Past Events

Fishing Events  |  Other Events

FISHING EVENTS

Southern California Saltwater Fishing Event - A 2-Day Event!

Two days of fine family fishing in Southern California aboard the Dana Pride and the New Seaforth

August 10, 2008 Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point Dana Pride - 3/4 day trip

August 11, 2008 Seaforth Sportfishing, San Diego New Seaforth - 1/2 day trip

These were the 4th and 5th California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge trips of the year. The Dept. of Fish and Game (DFG), NOAA Fisheries Service and United Anglers of Southern California/Friends of Rollo all teamed up to offer these two fishing trips for youngsters and families. The 95’ Dana Pride out of Dana Wharf Sportfishing hosted the first trip on Sunday, Aug.10, and the following day the 85’ New Seaforth out of Seaforth Sportfishing repeated this joyous and memorable experience in San Diego.

On Sunday, Aug. 10, a perfect sunny Southern California day, 65 youngsters and family members, along with a half-dozen or so volunteer helpers, came out to fish aboard the spacious Dana Pride. This 3/4-day adventure was one that the new anglers aboard that day will never forget.

The trip was action-packed all day long with most everyone on the boat getting hooked up in what could only be described as a mass fishing frenzy! Schools of energetic bonito charged the boat throughout the day with so many fish biting that rods were bent everywhere around the boat. The crew was great and everybody worked together and had a good time. There’s no doubt about it, when it comes to thrilling and challenging new anglers, these local fish are some of the best. By the end of the day, everybody aboard had caught fish and we ended the day with an impressive count of 166 of the scrappy little tuna, as well as a few calico bass, sand bass and barracuda that came aboard before we headed back to port.

The following day 50 youngsters and their families boarded the New Seaforth out of San Diego for an afternoon ½-day trip fishing the kelp area north of Point Loma. The fishing action wasn’t as fast and furious as we’d seen the day before, but anglers were happy and busy all afternoon with the steadily biting calico and sand bass, barracuda and even some bottom-dwelling lingcod.

At the end of each day, Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge prizes and free fishing passes were awarded for various family and mentor/novice fishing team accomplishments (thanks to Western Outdoor News and Dana Wharf Sportfishing), and special rod/reel combos from Abu Garcia were presented to one lucky novice each day. All novice anglers also received new Fishing Starter Kits full of fishing supplies and information designed to help give the new anglers the gear and the incentive to come out fishing again (thanks to our generous sponsors at Berkley, Bass Pro Shops, Plano and Alpen Outdoors.)

Both of these fishing trips were made possible by NOAA Fisheries and UASC/Friends of Rollo who worked with the landings to provide free fishing and rental tackle for kids 12 and under when accompanies by a paying adult — making it easy for families to share the fun and excitement of fishing. In addition, UASC volunteers were busy on deck helping out and snapping photos of the proud kids and with their catches. The photos were printed out right in the galley and inserted into a United Anglers-NOAA Fisheries Ethical Angler Card that was presented free to each young angler as a great reminder of their fun day on the water.

Northern California Saltwater Fishing Event - A 2-Day Event!

July 13 & 14, 2008
Huli Cat Sportfishing and Charter Boat
Half Moon Bay, California

Anyone looking for a memorable day of fishing with family and friends on a beautiful summer day at the Farallon Islands would have loved these two trips aboard the 53’ Huli Cat out of Half Moon Bay. Capt. Tom Mattusch treated everyone to some great fishing and whale watching that everyone, especially the young novice anglers aboard. will not soon forget. NOAA Fisheries and the DFG’s California Fishing Passport Program played host for both trips, and NOAA Fisheries surprised everyone each day by paying all costs for both trips!

This was the third DFG Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge event of the year, presented in partnership with Angler’s Legacy. Experienced anglers teamed up with novice anglers to try to catch as many different species of fish as they could. On the first day, experienced anglers from Wilderness Unlimited (a private hunting, fishing and camping club) acted as mentors and teammates to 15 novice anglers for the Passport Legacy Challenge. The rockfish bit pretty steadily all day long, and by the end of the day everyone had caught some fish and most people had nice sacks of fish to take home. Final counts showed that 16 different species had been brought aboard. Novice Kevin Tam from Millbrae had teamed up with his father, Vilom, and between the two of them they caught limits and bagged nine different rockfish species. Their reward was a new rod and reel set generously donated by Abu Garcia.

