Ryan Lambert landed a 36 pound halibut that put him on the top of the leader board for day one. It never moved. The Twelve year old from Mar Vista CA wanted to win the truck. The fish is a little shy of the size needed to win the New Truck but big enough to put all the other anglers to shame. This youth fish was tops on the leader board all weekend. Ryan was the first angler to weigh in a fish at the weigh in station in Burton Chace Park. He was eager. We can see why.
WINNERS LIST
Overall Winner
Ryan Lambert,
12 years old, from Mar Vista youth with a 36 pound halibutHalibut in the IGFA list. Where Ryan Lambert is now listed in the Junior Category
FIRST PLACE PRIZE
John Romanak,
Los Angeles 32.9 pounds
1 week fishing vacation to Punta Colorada on the East Cape, Baja California, including all meals, 3 days of fishing, freezing and packing the catch, air fare to and from LAX to Los Cabos Airport, and transfers to and from airport and hotel.
SECOND PLACE PRIZE
Carl Landerman, Glendora 31 pounds
1 week fishing vacation at the Inn at Mazatlan, including 2 days of fishing with Heimpel's Star Fleet, all meals and air fare between LAX and Mazatlan.
THIRD PLACE PRIZE
Tom Brooks, Torrance 27.4 pounds
5 days, 4 nights, at El Cid Hotel, Mazatlan, including 2 days of fishing with Aries Fleet, all meals and airfare between LAX and Mazatlan.
The Real Story is that the HD Committee had made the made the mistake of taking youth out of the regular entry competition. Two years prior. And then they make them pay large sums to be be in a separate derby.
All of that back story does not take away one bit from the fact that I had a Perfect Fishing Day with my two sons. We got up with little rush moseyed down to the at 8 and were out to get bait by 8:30 and to the break water in front of MDR at apox. 9 am. Not and early start. The boat ran great. The water was flat. The sky was blue. The boat did a very fast crossing as we ran to the Big Rock area of Malibu.
We drifted out in 65 feet of water near the "Sea Lion" restaurant (now called Dukes). A friend in the MDRA fishing club was there on his boat Jackpot. So we set up near him. He eventually tired of that area and moved on. it was a few minutes later that we covered the ground that Jackpot would have covered if they stuck around. And I two got tied of the slow action. So I told Ryan and Thomas to reel up. Ryan's line was going out like it was snagged to the bottom a little bit.
To his surprise it was a fish. A big slow rising fish. When it was showing in the water I (Dad) screamed and it was my time to scramble to get the gaff. Ryan and Thomas not realizing why I seemed very frantic gave way to Dad. Luckily as Ryan backed up to the far side it was perfect presentation of the fish. It cam over the side in one nice lift of the gaff. Then a few seconds later it woke up and started bucking like a bronco sending slime flying all about the back deck.
Ryan and his fishCaught on live squid on a 2/0 circle hook, fresh Trilene 12 pound test line, a PR1196C Sabre Rod and old faithful Shimano Triton TLD5 reel. The fish was a toad that sulked deep for a long time before finally coming to the boat. Ryan fought the fish for 6 to 8 minutes and got to work out his arm. It came up at a nice 45 degree angle and was easy to gaff said his Dad. Once it was on the deck it bounced high and wild covering the boat and the happy Dad with slime. They were fishing in Malibu near the old Sea Lion restaurant. Dad said they were deep but would not say exactly how deep. Ryan planed on spending his winnings n a new dinghy.
A very big Halibut.
We fished that area a bit more and caught another nice halibut for Dad. Not a HD winning fish but on any other day a respectable fish. But next to Ryan's monster it looked like a Dinky little thing. The boys were very excited with the catch. And a few other little fish to keep the spot entertaining.
We talked a bit on the radio. Waited for the weigh in to open and then ran in to be first in line for the Halibut Derby weigh-in when they opened.
photos by Larry BrownWe then ran out to fish a little bit more as Thomas needed one and I hopped for a bigger contender.
The climax of a great day.
The next day at the Awards party. Ryan got the hardware he deserved.
Thomas and Ryan
Fishing pals.
To Eat Halibut
Story of serving the fish to Ryan's classmates.
