By Paul Lebowitz

“We saw what was going on in California and wanted to show them how to do it right, as in Right Coast style,” says Mike Kogan with a mischievous chuckle. The Floridian’s Jacksonville Kayak Fishing Classic reigns as the world’s largest kayak fishing tournament.

Fishermen love to show off a trophy catch. It’s no different with the hard-core anglers who run low-key, low-cost paddle-fishing contests that emphasize fun and friendly competition.

The ever-enthusiastic people behind the scenes are quick to claim their particular event is the best on the block: the world’s largest ever.

Many proud organizers have been justified in their claims, at least for a while. The title belt engraved “World’s Largest Kayak Fishing Tournament” shifted owners every few months from 2004 to 2006 as successive events exceeded prior marks.

“Records bounce back and forth every year. You do 150, someone else does 160,” says Jason Morton of Southern California’s Kayak Sportfishing.

Kayak Sportfishing ran neck and neck with the Jacksonville Classic until 2006, when Kogan’s Florida festival surged out to a 230 to 202 attendance lead. Other tournaments weren’t far behind.

New Jersey’s Kayak Fishing Stuff drew 202 kayak anglers to the Jamaica Bay Kayak Fishing Tournament that year. Back west at La Jolla, a respectable 182 kayakers paddled out through the surf for the Steve Moyer Memorial Kayak Fishing Tournament. This year, San Diego’s Plastic Navy lured 220 kayakers to a big-league style saltwater bass showdown.

In the tight-knit inner world of kayak fishing, the jockeying stokes friendly regional rivalries. Take Jim Sammons of La Jolla Kayak Fishing for example. The man who runs the Moyer Memorial is famous for his sarcastic wit.

“They can have themselves the biggest small fish tournament in the world for all I care,” Jim Sammons says wryly of Florida’s attendance leader. Jacksonville Classic competitors target redfish, trout, and flounder measured in inches. Sammons delights in pointing out big fish are tallied in pounds. 

Sammons can claim the best attended big fish contest, but not the largest fish. That honor goes to tiny Pete and Kelly’s Big Island Kayak Fishing Tournament. Thomas Wyatt’s 86-pound ulua could have downed last year’s 29-pound winning La Jolla yellowtail in one gulp.

“Some people want quantity, some want quality,” jokes Sean White of the Great White Kayak Company. His northern California Elk Rockfish Fiesta, capped at 50, sold out in 37 minutes this year. “Fastest in the world,” White proclaims.

None of this good-natured noise discourages Florida boy Kogan, who compares the Jacksonville Classic to this year’s collegiate Division I basketball and football champions. “There can only be one number one at a time. We're the Florida Gators of kayak fishing!” Kogan gleefully points out. Kogan conservatively expects 270 to 280 attendees in 2007 – another world record.

Good-natured bluster aside, is there a benefit to claiming the largest kayak fishing extravaganza?

“We don’t make a penny,” Kogan says quickly.

 “It matters only for bragging rights. Who cares whose tournament is the largest?” Sammons asks. “It’s all for fun.”

There is a benefit to higher attendance – to the charitable causes the tournaments support. The Moyer Memorial raised $11,000 for anti-cancer causes in 2006. The Jax Classic raised $18,000 for conservation and children’s welfare – another record for Kogan and his crew. Other tournaments around the country are using the excuse of having a good time to raise money for worthy charities – truly something to brag about.

These guys enjoy teasing each other – giving your friends a hard time is a cherished angling tradition – but they have incredible respect for each others’ collective efforts to grow kayak fishing.

“Morton does great stuff out there, as do Sammons, Drew Clark of Plastic Navy, and all those that we have looked to for leadership and their groundbreaking efforts,” Kogan says.