The following day was dedicated to the Boys and Girls Club of San Mateo County. Seventeen novice anglers, primarily inner city kids, were introduced to saltwater fishing, and for many it was also their first time out at sea. It turned out to be a nice day with perfectly flat calm seas, and fish that bit all day long. At the end of the trip, a very excited Alex Avenarino, 17, of Palo Alto was awarded the new Abu Garcia rod and reel set for landing six different fish species, and a total of 10 fish for the day. With this new rod and reel, Alex said he could now spend more time with his dad because now they could fish together.

As everyone departed the boat each day, novice anglers received new Fishing Starter Kits full of fishing supplies provided by our generous sponsors at Berkley, Bass Pro Shops and Plano. The kits were designed to give the new anglers gear they would need for their next fishing trip, along with some additional incentives to come out fishing again.

To learn more about the spacious Huli Cat sport fishing boat, go to www.hulicat.com/about/hulicat_boat.html or call (650) 726-2926.

Northern California Lake Fishing Event - Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs

May 31, 2008
7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Horseshoe Lake in Upper Bidwell Park
Chico, California

The California Fishing Passport Program helped support Chico's annual "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs" event held May 31 at Horseshoe Lake in Bidwell Park where an estimated 4,000 people attended. Just days earlier, 10,000 pounds of channel catfish had been planted, so there were many kids that day who were able to catch a fish for the very first time. This event was completely free and even provided bait, loaner tackle and free fish cleaning for everyone!

The California Fishing Passport Program made this event the northern California stop for their California Fishing Passport Legacy Challenge. Free new angler starter fishing kits were given to the first 50 mentor-novice teams that signed up, and California Fishing Passports and the award-winning California Finfish and Shellfish Identification Books were provided to everyone who registered for the Challenge or inquired about the program.

DFG staff also stamped passports for each new fish species caught. Besides the channel catfish that were planted in Horseshoe Lake, eight other species of fish inhabit Horseshoe Lake that are included in the list of 150 California Fishing Passport species. Qualifying species indigenous to the lake included largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, green sunfish, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, common carp, and of course channel catfish.

The California Fishing Passport Program is sponsoring and supporting fishing events like these around the state to help introduce more new people to fishing. Sincere thanks go to Berkley, Bass Pro Shops, Plano and Alpen Optics for their generous support and contributions to the 50 Fishing Starter Kits provided to the novice anglers!

Diamond Valley Lake Fishing Event

March 29, 2008
Hemet, California
www.dvlake.com

The California Fishing Passport Program kicked off the Passport Legacy Challenge for 2008 at Diamond Valley Lake near Hemet on Saturday, March 29th. Nearly 300 anglers attended the event, sponsored by KFROG radio, and awards were given for the heaviest trout weighed each hour. Nearly 50 teams signed up to be part of the Passport Legacy Challenge that morning, and all of the novices in the teams took home a special Fishing Starter Kit donated by our sponsors which were specially customized for this lake event. At the end of the day, Team Moya, comprised of son Gavin and dad Ray Moya each won our special Berkley rod and reel sets. In addition, one of the Passport Legacy Challenge teams who had registered that morning took home a $1,000 prize from KFROG for having one of the heaviest fish of the day. Winning the award was Juan Paz, 17, of Riverside who was fishing for only his second time that day with brother Alex, 27. Humm...could some items from his special Fishing Starter Kit that he’d received that morning been the key to his success?

Thank you to our sponsors Berkley, Plano, Bass Pro Shops, Alpen Optics and others for their support!

2007 Fall Fishing Challenge

September-December, 2007
In this statewide competition, anglers were invited to catch any fish listed in the ocean (green), inland warmwater (yellow) or the inland coldwater (blue) sections of the California Fishing Passport between September and December of 2007. Participants then submitted a digital, full-color photo and fishing data for each fish caught through the TripTracks online fishing logbook.

Anglers chose to compete in the following three separate contests or "slams":

• Saltwater Slam: Participants submitted a total of five (5) different fish species from the ocean (green) section of the California Fishing Passport.
• Warmwater Slam: Participants submitted a total of five (5) different species from the inland warmwater (yellow) section of the California Fishing Passport.
• Coldwater Slam: Participants submitted a total of three (3) different species from the inland coldwater (blue) section of the California Fishing Passport.

With each completed slam, participants became eligible to win great prizes donated by Berkley, Abu Garcia, Stren and Bass Pro Shops.

Huntington Beach Pier Event

August 27, 2007
Huntington Beach, CA
This event has been going on for 47 years on the Huntington Beach Pier. Approximately 300 kids attended the event and many were dressed like Huck Finn or Becky Thatcher as part of the tradition. The kids with the best outfits won prizes. Lots of nice fish were caught on this date.

