https://www.fishermanswarehouse.com/
The Central Coast Bass Bash hosted their first annual kayak bass fishing tournament on Lake Naciamento on Saturday, 5/1/21. This is the only kayak bass tournament on the central coast of California and was hosted by Tournament Directors Zachariah Clift of Taft and Andrew O’Brien of Santa Maria.
“It was a Heroes on the Water benefit tournament for the Central California Chapter. I’m the coordinator and Andy is the treasurer for the chapter. With COVID, our 2020 tournaments were cancelled and we lost our funding for 2021. We saw a need for a freshwater tournament we decided that we would host our own benefit tournament to raise funds for the chapter. This is the first freshwater tournament that either of us have put on, we are saltwater anglers primarily.”
37 anglers came out from all over California to enjoy some great action on one of the central coast’s most productive bass fisheries. The weather was warm and at about 11 AM the wind kicked up and was steady the rest of the day making it challenging for anglers. Water temp 73 degrees with 5 to 6 feet of visibility.
Per Clift, the bite started out hot and heavy with lines in at 0600 and by 0630 we had many fish uploaded. Wacky rig Yamamoto Senkos, topwater bite including buzzbaits and walking baits were most productive. Fish were primarily found shallow from the shore to 15 feet deep. Of the 37 anglers, 13 anglers captured their five fish limit. 108 fish were submitted by 24 anglers. All spotted bass and only 1 largemouth submitted. Winning limit was 79.5 inches by Eric Rodriguez of Bakersfield.
Top ten:
1. Eric Rodriguez – 79.5 inches
2. Colt Epps – 77.5 inches
3. Wyatt Moore – 77.25 inches
4. Seth Mostero – 75.75 inches
5. Jay Punkar – 74.75 inches
6. Ryan Kelley – 74.25 inches
7. Chad Chitwood – 73.25 inches
8. Tyler Howell – 71.25 inches
9. Joel Briones – 70.75 inches
10. Rick Brauer – 69.75 inches
Big of the tournament was caught a 20 inch spotted bass caught by Eric Rodriguez on a wacky rigged Senko (color unspecified).
For their efforts:
First Place - $940 + $200 Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop (Bakersfield) gift card + $15 Yak Attack gift card
Second Place - $560 + $15 Yak Attack gift card
Third Place - $380 + $15 Yak Attack gift card
$2100 was was raised for the Heroes on the Water chapter at this event. Per Clift, “The money raised at this event to support our chapter in 2021 would not have been possible without the support of Cope’s Tackle and Rod Shop, Kayak City, Yak Attack and Mustang Survival.” Clift reported that this will be an annual event to be held on the first Saturday of May each year. Next year’s location is TBD but it will be located on the central coast.
You can follow the Central Coast Bass Bash of Facebook and Instagram.
Advertising