Birthday haul just right for Central Coast fisherman
When a team heads into a bass tournament targeting one weight —12 pounds — and comes up two pounds short and still celebrates, what do you call that?
Todd Reccord said, “It was a great way to celebrate my 55th birthday.”
Partner Mike Maddux joined the party just 19 days removed from No. 38.
The occasion was the fourth American Bass Pacific Region Tournament on Saturday on blustery Lake Nacimiento.
Splitting a check in the amount of $2,370 undoubtedly put some frosting on the cake.
Bobby Doss, the ABA Pacific tournament director and former Reccord teammate, said, “Our series offers the best payback of any operating on the Central Coast.”
The latest evidence: $5,035 paid to a 23-team turnout March 5. Eight teams earned $90 or more.
Last week’s victors had a limit early. It was accomplished with plastics and jigs on a day when the wind blew, creating foot-and-a-half waves accompanied by rain.
“The water was not as stained as I expected,” Maddux said.
Reccord reeled in the big fish of the tournament, a 2.93-pound spotted bass.
A fish caught five minutes before the victors hurried in early to prepare for weigh-in duties enabled culling a 2-pound fish. Their winning bag of 10.49 pounds provided nearly a one-pound margin of victory.
Two-thirds of the Pacific Coast season has been completed. Only two April — 2 and 30 — remain. Record and Maddux have won twice.
American Bass Pacific, Top 10 (All 5-fish limits)
1.Todd Reccord, Paso Robles, Mike Maddux, Arroyo Grande, 10.49 pounds, $2,730; 2. Scott Mullins, San Juan Bautista, Troy Tidwell, 9.65 pounds, $1,016; 3. Damon Meeks, Atascadero, Erik Zillig, Paso Robles, 9.63 pounds, $579; 4. Darrin Bishop, Paso Robles, Dean Miller, Tulare, 9.38 pounds, $160; 5. Mark Scribner, August Kinney, Pismo Beach, 9.17 pounds, $100; 6. Joey Reggio, Kyle Greenlaw, San Luis Obispo, 8.92 pounds; 7. Chase Austin, Jeramie Dyer, Templeton, 8.67 pounds, $90; 8. Dustin Selck, Fernando Salazar, Atascadero, 8.62 pounds; 9. Gene Gray, Atascadero, Jay Short, Templeton, 7.99 pounds, $90; 10. Clark Small, Solvang, Randy McAbee, Sr, Bakersfield, 7.84 pounds.
1st Big Fish, 2.93 pounds, Reccord & Maddux, $300; 2nd Big Fish, 2.35 pounds, Meeks & Zillig, $180; 3rd Big Fish, 2.28 pounds, Mullins & Tidwell, $120.
Patriot Sportfishing
The landing does not plan any return to activity until the opening of the ocean fishing season April 1.
Lake Nacimiento
“As of Tuesday (March 8) our launch ramp at Heritage Ranch is open. It’s the first time in a long while,” resident Dave Rymal said.
Santa Margarita Lake
Marina Manager Ken Hemer reported: “Although largemouth bass action backed off a bit last week, most anglers caught a few quality fish. Spotted bass have started to become active.”
(Really? I was unaware the species existed at Margarita. That’s news to this columnist. I’ve been led to believe that Nacimiento was the only one of our local lakes where the species swims.)
In his weekly report, Hemer said, “Small swimbaits and A-rigs have been working for both bass species. White mini jigs, small spinners and red worms are the baits of choice for crappie.
Several catfish species are being harvested at White Oak, Mackey Point, and the fishing dock in front of the marina. Cut mackerel is the bait of choice.”
This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Birthday haul just right for Central Coast fisherman."