic Navy website at www.plasticnavy.com. And look to WON for Tournament Trail previews, news reports, and the best in kayak fishing coverage.

Be Kind to Your Bass
All Plastic Navy events are catch and release, artificial bait only tournaments. Anglers must be prepared to keep their fish alive and well until they can reach one of the weigh boats that will be stationed in the tournament area. Weigh boats are a privilege; anglers should expect to paddle their fish to a boat. For the health of the bass resource, competitors are strongly encouraged to use powered live wells for fish storage.

BIG BUCKS FOR BASS – In Plastic Navy kayak contests the heaviest 5-fish tournament stringer is good for a cool $1,001 in cash. There’s more green for the jackpot fish, and still more for the Blind Bogeys. Any legal fish can take one of those, so take the time to weigh in even if you only have one.

I SEE SPOTS – Sand and calico bass are staples of the Hobie Kayaks Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News. So is the small but feisty spotted bass, a compact powerhouse. They’ll hit juts about any bass bait other than topwater.

HOBIE WILL KICK OUT A MIRAGE KAYAK – One lucky raffle entrant will win the utmost in hands-free fishing kayak excellence, a Hobie Mirage Outback Fish.

BASS IN THE BUCKET – Plastic Navy kayak competitors are encouraged to keep their catch in simple, battery-powered portable live wells. Although weigh boats are stationed throughout the tournament zone, fish cannot always be weighed immediately. It’s up to the anglers to preserve their fish in good condition.