By Paul Lebowitz

November 16, 2007

Plastic Navy contest topped by 8.6-lb bass bag

NEWPORT BAY – 142 revenge-minded Plastic Navy Tournament Trail competitors returned to Newport last Saturday, looking to even the score with the bay’s stubborn bass. During an earlier visit in June, the fish pulled a near no-show for the field of kayak and other human powered anglers.

Revenge will just have to wait. Water temperatures plummeted in the days leading up to the contest; the bass for the most part kept their mouths firmly shut. But not all of them – Erik Bent found five biters good for an 8.6-lb limit.

Bent, cofounder of Saltwater Bass Anglers, normally fishes from a powerboat. For this contest, he downsized all the way to a 9-ft longboard.

The surfboard was a blast from the past. Bent said he first fished it during high school. The surfer / angler pitched chartreuse Gitzit tubes against shallow pilings in the Lido Island area to earn his $1,300 first place bounty.

Andrew Allen fooled the biggest bass of the day, a 2.45-lb sand bass good for a $400 gift certificate from Global Fish Mounts and a tidy bundle of cash. Allen was long-lining a brown belly, red flake swimbait up towards the bay mouth when his jackpot fish hit.

“I was having a really tough morning. It makes things a lot better when you catch a big fish,” Allen said.

Float tuber Patrick Sullivan snagged 2nd place with 6.6-lbs. Sullivan fished near Bent in the Lido Island area. Third place fell to Rex McNamara (5.21-lbs).

With 5 tour stops down and just San Diego Bay remaining, Ed Howerton retained his commanding overall points lead in the race for Lowrance Electronics Angler of the Year. Howerton had won three of the prior four events but finished 7th.

“We found his Achilles heel,” Plastic Navy tournament director Drew Clark jokingly said.

Southwind Kayak Center in Irvine hosted the post-fishing festivities which included sponsor displays, the awards ceremony, a fantastic Mexican taco lunch, and a giant raffle. As always, the Plastic Navy / WON competitors were showered with top dollar giveaways.

Highlights at Newport included a pair of beautiful new fishing kayaks: a Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140 and an Okuma Baidarka. Other goodies included sunglasses from Costa del Mar, saltwater reels and kayak rods by Quantum, Promar landing nets and Sabiki Sticks, Sport Chalet gift cards, color Lowrance Electronics fishfinders, Seguar fluorocarbon, and veritable cartons of Berkley Gulp! and FireLine Crystal.

Plastic Navy’s second Newport kayak fishing contest was originally slated for October 27, but was put off two weeks due to Southern California’s recent firestorm. Recognizing the enormous losses suffered by many of our neighbors, Okuma’s Ric Hawthorne assisted Plastic Navy’s Clark in putting together a special benefit raffle.

Accurate Fishing Tackle, Cobra Kayaks, Okuma, and UP Sports all provided hundreds of dollars of product for the benefit. Leading audio-visual company Spinitar added a pair of JBL Control Pro 1 Speakers. All proceeds – roughly $1,600 – will go to Red Cross chapters in Orange and San Diego Counties.

NEWPORT’S #1 – Erick Bent put together a 5-bass limit totaling 8.6-lbs to take first place at Plastic Navy’s second Newport tour stop. Bent achieved his feat from a longboard.

BIG BASS CASH – Andrew Allen caught and released a 2.45-lb sand bass to claim the jackpot and a $400 gift certificate from Global Fish Mounts.

RAFFLE PRIZES AT A QUANTUM LEVEL – A lucky raffle winner shows off a nice Quantum combo for the kayak – a Kayak Series rod and a Cabo PTs saltwater baitcaster. Quantum has generously supported the Plastic Navy Tournament Trail all year long.

NICE NEW RIDES – It wouldn’t be a Plastic Navy tournament without a pair of sweet new fishing kayaks in the raffle. Newport featured the Wilderness Systems Tarpon 140, a versatile do-everything performer, and a custom rigger’s dream, a new Okuma Baidarka.

FULL HOUSE AT SOUTHWIND KAYAK CENTER – More than 140 anglers registered for Plastic Navy’s Newport tour stop. They were treated to a fun day on the water, great raffle prizes, and a delicious Mexican themed BBQ.

TUBULAR – Plastic Navy tournaments welcome all types of human powered vessels, even surfboards and float tubes. Bayron Ortega put his to good use, finishing in the top ten.