Family Fishing in Dana Point Aboard the Dana Pride

Monday, Aug. 20, 2007
Dana Wharf Sportfishing, Dana Point Harbor
Families were invited for an afternoon of fishing aboard the Dana Pride, a 90 ft. sportfishing boat, off the beautiful Orange County coast.

High Mountain Trout Fishing in Mammoth Lakes

Saturday, July 28, 2007
Snowcreek Ponds in Mammoth Lakes
The Department of Fish and Game partnered with the Mammoth Lakes Sports Fishing Association for a morning of great fishing for kids under 12 years old to catch local rainbow trout for this very popular local event, known as the Children's Fishing Festival.

Marin Council of the Boys Scouts of America - Fishing Derby

June 9, 2007
Marin Rod and Gun Club Pier, San Rafael
Open to: All Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, their families and friends.
The Department of Fish and Game partnered with the Marin Council of the Boys Scouts of America for a morning of great fishing from the Marin Rod and Reel Club pier in San Rafael. A game warden and biologist were onhand to introduce the scouts to the California Fishing Passport program and helped educate them about ethical fishing practices.

Partyboat trip in Oceanside

Sunday, June 3, 2007
Helgren's Sportfishing, Oceanside
Learn more about this event (includes photo gallery)

2006 Kid's Summer Challenge

During the summer of 2006 the Department of Fish and Game hosted three exciting Passport Summer Challenge kick-off events geared just for kids. Click on the links below for more information:

Santa Monica Pier - On June 10, the beautiful Santa Monica Pier was the site of the kickoff California Fishing Passport event, dubbed the "Kid's Summer Challenge." Between 150 and 200 young anglers came out to try their hands at ocean pier fishing from this historic pier. All participants received their first Kid's Summer Challenge passports and other assorted goodies donated by different supporters and sponsors. To read more and view photos, click here.

High Sierra Trout Fishing -High mountains, clear skies, and ponds teeming with hungry trout awaited young anglers on July 29 at the second "Kid's Summer Challenge" in gorgeous Mammoth Lakes in the High Sierras. DFG teamed with the annual Children's Fishing Festival for this event, presenting Kid's Summer Challenge passports to festival participants, along with free fishing poles donated by an anonymous local resident, and loads of other goodies! To read more and view photos, click here.

Partyboat Fishing - On August 21, the broad, comfortable decks of the New Seaforth played host to families ready to try their fishing luck during the final Kid's Summer Challenge event of the summer. DFG teamed with Friends of Rollo-United Anglers and Seaforth Sportfishing to plan this event, and presented Kid's Summer Challenge passports to participants, along with prizes and goodie bags stuffed with loads of great items! To read more and view photos, click here.

 

OTHER EVENTS

Fall Challenge Kick Off

September 8-9, 2007
Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Lucy's Pond, courtesy of Wilderness Unlimited, was the site of a weekend of many first time fishing experiences for young anglers inside the Bass Pro Shops store . This 10,000 gallon fishing pond was stocked with rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass and blue gill provided by the DFG, Wilderness Unlimited and Hesperia Lake. United Anglers of Southern California provided photos to all of the lucky anglers for their accomplishments, and DFG staff stamped their new California Fishing Passport books.

Learn more about the 2007 Fall Fishing Challenge.

Women in the Outdoors Conference

May 4-6, 2007
Tejon Ranch, Bakersfield

13th Annual Fly Fishing Fair

Saturday, May 5, 2007
Western Sport Shop, Santa Rosa

Outdoor Writers Association of California Conference

April 29-May 1, 2007
Bishop, California

Trout Opener

April 27, 2007
Bishop, California

Day at the Docks

Sunday, April 22th, 2007
San Diego Sportfishing Landings in Point Loma

2007 Sportsmen's Expositions

January 11-14
International Sportsmen's Exposition, San Mateo
Additional Information: www.sportsexpos.com

January 18-21
International Sportsmen's Exposition, Sacramento
Additional Information: www.sportsexpos.com

February 14-18
Fred Hall Fishing Tackle, Boat and Travel Show, San Francisco
Additional Information: www.fredhall.com

March 7-11
Fred Hall Fishing Tackle, Boat and Travel Show, Long Beach
Additional Information: www.fredhall.com

March 21-25
Fred Hall Fishing Tackle, Boat and Travel Show, Del Mar
Additional Information: www.fredhall.com

Jan. 11, 2007: Official Passport Program Kick Off!

DFG Director Ryan Broddrick and a special feature group of "Fishing Ambassadors" officially kicked off the California Fishing Passport Program at the International Sportsmens Exposition in San Mateo on Thursday, January 11. The staff at the DFG booth sold licenses, and biologists and game wardens answered fishing and hunting questions. California Fishing Passport books were available for the first time at this show.