By Paul Lebowitz

July 4, 2008

Both the fishing and weather were hot for Plastic Navy’s Southwind Kayaks Bass Attack

NEWPORT BAY – Maybe all Newport Bay’s bass needed was a sizzling sun to heat things up, ‘cause fishing was on fire at the June 21 Southwind Kayaks Bass Attack. During the hot, hot, hot second stop of the 2008 Hobie Kayaks Plastic Navy Tournament Trail Presented by Western Outdoor News, they bit early and fast for anglers fishing from the Coast Guard station to the base of the jetties.

It was a virtual bass overload for the weigh boat crew stationed in the hot zone. Tournament director Drew Clark’s boat logged in more 140 legal bass. The torrid action was just what the doctor ordered after the 2007 Trail suffered through the worst Newport has to offer. “Newport’s back!” one of the pumped up anglers shouted as he paddled away from the boat.

Plastic Navy tournament director Drew Clark chalked the up the day’s hot fishing as a win for the entire field of competitors. “We had a record number of limits. 90 anglers, three quarters of the field, weighed legal fish. It was an outstanding showing,” Clark said.

No one outdid 2007 Trail champ Ed Howerton, who tallied an exceptional 13.25-lb tournament limit highlighted by a 3.40-lb sand bass – the Global Fish Mounts jackpot good for cash and a $400 replica mount. Although Howerton had enjoyed plenty of success elsewhere, a Newport victory had eluded him. Yet Howerton said he didn’t change his approach, fishing just as he had the prior unsuccessful tournaments.

“Last year, I just didn’t get my bites. The biggest fish that year came from the same spot,” Howerton said, further noting that this year he didn’t catch a fish the first two hours of the tournament. Meanwhile, anglers anxious to weigh fish surrounded Clark’s boat three deep. Howerton, the picture of self-confidence, kept on playing his game until he hit it big in a quick 45 minute flurry. Howerton said he worked large Lucky Craft plugs over discrete structure spots. 

Second place fell to Dennis Burlason, who weighed in a 10.80-lb limit. “I used green 3 and 4-in swimbaits in the outer area,” Burlason said, noting that he caught most of his fish early. “It was fun; they bit good as soon as the water cleared up,” Burlason added.

Float tuber Patrick Sullivan, winner of Plastic Navy’s spring 2007 Newport contest, finished third with a 9.49-lb bag. “The bites were real soft today,” said Sullivan, who caught his bass on plastics and Berkley Gulp.

Back at tournament headquarters – Southwind Kayak Center’s beautiful Irvine showroom - many anglers continued to rave about the quality and quantity of fish they’d caught, right through the awards ceremony, raffle and Mexican BBQ lunch. For Southwind’s general manager John Upchurch, it was a welcome scene. “The fishing was awesome today. That’s excellent,” Upchurch said.

Also excellent were the many raffle prizes. Brain Sanner hit it big when he won the grand prize, an elegantly engineered hands-free Hobie Mirage Outback Fish kayak. Other happy winners took home marine VHF radios from Lowrance Electronics, Xtreme series rods from American Eagle, glare-killing sunglasses from Costa del Mar, a SPOT Satellite Communicator, a selection of fine reels from Pfueger Fishing Tackle, Western Outdoor News gift subscriptions, a slew of Sport Chalet gift cards, spools of Seaguar Invizx fluorocarbon, Hook 1 t-shirts and gift certificates, and ThunderBlades from Tenacious Baits.

Many anglers collected samples of Berkley’s Saltwater Gulp 7-in Jerk Shads - Clark dubbed them “calico candy” – or filler spools of Spiderwire Ultracast braid, a Clark favorite. “Put this on your spool and you’ll feel everything down there, right down to the color of the grass,” Clark quipped.    

Even then the fun wasn’t over, as Plastic Navy awarded several blind bogey cash prizes to anglers who matched a set of randomly determined fish weights. Ties were fought out in a series of spirited rock, paper, scissors battles while the crowd hooted and cheered.

FAMILY FUN – Plastic Navy tournaments are all ages events. Here Greg Di Cecca and Jr get in on the hot bass action in front of the Coast Guard station. Di Cecca the younger beat his dad by a tenth of a pound. Good job kid.

HOTTY SPOTTY – Anglers who prefished the tournament reported solid action on the docks, but things had changed by game day. Instead, fishing was wide open in the open water toward the mouth of the bay. The fish looked great, robust and feisty like this one admired by Plastic Navy regular Wil Bowen.

MORE LOVE FROM LOWRANCE – The big electronics maker is sponsoring the Trail’s major prize – $2,500 for Kayak Angler of the Year. There are raffle and placement prize goodies galore too, such as this handheld waterproof marine VHF radio, a kayak fishing essential.

NEWPORT’S NO LONGER HIS NEMESIS – Ed Howerton filled the missing niche in his Plastic Navy Tournament Trail trophy shelf on Saturday, turning in an impressive 13.25-lb 5-bass limit at the Southwind Kayaks Bass Attack. 115 other kayakers shared a fun day of incredible (and hot!) fishing.

SECOND PLACE GIVES UP THE 411 – Dennis Burlason (right) is a cagey competitor, but in deference to the Plastic Navy tradition that top anglers spill a secret or two, he let loose a few nuggets. Burlason, like winner Howerton, caught his fish near the mouth of the bay.

HOT NEW HOBIE – Brian Sanner (left) and Plastic Navy tournament official Paul Weintraub admire the tournament’s grand raffle prize, a Hobie Mirage Outback Fish. Hobie is the title sponsor of this year’s Tournament Trail. They’ll award another Outback Fish at each of the remaining tour stops.

BLIND BOGEY SHOWDOWN – At a Plastic Navy event, anyone who weighs a legal fish can win blind bogey jackpot cash. Ties are settled in intense rock, paper, scissors throwdowns. Hey big guy, pick on someone your own size.

SPORT CHALET DELIVERS THE GOODS FOR PLASTIC NAVY – With plenty of quality fishing and paddlesports gear on hand, Sport Chalet offers one stop shopping for kayak anglers like this lucky gift card winner.

TRIO OF TOP TIER PRIZES – Plastic Navy raffles are stocked with choice items from top names in the fishing world. This happy raffle winner is toting a Pfleuger Trion casting reel mounted on an American Eagle Xtreme series rod. He even has 300 yards of Spiderwire Ultracast to spool it up.